Good article -- well-balanced, which is more than I can say for myself when I encounter the bowdlerisation of classic literature. I wrote about the Bond novels here: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/i/105419998/a-sense-of-entitlement What on earth is the point of erasing the past in this way? By seeing what an obnoxious person Bond was surely helps us appreciate how much progress we've made in our attitudes, and in what is deemed acceptable?
My preference is always to preserve the past, including the unsavory bits. How else do we have a record of where we’ve come? The Kat Rosenfield link above is helpful on that point. I’m with her. I think it’s best to let it be what it is, and let the publishers possibly contextualize that with a note if necessary. That said, the copyright owners and their publishing partners ultimately get the call. Market pressures can only go so far. Maintaining accessibility to the artifacts may fall to libraries or archives.
"How else do we have a record of where we’ve come? " my point exactly. I do sometimes wonder if the "erasers" actually have a vested interest in portraying everyone (except them) as racist, mysogynist, transphobic etc etc
When our son was in high school, I asked him what he had been reading lately. He said he was reading Nietzsche, "Catcher in the Rye", and "Game of Thrones." I about self-combusted. I told him those were all books he should not be reading. I was sure Jesus would let that one sheep go. This was when he delivered his scathing speech to me about how small-minded I was and that the religious dogmas I clung to were keeping me from learning about what other people think. (I probably already referenced this conversation.) Since then, I've read those books and then some. I follow his Goodreads list as much as I can. The good news is, Jesus kept His little sheep and has given him great wisdom and discernment. The boy is brilliant, and by golly, I'd like to be brilliant too when I grow up. When this topic comes up around here in certain "Christian" circles, I am quick to remember I was there once. Is it possible to fiercely confess the Apostles Creed and read Nabokov? Absolutely. I'm not saying it's edifying and personally, I'd choose not to read "Lolita", but it's a great way to galvanize or reject your beliefs. For me, it highlights the falleness of man and why we desperately need a savior.
Bradbury's coda at the end of Fahrenheit is spot on.
Yes, I agree. If you don’t like what others say, say something different.
Good article -- well-balanced, which is more than I can say for myself when I encounter the bowdlerisation of classic literature. I wrote about the Bond novels here: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/i/105419998/a-sense-of-entitlement What on earth is the point of erasing the past in this way? By seeing what an obnoxious person Bond was surely helps us appreciate how much progress we've made in our attitudes, and in what is deemed acceptable?
My preference is always to preserve the past, including the unsavory bits. How else do we have a record of where we’ve come? The Kat Rosenfield link above is helpful on that point. I’m with her. I think it’s best to let it be what it is, and let the publishers possibly contextualize that with a note if necessary. That said, the copyright owners and their publishing partners ultimately get the call. Market pressures can only go so far. Maintaining accessibility to the artifacts may fall to libraries or archives.
"How else do we have a record of where we’ve come? " my point exactly. I do sometimes wonder if the "erasers" actually have a vested interest in portraying everyone (except them) as racist, mysogynist, transphobic etc etc
When our son was in high school, I asked him what he had been reading lately. He said he was reading Nietzsche, "Catcher in the Rye", and "Game of Thrones." I about self-combusted. I told him those were all books he should not be reading. I was sure Jesus would let that one sheep go. This was when he delivered his scathing speech to me about how small-minded I was and that the religious dogmas I clung to were keeping me from learning about what other people think. (I probably already referenced this conversation.) Since then, I've read those books and then some. I follow his Goodreads list as much as I can. The good news is, Jesus kept His little sheep and has given him great wisdom and discernment. The boy is brilliant, and by golly, I'd like to be brilliant too when I grow up. When this topic comes up around here in certain "Christian" circles, I am quick to remember I was there once. Is it possible to fiercely confess the Apostles Creed and read Nabokov? Absolutely. I'm not saying it's edifying and personally, I'd choose not to read "Lolita", but it's a great way to galvanize or reject your beliefs. For me, it highlights the falleness of man and why we desperately need a savior.
Thanks for adding that. Orwell offers a great compass for navigating some of these issues.