Was Harold Bloom accused of elitism in literary criticism?
I have been accused of elitism, yes, for my passionate defense of the Western canon and its aesthetic masterpieces. My critics often suggest I disregard or dismiss contemporary or 'marginalized' voices in favor of established figures. However, I would argue that my concern is with aesthetic strength and enduring value, not with exclusion for its own sake. The masterpieces, whether canonical or not, possess a unique power to shape and expand our human consciousness.
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