Colson Whitehead on "realist" fiction

Colson Whitehead runs through some genre possibilities for his next book, with a capsule summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative: magical realism, the thriller, the book that "holds a mirror up to our society," and so on. Some of these entries just might get other writers spitting mad:

Realism Take this test. When you read "These dishes have been sitting in the sink for days," do you think (a) This is an indicator of my inner weather, or (b) Why don't they do the dishes? Does the phrase "I'm going as far away from here as my broken transmission will get me, and then I'll take it from there" make you think (a) Somebody understands me, or (b) Why don't they stay and talk it out? What is more visually appealing, (a) a Pall Mall butt floating in a coffee mug, or (b) those new Pop Art place mats in the Crate & Barrel catalog? If you answered (a), do we have a genre for you.

Recommended for: The rumpled, drinky.