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[CCBC-Net] FW: Question about GLSBQ literature
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From: Elliott BatTzedek <ebattzedek>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 15:26:36 -0400
I really enjoyed "Dramarama." One of the main characters is a young openly gay man, and he is portrayed with the same balance of love, affection, humor and angst as the other characters. As with her other books, at the heart of the story is a strong, vibrant young woman who sets out after her heart's desire, only to hit significant set backs before finding not happily-ever-after but the ways her own strengths pull her through changes.
I teach a graduate course in Contemporary Issues in Publishing for Children and Young Adults, and we read Maureen Johnson's Bermudez Triangle this spring. For the students, the lesbian relationship was just not a big deal, and we had to do some talking and learning together about just how few books have existed over time that show lesbian or gay teens as normal, not as The Problem. Several of my students had the
"beach reading" edition of this book, with thicker pages and a water-proof cover. Have any of you seen this? I was impressed that an openly lesbian story was being marketed as a fun summer romance.
Elliott batTzedek Collections Developer Children's Literacy Initiative
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Lesley Colabucci Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 1:35 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu; Nancy Silverrod Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] FW: Question about GLSBQ literature
Sorry if I'm "behind" in the discussion.
I really appreciate this discussion of labels with regard to multicultural children's literature (including GLBTQ in that canon). I teach a class on "gender and race issues in children's literature" to undergraduates and we constantly grapple with the idea of a how a label is different from an identity. Labels are often used for discrimination purposes while identities tend to function as sources of pride. However, both categorize. I think the question is who is doing the categorizing and who benefits from it. I've noticed recently that when we talk about GLBTQ literature in my class, the students argue that they are not homophobic at all, that they just see people as human first. I have been really moved by this argument at times as students describe finding themselves relating to characters who truly are "windows" for them. Yet, I am still worried about the lack of mirrors GLBTQ children and families have available to them in literature and my life experience as a lesbian has led me understand that while universal connections are powerful, the need for affirmation of marginalized identities and exploration of issues of injustice endures.
Has E. Lockheart's book Dramarama been discussed at all? It's in my bedside book queue but I haven't read it yet. I understand it is not
"catalogued" as gay but that's it should be.
Lesley
Lesley Colabucci, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Elementary and Early Childhood Education Millersville University of Pennsylvania PO Box 1002 Millersville, PA 17551-0302
51 Lyte Road 322 Stayer Hall
(717) 871-5462 (fax)
(717) 871-5618 (office)
lesley.colabucci at millersville.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 Thu 29 May 2008 02:26:36 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 15:26:36 -0400
I really enjoyed "Dramarama." One of the main characters is a young openly gay man, and he is portrayed with the same balance of love, affection, humor and angst as the other characters. As with her other books, at the heart of the story is a strong, vibrant young woman who sets out after her heart's desire, only to hit significant set backs before finding not happily-ever-after but the ways her own strengths pull her through changes.
I teach a graduate course in Contemporary Issues in Publishing for Children and Young Adults, and we read Maureen Johnson's Bermudez Triangle this spring. For the students, the lesbian relationship was just not a big deal, and we had to do some talking and learning together about just how few books have existed over time that show lesbian or gay teens as normal, not as The Problem. Several of my students had the
"beach reading" edition of this book, with thicker pages and a water-proof cover. Have any of you seen this? I was impressed that an openly lesbian story was being marketed as a fun summer romance.
Elliott batTzedek Collections Developer Children's Literacy Initiative
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Lesley Colabucci Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 1:35 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu; Nancy Silverrod Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] FW: Question about GLSBQ literature
Sorry if I'm "behind" in the discussion.
I really appreciate this discussion of labels with regard to multicultural children's literature (including GLBTQ in that canon). I teach a class on "gender and race issues in children's literature" to undergraduates and we constantly grapple with the idea of a how a label is different from an identity. Labels are often used for discrimination purposes while identities tend to function as sources of pride. However, both categorize. I think the question is who is doing the categorizing and who benefits from it. I've noticed recently that when we talk about GLBTQ literature in my class, the students argue that they are not homophobic at all, that they just see people as human first. I have been really moved by this argument at times as students describe finding themselves relating to characters who truly are "windows" for them. Yet, I am still worried about the lack of mirrors GLBTQ children and families have available to them in literature and my life experience as a lesbian has led me understand that while universal connections are powerful, the need for affirmation of marginalized identities and exploration of issues of injustice endures.
Has E. Lockheart's book Dramarama been discussed at all? It's in my bedside book queue but I haven't read it yet. I understand it is not
"catalogued" as gay but that's it should be.
Lesley
Lesley Colabucci, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Elementary and Early Childhood Education Millersville University of Pennsylvania PO Box 1002 Millersville, PA 17551-0302
51 Lyte Road 322 Stayer Hall
(717) 871-5462 (fax)
(717) 871-5618 (office)
lesley.colabucci at millersville.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 Thu 29 May 2008 02:26:36 PM CDT
