Critical Mass has maybe my favorite commentary on the whole Fun Home/Blankets being banned from a public library kerfuffle. Lots of good links, plus irony!
I've refrained from commenting on this kerfuffle--though I have been following it closely--because I just haven't felt like ranting. I will say, for the record, that I just find the whole thing very confusing. I own both of these books--many people do, b/c they're both beautiful, critically acclaimed masterpieces--and don't remember any major objectionable content. I do remember some tenderly drawn, delicate sex stuff from Blankets, but that book is like 500 pages long and it was maybe one panel (and not graphic* at all--more like cuddling) and I don't remember any from Fun Home. If there is sex in either of those stories, it's not a major aspect of anything. (Obviously I should look this up.) Anyway, I found myself wondering whether these books were considered objectionable not because of their supposed sexual content, but because of their themes of liberalism, independence, and turning away from the close-minded. Who knows. Either way, it's a serious issue for both libraries and comic book fans.
In positive book news, the final Lemony Snicket book comes out today! I'm getting a copy over lunch.
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*another problem with the term "graphic novel" (besides the fact that sometimes they're non-fiction and not novels at all, etc) is that "graphic" is often misinterpreted as meaning "porny" when in fact it means "illustrated". This definitely cropped up a lot during this censorship battle.
3 comments:
didn't know about this--thanks for the link.
haven't read the k-book, but i own "blankets." it's so earnest that it borders on moral righteousness. would that all kids behave like the protagonist in that book.
it just goes to show how moronic censors are.
i think the kerfuffle (isn't that a mecer meyer monster) is more likely to be over the sexual abuse in Blankets, which i used to own (lost in move from the murdurham).
that's the sort of thing that seems to strike nerves for those who prefer to censor rather than face reality.
also, as ever, thanks for the books. i've come to trust your book opinions as i used to trust your musical ones, which you should share here more.
-dah
you know, i'd actually forgotten about the sexual abuse in blanket. i bet you're right.
i have been working on a new mix cd, but i've been sort of out of the new music loop since i moved!
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