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Re: Question for Tim Tingle about selecting illustrators
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From: Norma Jean Sawicki <nsawicki_at_nyc.rr.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:54:23 -0500
Many illustrators are terrific at research and use original sources….depending on the material, the research alone can take several months, and may involve travel, as well as interviews with people "expert" in the subject matter. And writers are generous in sharing their research.
As for…"was the depiction well received by the people it is supposed to be?" It depends on the quality of the work/the book, as well as the eye of the beholder. For those who are single minded and believe material should be illustrated only by people of the same culture/background, it is unlikely many of those folk will be pleased…the philosophy is more important than the work he/she is looking at. Norma Jean
On Feb 19, 2014, at 6:22 PM, Debbie Reese wrote:
> Yes, anybody can illustrate outside their own culture and do it well if... if... if...
>
> Some of you know this story because I've told it before. At a CCBC conference years ago, James Ransome was asked why he'd not illustrated any stories about American Indians. He paused and then said something like "because I haven't held their babies." Powerful words, aren't they?
>
> Jane listed several illustrators that did illustrations for her books. We know it can be done. The question is, was the depiction well-received by the people it is supposed to be?
>
> Artists and writers who don't know to step outside standard sources when researching American Indians will not likely give us something that works. They'll replicate bias and error.
>
> Lee Byrd said that they try hard to find illustrators of the tribal nation. I think that is a good thing because of the possibilities it opens up for teachers and librarians who ask students to do author/illustrator studies. They can say "Karen Clarkson is Choctaw." That verb is so important for pushing back on the idea that we no longer exist, and it also introduces all of us in the kid lit world to a new voice.
>
> Debbie
> __________________________________________________________
> Debbie Reese, PhD
> Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
>
> Email: dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com
>
> Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
> _at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
>
> Now: Studying for MLIS at San Jose State University
> Then: Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, University of Illinois
>
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Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:54:23 -0500
Many illustrators are terrific at research and use original sources….depending on the material, the research alone can take several months, and may involve travel, as well as interviews with people "expert" in the subject matter. And writers are generous in sharing their research.
As for…"was the depiction well received by the people it is supposed to be?" It depends on the quality of the work/the book, as well as the eye of the beholder. For those who are single minded and believe material should be illustrated only by people of the same culture/background, it is unlikely many of those folk will be pleased…the philosophy is more important than the work he/she is looking at. Norma Jean
On Feb 19, 2014, at 6:22 PM, Debbie Reese wrote:
> Yes, anybody can illustrate outside their own culture and do it well if... if... if...
>
> Some of you know this story because I've told it before. At a CCBC conference years ago, James Ransome was asked why he'd not illustrated any stories about American Indians. He paused and then said something like "because I haven't held their babies." Powerful words, aren't they?
>
> Jane listed several illustrators that did illustrations for her books. We know it can be done. The question is, was the depiction well-received by the people it is supposed to be?
>
> Artists and writers who don't know to step outside standard sources when researching American Indians will not likely give us something that works. They'll replicate bias and error.
>
> Lee Byrd said that they try hard to find illustrators of the tribal nation. I think that is a good thing because of the possibilities it opens up for teachers and librarians who ask students to do author/illustrator studies. They can say "Karen Clarkson is Choctaw." That verb is so important for pushing back on the idea that we no longer exist, and it also introduces all of us in the kid lit world to a new voice.
>
> Debbie
> __________________________________________________________
> Debbie Reese, PhD
> Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
>
> Email: dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com
>
> Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
> _at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
>
> Now: Studying for MLIS at San Jose State University
> Then: Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, University of Illinois
>
> You are currently subscribed to ccbc-net as: nsawicki_at_nyc.rr.com.
>
> To post to the list, send message to...
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Received on Wed 19 Feb 2014 05:54:54 PM CST
