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[CCBC-Net] Criss Cross: Postmodern?
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From: Mary Ann Gilpatrick <MGilpatrick>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 11:37:40 -0800
*Regarding the Fountain* has what I would call a nonlinear narrative. So do *Making Up Megaboy* and *Monster.*
Mary Ann Gilpatrick Walla Walla Public Library 238 E. Alder Walla Walla WA 99362 509-527-4550 x510 FAX: 509-527-3748 mgilpatrick at ci.walla-walla.wa.us
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Ginny Moore Kruse Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 10:17 AM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross: Postmodern?
On January 27 I wrote that I can recall only one word about Criss Cross from the Monday press conference podium: "postmodern." I keep hoping someone from the 2006 Newbery Committee will step up to the mike and tell us what they observed in Criss Cross in order to intentionally use this word among others to describe their selection of the award winner.
Here's one definition of that word - "a wide-ranging term describing certain post-World War II artistic works, characterized by nonlinearity, self-referentiality if not self-parody, and multiple/simultaneous sensory impressions." (from a "higher ed" McGraw Hill web glossary).
Without becoming distracted by this or other definitions where I, for one, will be quite hopelessly adrift, let's think more about Criss Cross and what some readers in the CCBC-Net community have found to be either a challenging narrative form, or one where little happens.
First, a few examples. Mel has wondered about other traditional narratives successfully combining with more experimental passages such as poetry, Q&A, lists, etc." Brooke suggested Vera B. Williams' little masterpiece Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart. Mel's question immediately reminded me of two other books previously honored by the Newbery process: Ellen Raskin's eclectic, wildly imaginative Figgs & Phantoms
(Dutton, 1974) and A Gathering of Days by Joan Blos (Scribner, 1979) which is much more than a journal as the subtitle suggests. To follow the narrative in each of these novels, one had to "read" everything. Absolutely everything, just as one had to do when reading with Time and Again, Jack Finney's famous "illustrated" novel for adults (Simon & Schuster, 1970).
It seems to me those novels - and I deliberately chose to cite novels published during the 1970s - are, along with Criss Cross, examples of the publishing trends Eliza T. Dresang identified in Radical Change: Books for Youth in a Digital Age (H. W. Wilson, 1999), because in part she was analyzing "changing forms" and "nonlinear organization" in narratives.
With one definition and a few examples in mind, do you think Criss Cross is "postmodern?" How about "Show Way?"
Best, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Fri 17 Feb 2006 01:37:40 PM CST
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 11:37:40 -0800
*Regarding the Fountain* has what I would call a nonlinear narrative. So do *Making Up Megaboy* and *Monster.*
Mary Ann Gilpatrick Walla Walla Public Library 238 E. Alder Walla Walla WA 99362 509-527-4550 x510 FAX: 509-527-3748 mgilpatrick at ci.walla-walla.wa.us
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Ginny Moore Kruse Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 10:17 AM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross: Postmodern?
On January 27 I wrote that I can recall only one word about Criss Cross from the Monday press conference podium: "postmodern." I keep hoping someone from the 2006 Newbery Committee will step up to the mike and tell us what they observed in Criss Cross in order to intentionally use this word among others to describe their selection of the award winner.
Here's one definition of that word - "a wide-ranging term describing certain post-World War II artistic works, characterized by nonlinearity, self-referentiality if not self-parody, and multiple/simultaneous sensory impressions." (from a "higher ed" McGraw Hill web glossary).
Without becoming distracted by this or other definitions where I, for one, will be quite hopelessly adrift, let's think more about Criss Cross and what some readers in the CCBC-Net community have found to be either a challenging narrative form, or one where little happens.
First, a few examples. Mel has wondered about other traditional narratives successfully combining with more experimental passages such as poetry, Q&A, lists, etc." Brooke suggested Vera B. Williams' little masterpiece Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart. Mel's question immediately reminded me of two other books previously honored by the Newbery process: Ellen Raskin's eclectic, wildly imaginative Figgs & Phantoms
(Dutton, 1974) and A Gathering of Days by Joan Blos (Scribner, 1979) which is much more than a journal as the subtitle suggests. To follow the narrative in each of these novels, one had to "read" everything. Absolutely everything, just as one had to do when reading with Time and Again, Jack Finney's famous "illustrated" novel for adults (Simon & Schuster, 1970).
It seems to me those novels - and I deliberately chose to cite novels published during the 1970s - are, along with Criss Cross, examples of the publishing trends Eliza T. Dresang identified in Radical Change: Books for Youth in a Digital Age (H. W. Wilson, 1999), because in part she was analyzing "changing forms" and "nonlinear organization" in narratives.
With one definition and a few examples in mind, do you think Criss Cross is "postmodern?" How about "Show Way?"
Best, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Fri 17 Feb 2006 01:37:40 PM CST
