You’re still conflate “be a moral work” with “shove morals down your throat in a hamfisted way” which is exactly what I was saying you DIDN’T have to do. If Salammbo does this in a clumsy way, well, then yeah, maybe that book could be written better. (If it says male-male coupling is bad, I disagree with it on a moral level anyway, although that’s different than disagreeing about how that morality was dealt with).
When I say “works should be moral” I mean that, all else being equal, I prefer art works to produce a positive effect on the world. Sometimes by directly inspiring people, sometimes by subtly shaping them.
You’re still conflate “be a moral work” with “shove morals down your throat in a hamfisted way” which is exactly what I was saying you DIDN’T have to do. If Salammbo does this in a clumsy way, well, then yeah, maybe that book could be written better. (If it says male-male coupling is bad, I disagree with it on a moral level anyway, although that’s different than disagreeing about how that morality was dealt with).
When I say “works should be moral” I mean that, all else being equal, I prefer art works to produce a positive effect on the world. Sometimes by directly inspiring people, sometimes by subtly shaping them.