From: Susan Greenberg <sigst+>
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001 13:32:40 -0500

What I'm sensing from the discussion on "who has the right to depict cultures (very broad definition) not their own" is that there are too many writers who are not doing a very good job in researching the people, places, and issues they have chosen to write about. Knowing how to write well, in a literary sense, does not automatically translate to being
"accurate" about what is being written; and in genres embracing works other than non-fiction, literary license usually takes precedence over accuracy and authenticity.

I appreciate the comments from those responding to this issue who are passionate (although sometimes strident) about cultural accuracy and authenticity, and who have raised my own level of awareness of the multifaceted nature of this subject. The more we can help sensitize our students, our colleagues, our family and friends, to understand and embrace the qualities of "differences", the more likely, down the food chain, will we see the level of portrayal of these groups in a more accurate and sensitive manner in our literature--regardless of who is doing the writing.

 Within every group, there are the "insiders" and the "outsiders"--whether that "group" is racial, ethnic, economic, religious, geographic, gender- or disability?sed. There needs to be a way to encourage a more diverse group of people --the "insiders"--to become writers, and to have publishers willing to take a chance on them--the sticky economic issue.

Susan Greenberg Doctoral Candidate in Language and Literacy University of Pittsburgh
Received on Thu 01 Feb 2001 12:32:40 PM CST