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[CCBC-Net] To write cross-cultural or not to write cross-cultural,
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From: wwilson2
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 00:47:53 -0500
Dear Cheryl,
I don't think you have anything to apologize for. You did your best to research the culture you wrote about, and who is the ultimate judge of whether the details were perfect or not? I still get annoyed with those authors who write the books for the states' series when they make statements about Texans that I don't think are applicable to most Texans, even though I haven't been a Texan in nearly 30 years, but I think it's just an over protectiveness on my part and maybe some latent foolish desire to be the "expert." I've lived in a small mid-western town for over 16 years, yet, still, if I wrote about the town or its culture, I'm sure there would be people here who would read my writing and disagree with my depiction totally. The point is, how long do you need to live in a place to feel eligible to write about it or its culture? And whose reality is really real? That's a stupid question, of course, because no one can ever see all sides. That's why art is a MIRROR of life, not life itself. Certainly a writer has the obligation to get every detail as correct as possible and to work especially hard on depicting attitudes properly, but, then again, what is proper?
And maybe these ethno?ntric kids need a medium for another culture to be filtered through before it can be understandable or acceptable to them. How would Joey Pigza come across to Tibetan children?
It seems to me that world peace and unity will be accomplished by encompassing, not by drawing lines.
I like what you have to say.
Cassie Wilson
Received on Tue 30 Jan 2001 11:47:53 PM CST
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 00:47:53 -0500
Dear Cheryl,
I don't think you have anything to apologize for. You did your best to research the culture you wrote about, and who is the ultimate judge of whether the details were perfect or not? I still get annoyed with those authors who write the books for the states' series when they make statements about Texans that I don't think are applicable to most Texans, even though I haven't been a Texan in nearly 30 years, but I think it's just an over protectiveness on my part and maybe some latent foolish desire to be the "expert." I've lived in a small mid-western town for over 16 years, yet, still, if I wrote about the town or its culture, I'm sure there would be people here who would read my writing and disagree with my depiction totally. The point is, how long do you need to live in a place to feel eligible to write about it or its culture? And whose reality is really real? That's a stupid question, of course, because no one can ever see all sides. That's why art is a MIRROR of life, not life itself. Certainly a writer has the obligation to get every detail as correct as possible and to work especially hard on depicting attitudes properly, but, then again, what is proper?
And maybe these ethno?ntric kids need a medium for another culture to be filtered through before it can be understandable or acceptable to them. How would Joey Pigza come across to Tibetan children?
It seems to me that world peace and unity will be accomplished by encompassing, not by drawing lines.
I like what you have to say.
Cassie Wilson
Received on Tue 30 Jan 2001 11:47:53 PM CST
