-----Original Message----- From:
DJ-Anonyme@webtv.net Sent: Nov 13, 2005 8:06 PM To:
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: RARA-AVIS:
Surprise Endings
Joy wrote:
"The racism, sexism, classism, and every other variety of
bigotry of books from bygone eras (even much of the Old
Testament) bother me, and I avoid them."
To varying degrees, I can put those traits in vintage books
into context. What really gets to me are contemporary writers
who set their books in the past and use it as an excuse to
revel in racial, ethnic and homophobic slurs. It too often
seems like an excuse to spew those vile sentiments, whether
because they agree with them or just to shock, while
retaining the easy out of saying, Hey, it's not me, it was
the times. I found that excuse less and less compelling from
Ellroy, finally had to stop reading him, well, that and his
increasingly slack writing.
Mark
I understand where you're coming from here, Mark, but it
brings up an interesting writing problem. If a writer decided
to place their story in less "enlightened" times, how would
they handle this issue without being offensive to our more
tender sensibilities while still being authentic to the way
many people used to speak? Especially - but certainly not
exclusively - bad people?
TL
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 13 Nov 2005 EST