Ways In Which Less Becomes More

An Introduction to Literary Minimalism:

I refute the equation that ‘less’ does indeed mean ‘less’ by suggesting ways in which less becomes more in the collections of minimalist short stories of these three writers. It is my contention that ‘more’ means a richness of effect, an interpretative polyvalency, an interactive vitality which exists because, not despite of, the ‘less’ which is minimalism’s restraint, its tendency towards reduction, its dependence upon absence for effect. My central argument is that minimalist narrative techniques create an interpretative indeterminacy which asks that the reader make a growing contribution to its meaning, culminating in an awareness of what is revealed, rather than resolved, at the short story’s ending.

Comments

[Miguel St. Orberose]

Since when can't "interpretative indeterminacy" be achieved by "richness of effect, an interpretative polyvalency?" The prefix says it all - poly, meaning multiple. Multiple meanings surely is the main ingredient for indeterminacy, no?

Just sounds like trying to justify the unjustifiable. I still prefer Paul West's take on minimalism: “Minimalism is close to mediocrity and mindlessness, a way for the ungifted to have a literary career, and for readers who really hate literature to pretend to be reading something serious.” – Sheer Fiction IV

[Dan Green]

Interpretive indeterminacy is achieved by richness of effect. I believe the argument is that in their use of "less," the minimalists actually achieve the "more" of this kind of indeterminacy.