10.0602 unknown genre?

WILLARD MCCARTY (willard.mccarty@kcl.ac.uk)
Thu, 16 Jan 1997 20:53:27 +0000 (GMT)

Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 10, No. 602.
Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities (Princeton/Rutgers)
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
Information at http://www.princeton.edu/~mccarty/humanist/

[1] From: Willard McCarty <Willard.McCarty@kcl.ac.uk> (15)
Subject: unknown genre?

Here is the sort of query that, I suppose, would be utterly elusive to
an algorithm. Since there are several learned and non-algorithmic entities
here, I hope for some helpful answers.

I am looking for any examples of writing that start out with or are shaped
by an explanation for why the author cannot say anything useful about an
assigned topic but which nevertheless succeed in contributing to this topic
or are otherwise worthy. For my purposes it doesn't matter whether the
author is being coy; all that matters is the genre (or would it be trope?),
however genuine. If this genre has a name, I'd be grateful to know it.

Thanks.

WM
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Dr. Willard McCarty, Senior Lecturer, King's College London
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