Racism In Literature

[sirinrob]

Another quick question:

 

If Mein Kampf had not already been published and the papers were discovered today in a bunker somewhere, where they'd been concealed all this time, would you want to have it published now?

 

Yes, as an historical document. Bear in mind the draft written by Hitler, had to be edited by one of his adjuntants to make it readable. Even then the published version is not an easy read (a.k.a insomnia cure). Read in translation about 15 years ago, came across as an incoherent hotchpotch of ideas.

[Cookie]

Yes, as an historical document. Bear in mind the draft written by Hitler, had to be edited by one of his adjuntants to make it readable. Even then the published version is not an easy read (a.k.a insomnia cure). Read in translation about 15 years ago, came across as an incoherent hotchpotch of ideas.

 

My brother in law read it and said basically the same thing - incoherent babble.

 

I don't think literature should be censored at all - if someone is so easily influenced then they shouldn't be allowed around any sort of reading material!

[BigWords]

I don't think literature should be censored at all - if someone is so easily influenced then they shouldn't be allowed around any sort of reading material!

 

It isn't merely the possibility that some idiots will be influenced, there is the wider 'enjoyment factor' (that nebulous line between "I like this book" and "urggh") which is affected by casual lines of thoughtless text from days gone by. Perfectly good books (in every other regard), and which have no bearing on the race issue, have been spoiled for me by the odd line of casual racism. It pulls me out of the text, and I sit looking at the page wondering how the hell it slipped through the editors, proofreaders, typesetters and other folks who make sure that books are going to be read by as many people as possible.

[Cookie]

It isn't merely the possibility that some idiots will be influenced, there is the wider 'enjoyment factor' (that nebulous line between "I like this book" and "urggh") which is affected by casual lines of thoughtless text from days gone by. Perfectly good books (in every other regard), and which have no bearing on the race issue, have been spoiled for me by the odd line of casual racism. It pulls me out of the text, and I sit looking at the page wondering how the hell it slipped through the editors, proofreaders, typesetters and other folks who make sure that books are going to be read by as many people as possible.

 

I know what you mean in one of Poes stories there was a black slave and he talked 'lik dis mista i don no nufink' it was pretty awful - like he had a bad cold and no teeth!