CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] Back on topic please
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Maia Cheli-Colando <maia>
Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:05:08 -0700
Mmm. I think this is precisely on topic -- how does living in the 9/11 world impact what we write? It certainly impacted Scholastic, which is hurrying to make clear its relationship (or lack thereof) with the ABC series. Writing about 9/11 isn't easy; I can't imagine anything critical that anyone could write that wouldn't upset some significant portion of the population. Talk about a natural for the banned books list!
And I think it begs the question, if Norma Jean is right -- "that these are serious times that demand the best from all of us...meaning a demand for accuracy and nothing less" -- then at what point is it acceptable to take liberties with historical truth? Ten years past? A hundred?
Undeniably, the ways we describe history have tremendous affect on how things develop now, and they establish a sense of historical norm. How do we as writers authenticate our sources, and as readers, know which writing is true? Everyone writes with bias of viewpoint. How do we make our biases evident, and should we?
With 9/11, it is especially poignant because the politics are still very much in evident play. It is ironic that the series suggests a Clinton administration failure is to blame for 9/11, when so many progressives have suggested that Bush knew, and allowed the towers to fall. Are the only books that are likely to succeed in (or safe enough for) the children's literature market those that either (a) address only the general horrors or (b) address a very personal experience (e.g. Ask Me No Questions)... and not those that attempt to analyze what happened, and why? Obviously, there have been adult books that argue various positions, but is there, or would there be, any such material for children? Should there be?
Maia
Betty Tisel wrote:
> Can we get back to talking about books please?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Betty Tisel
> Parent, library volunteer
> Up to my neck in local progressive politics
> Minneapolis MN
>
Received on Fri 08 Sep 2006 02:05:08 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:05:08 -0700
Mmm. I think this is precisely on topic -- how does living in the 9/11 world impact what we write? It certainly impacted Scholastic, which is hurrying to make clear its relationship (or lack thereof) with the ABC series. Writing about 9/11 isn't easy; I can't imagine anything critical that anyone could write that wouldn't upset some significant portion of the population. Talk about a natural for the banned books list!
And I think it begs the question, if Norma Jean is right -- "that these are serious times that demand the best from all of us...meaning a demand for accuracy and nothing less" -- then at what point is it acceptable to take liberties with historical truth? Ten years past? A hundred?
Undeniably, the ways we describe history have tremendous affect on how things develop now, and they establish a sense of historical norm. How do we as writers authenticate our sources, and as readers, know which writing is true? Everyone writes with bias of viewpoint. How do we make our biases evident, and should we?
With 9/11, it is especially poignant because the politics are still very much in evident play. It is ironic that the series suggests a Clinton administration failure is to blame for 9/11, when so many progressives have suggested that Bush knew, and allowed the towers to fall. Are the only books that are likely to succeed in (or safe enough for) the children's literature market those that either (a) address only the general horrors or (b) address a very personal experience (e.g. Ask Me No Questions)... and not those that attempt to analyze what happened, and why? Obviously, there have been adult books that argue various positions, but is there, or would there be, any such material for children? Should there be?
Maia
Betty Tisel wrote:
> Can we get back to talking about books please?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Betty Tisel
> Parent, library volunteer
> Up to my neck in local progressive politics
> Minneapolis MN
>
Received on Fri 08 Sep 2006 02:05:08 PM CDT
