fireun: (gaara wtf)
fireun ([personal profile] fireun) wrote2011-01-04 04:48 pm
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Of all the....

 [livejournal.com profile] otterdance  has an excellent discussion on the editing of Huck Finn.

When we get to the point where we are editing works of literature that reflect a period we are really missing the point of writing. And reading. Have dialog with your students instead of washing over anything that could inspire discussion. We aren't teaching at this point if we take away anything there is to teach. Editing works to fit modern asinine feelings of what is and is not appropriate is a failure of gross proportions to take something of value from these works, even if that value is nothing more than a discussion of why a certain word/topic/idea is offensive/hurtful/inappropriate. We cannot learn and grow if we merely decide to wash things away.
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[identity profile] bleedtoblue.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Editing is just not the same thing as censoring, removing the "offensive passages" is censorship.

[identity profile] oracle-dreams.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
The vatican did not remove sensual nude human bodies, they just editted the bit they didn't like. You can look at them but only in their context.
jecook: Mirror Kirk laughing and words "I'm sorry, I can't here you over the sound of how awesome I am" (flaming sarcasm)

[personal profile] jecook 2011-01-05 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
Um, the 'editing' that was occurring was removal of words considered offensive.

You did read the entry she linked to, yes?

It's funny- people seem to get all offended when the majority group uses slang words to reference minority groups. No one seems to be offended when the reverse happens.

Oh, did I mention I love standards, because there are so many of them?

[identity profile] oracle-dreams.livejournal.com 2011-01-05 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
Um... I did. I thought I offered a parallel example that resonanted with me.
The *N* word = ancient greek willies. Both castrated in the name of PCness...


[identity profile] fireun.livejournal.com 2011-01-05 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
It funny- 'editing' is acceptable (in most cases, at least more acceptable) while 'censorship' is such a negative flash word. Depending on who is talking about this topic, one or the other words is used. I find it almost fascinating.

And you are right, there really is a conceptual difference between censoring and editing, but I think it is a distinction that is missed much of the time.
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