Mark Twain Bibliophiles discussion

Should Classics be changed or altered at all because of Banned books status or to appease some parent/right wing whacko that probably hasn't read the book to begin with.... That has happened with Twain. Blame Alan Gribben, professor at Auburn University in Montgomery , Alabama, who has found a publisher for his NewSouth Edition of HUCKLEBERRY FINN. Start with Twain's masterpiece,and then what's next,and shall we change every classic novel to be politically correct , at the expense of the original historical intent of the novel ,written at that time??Many high school students who read Huckleberry or TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD say,leave the book alone,and let us experience it as it was written,and have discussions in class on what the book meant,and how it affects us in present day.

Your thoughts? Ideas? Send an email to Professor Gribben?

Let's hear from you guys,and what you think????

I am a member/shopper at Costco,and we get a wonderful magazine and it discusses this exact topic in the magazine. I believe you can find it online if you google it,and also google Professor Gribben.So, if you would like to do a bit of research on what the old professor is doing and why,and care to make any comments,I'd love to hear it!

Absolutely not. These are historical documents and should not be altered or amended to meet someone elses arbitrary standards. Besides, these words and phrases spark healthy debate and discussion - it gives provides the teacher/instructer an opportunity to TEACH children.

Exactly, Ivan! More input folks????

Never.

19 views and no comments?????

I disagree, there should be nothing on this fine earth that directs any negativity towards any one individual or group of individuals. Systematically dissecting literature is a good start however I am positive that we as the progressive society that we have proven ourselves to be time and time again, can take it to another level. Technology is on our side in this ultimate quest of unoffensetopia. Now that we have nothing written capable of conjuring anything up besides smiles, giggles and images of the television program Glee (only the positive upbeat parts)we move on to verbal offenses. Obviously there is no other choice than lips to be sewn / mind reading device inserted into brain. Should that not nip said offender in the bud and thoughts still exist. Lobotomy. Problem solved.

surely eric u are being satirical or sarcastic when u suggest brain surgery 2 keep people from reading what they want, and 2 think on their own?? 2 protect them from various ideas? history? common terminology of the times? surely you jest?

I jest...I think it is basically something that cannot happen. Not only is this art but a little history lesson as well. If we do not want history to continue to repeat itself we need to be able to discuss issues that are difficult instead of suppressing them by censorship. Keeping the language in question within the original content leaves the perfect platform for discussing what might be wrong with the way society has behaved in the past and how we can improve relationships with each other in the future. Especially in schools where young easily influenced individuals can truly benefit.

It goes far and above just words, this is something that can harbor emotional scars for people. The worst thing that individual can do is not openly communicate frustrations, concerns or emotions brought up by words or actions.

Wow! How profound. What's sad is so many teachers & schools are terrified to do exactly what you just said,and said so well.

Thanks I do get fed up with these issues, when I first heard about this that's exactly what came to mind...what are these people made of? If you don't what to engage and challenge young people and get them riled up, pissed off and involved, then you shouldn't be a teacher. Come to think of it there were only a few of them around when I went through school that did and I wish there had been more of them.

No.

ok,dick, could you be more specific. No to santized, or no to Eric's last comments? I am curious.
gary

Ok, not to trivialize your thoughts, Eric, also think about teachers in fear of their jobs due to doing exactly that. Believe me, I personally know some that lost their job by standing up,and rocking the boat. So, I can see both sides. What is sad is our administrators are not willing to support their teachers,and the general public are ignorant,and stupid,and don't want their kids to think for themselves, unless said students agree with their parents.

Until society allows teachers to teach,and be supported, it's only going to get worse. Parents, at least a good majority, are pretty much unsupportive,and have no respect for education, or those who are trying to help their child get a good job,and to be a success. Parents are more concerned about protecting their kids from everything,and not allowing their kids to grow up with minds of their own. As long as you stroke the child's ego, accept all the mediocre trends in all their child's endeavors,praise them to the highest hilt anyway, you're then left alone as a teacher. Isn't that sad??

It seems to me that the forces behind the "sanitizing" of Twain's works are doing so with good intentions but are naive in their efforts. Why is it never observed that the offensive may be, in turn, constructive? Surely we would never know right from wrong if we were not at one time or another offended, or insulted, or embarrassed. The word that is causing so much of a stir in Twain's "Huck Finn" is SUPPOSED to bother you. It is a glance in the mirror, so to speak, regarding humanity and where we have been and how we got to where we are now. It is there so that a child may look at their teacher and ask, "Why does he call Jim that?" To remove the offending text would be to deny a reader that lesson, in vain of course.

Very well said, Christopher!

Yes Christopher. Gary as far as the teachers not wanting to rock the boat in fear of loosing jobs. I agree that is tough and unfortunately that is a symptom of the root issue at hand. The curriculum is more than likely always questioned by a few, and the problem lies with who ever is making these decisions in the first place. Witch hunts and book burnings still exist in modern day society and as sad as it may seem history does repeat itself...especially if it is ignored.

Other titles that have been santitized..... check this out......



From a cartoon seen on St. Louis Post Dispatch....Robert Matson....

Sanitized book of the month club
Buy Mark Twain's updated, N-Word deleted Masterpiece today,and get these extra cleaned up classics free!

Conflict and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

To Put to Sleep A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Call of the Natural Habitat by Jack London

Moby-Penis by Herman Melville

Crime and Corrective Detention by Dostoevsky

The Waste Recycling Land by T. S. Eliot

The Grapes of Anger Management by John Steinbeck

Funny , eh?

Any comments?

I actually read Moby Penis this last year it was about half as long as Moby Dick.

LOL!

In the foreword to Huckleberry Finn, Twain notes that anybody looking for a moral in the story "will be shot." I feel the same way about those who believe we should "sanitize" a work of Art. There's a lot I love about America, but we aren't exactly sophisticated when it comes to the Arts. It's about time we left our Puritan heritage behind and grew up.

Huzzah! Huzzah! Joseph!

Somewhat related to the Twain topic at hand is this one:
How do you feel about the Jon Clinch book? I believe the title is Pap. It certainly garnered a lot of attention. I read and enjoyed the novel, as it is well-written. Still, I remember feeling conflicted... worried that Mark, one of my writing idols, would could down from above( or more likely up from below) and smack me for enjoying it so. For thse who have not read the book, Clinch continues the narrative from where Twain left off. In doing so, he plays kind of loose with some of the characters. The ending is shocking to say the least.
In some ways, I believe what Clinch did is unfair.He appropriated a wonderful cast of well- known characters skillfully drawn by a master craftsmen, as well as a magnificent setting, and a legion of fans only too anxious to learn more about Huck and his cohorts.
Doing so may not be plagiarism, but in my view it comes pretty close. I'm curious what my fellow Twainophiles think. Best.

I read the book, called FINN, and I liked it. But I have to agree with you. I kinda felt the novel took liberties,but it is a well written book, I do believe, because you and I feel that way......so if that was Jon's goal, he succeeded, wouldn't you say?

I think Twain should not be sanitized. Because if we do, then it becomes an issue of words and not ideas. If the shocking word gets you to think about the real issues (racism, prejudice, slavery) then the shocking word has done its job.

The same holds for Canadian author Lawrence Hill's novel The Book of Negroes which was published in the US and other countries as "Someone Knows my Name." (Just now, when I typed in the first title to provide the link, the second title automatically came up.) Not offending people is one thing; I'm all about treating others with dignity and respect. But bowdlerizing the past because it's unfortunate, painful, shameful or embarrassing is taking political correctness too far.

Somewhat related:
Why has there never been a good movie version of Huckleberry Finn? The one's I've seen have been uniformly horrible.
I think part of the reason is that producers and directors try to make it a kids movie... you know, Huck Finn, boy adventurer. Also, Twains masterful use of irony,doesn't survive the transition to film. Maybe,using a narrator who is hip to the subtlety of the language, would help.