Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 02:29:29 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) From: swalker-AT-email.unc.edu ("Scott D. Walker") Subject: Re: Condemnation of "July's People" I heard the same story. I think it's important that the South African interviewee (herself a teacher) took pains to note that this wasn't a policy-making committee nor even a representative one necessarily. Interesting too that the committee was fine with _Romeo and Juliet_ (which I suppose isn't too depressing) and _The Merchant of Venice_ (which contains no problematic racialist attitudes). ;) The issue that struck me in the critique of Gordimer was that the committee faulted her book for presenting racist viewpoints without the author's significantly distancing herself from those views. In other words, I suppose, the racist white characters aren't unsympathetic enough. Not my take, but I can see that viewpoint. Perhaps not too surprising that in the wake of apartheid there's (arguably) some oversensitivity to racism. As long as it doesn't turn into book-banning or -burning, I'm chalking it up to a good provocation of discussion. Just as I don't altogether agree with Achebe's view that _Heart of Darkness_ is racist, but I appreciate that his criticism raises the debate and draws readers out of simplistic psycho-metaphorical interpretations. -- Begin original message -- > From: Norman Cary <norman.cary-AT-wright.edu> > Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 21:40:11 -0400 > Subject: Condemnation of "July's People" > To: Poco <postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu> > Reply-To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu > > The other day on National Public Radio I heard that a committee of South > African teachers had condemned Nadine Gordimer's "July's People" as > racist. Gordimer allegedly was surprised at this reading. > (Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" were judged too depressing). I > have read that Gordimer's fiction is not held in high regard in S. > Africa because it is (a) too radical (b) not radical enough. > > I have taught Gordimer's novel many times and never did my (American) > students think it was anti-black. > > Comments?? > > > --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- > -- End original message -- --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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