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Can you help me understand the sentence below, especially "the Aristotles and Robert McKees of the world be damned" part. I'm not sure what it means. And I can't understand the sentence structure of it. Plus, what is the difference between Robert McKee and Robert Mckees, or Aristotle and Artistotles? Please help.

Roth did not attempt to put a traditionalized order to his life or his art, and therefore neither could I, the Aristotles and Robert McKees of the world be damned.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

keith520 the Aristotles and Robert McKees of the world be damned.

This clause is in the subjunctive mood.
It means: Let them be damned. (I don't care anything about what these people — all the people who are like Aristotle and Robert McKees — preach!)

Teechr · Answer

The standard (informal) expression is:
"(Well) I'll be damned!"

eg.
A: "The bank manager himself had organized the heist."
B: :"Well I'll be damned!"
"B" is expressing strong surprise.

In your sentence, the author is saying that people who are of the same thinking as Aristotle or Robert McKee would be surprised to know that Roth did not attempt to put a traditionalized order to his life or his art.

Keith520 · Answer

Thanks! I think I should learn more about the subjunctive mood.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

teechrIn your sentence, the author is saying that people who are of the same thinking as Aristotle or Robert McKee would be surprised to know that Roth did not attempt to put a traditionalized order to his life or his art.

I respectfully disagree. It's not surprise, but disparagement -- a "put down". It's not about a bank heist, but a piece about the film noir movie "Detour", based on the book "Detour" whose hero is Alexander Roth. In telling the hero's story, the director faithfully followed Roth's own life story, rebelling against the esteemed master screenwriter McKee:

Robert McKee, A Fulbright Scholar, is the most sought after screenwriting lecturer around the globe. He has dedicated the last 30 years to educating and mentoring screenwriters, novelists, playwrights, poets, documentary makers, producers, and directors internationally. Those who have learned from McKee have called him “the Aristotle of our time” because of his insight into the substance, structure, style, and principles of the grand art of story.

Teechr · Answer

@AlpheccaStars: Thank you for the informative background. However, that still doesn't convince me that my interpretation is erroneous. I agree that your interpretation is possible too, but I think your reading of "be damned" would be much more than a "put down" and, in my opinion, quite inappropriate in such a context!

We'll agree to disagree on this one.

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