MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

MarjaE · 07-16-2020, 11:45 AM

I see 3 questions here--

1. Should we separate the works from what we know of the authors' views and intentions? I would say no. Tolkien's works may be a good example, since his works incorporate a lot of racist attitudes, as well as royalist tropes about descent have been interpreted as racist ones, even as he's trying to oppose racism.

2. Or the authors' other actions? I think it depends. P.S. And railroading 5 black kids is *relevant* when someone is writing mystery or crime, or frankly anything involving American society.

3. Should we refuse to read and/or support certain works because they might fund or signal-boost or otherwise support evil? I think we should refuse to support some. Of course No Ethical Consumption and all that...

I see this as a matter of criticism and choice, not censorship. I haven't read the Princeton letter and wouldn't feel qualified to weigh in on it if I had.

Is there another question I'm missing here?

07-16-2020, 11:45 AM	#198
MarjaE Guru Posts: 924 Karma: 53902736 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: multiple	I see 3 questions here-- 1. Should we separate the works from what we know of the authors' views and intentions? I would say no. Tolkien's works may be a good example, since his works incorporate a lot of racist attitudes, as well as royalist tropes about descent have been interpreted as racist ones, even as he's trying to oppose racism. 2. Or the authors' other actions? I think it depends. P.S. And railroading 5 black kids is relevant when someone is writing mystery or crime, or frankly anything involving American society. 3. Should we refuse to read and/or support certain works because they might fund or signal-boost or otherwise support evil? I think we should refuse to support some. Of course No Ethical Consumption and all that... I see this as a matter of criticism and choice, not censorship. I haven't read the Princeton letter and wouldn't feel qualified to weigh in on it if I had. Is there another question I'm missing here? Last edited by MarjaE; 07-16-2020 at 11:48 AM.