Friday, May 22, 2020
Book Censorship and Banning of Childrens Books
Many people think that book censorship, challenges and book banning are things that happened in the distant past. That is certainly not the case. You may also remember all of the controversy about the Harry Potter books in the early 2000s. Why Do People Want to Ban Books? When people challenge books it is generally out of a concern that the contents of the book will be harmful to the reader. According to the ALA, there are four motivating factors: Family ValuesReligionPolitical ViewsMinority Rights. The age level for which a book is intended does not guarantee that someone wont try to censor it. Though the emphasis seems to be on challenges to childrens and young adult (YA) books some years more than others, attempts are also continually mounted to restrict access to certain adult books, often books that are taught in high school. Most complaints are made by parents and are directed to public libraries and schools. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The Fight Against Book Censorship When the Harry Potter books came under attack, a number of organizations joined together to establish Muggles for Harry Potter, which became known as kidSPEAK and focused on being a voice for kids in fighting censorship in general. KidSPEAK stressed, Kids have First Amendment rightsââ¬âand kidSPEAK helps kids fight for them! However, that organization no longer exists. For a good list of organizations that are dedicated to fighting book censorship, just take a look at the list of sponsoring organizations in my article about Banned Books Week. There are more than a dozen sponsors, including the American Library Association, National Council of Teachers of English, American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Association of American Publishers. Parents Against Bad Books in Schools PABBIS (Parents Against Bad Books in Schools), is just one of a number of parent groups around the country challenging childrens and young adult books in classroom teaching, and in school and public libraries. These parents go beyond wanting to restrict access to certain books for their own children; they seek to restrict access for other parents children as well in one of two ways: either by getting one or more books removed from the library shelves or having access to the books restricted in some way. What Do You Think? According to article Public Libraries and Intellectual Freedom on the American Library Association Web site, while it is important and appropriate for parents to oversee their childrens reading and media exposure, and the library has many resources, including booklists, to assist them, it is not appropriate for the library to serve in loco parentis, making judgement calls appropriate for parents in terms of what their children do and do not have access to rather than serving in their capacity as librarians. For More Information About Book Banning and Kids Books ThoughtCo addresses the issue in the article Censorship and Book Banning in America about the controversy surrounding the teaching of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in an 11th Grade American Literature class. Read What Is a Banned Book? and how to save a book from banning by ThoughCoà to learn how you can prevent book censorship.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Homosexuality Nature or Nurture - 1209 Words
Abstract The quest to achieve ultimate unity has become quite the hot topic in present years. In Ryan D. Johnsonââ¬â¢s online research article, Homosexuality: Nature or Nurture, an explanation of homosexuality is broken down so the world has a better understanding of homosexuals. As referred to in the title, the origin of homosexuality has been debated to be because of nature or nurture. Basically, are people gay because itââ¬â¢s their personal choice or is it just who they are? The idea behind nurture is that the way one was raised can eventually affect a childââ¬â¢s sexual preference. In the first paragraph of this study, Johnson travels back to ancient Greece claiming that homosexuality has been around for ages, yet the root of the questionâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦If there was a weak father figure and a strong motherly figure then homosexuality is said to be more common because the child was unable to overcome their ââ¬ËOedipus syndrome.ââ¬â¢ Also the certain roles that are given to children at young ages have a common effect on sexuality, whether they follow a male and female stereotype that is. How a child is raised, what they witness and experience as they grow up all come together under the idea that nurture over nature has a bigger influence on a personââ¬â¢s sexuality. Therefore this article was quite informative about all the research that has been done over the years to determine the nature verse nurture question dealing with homosexuality. The article was not as descriptive with calculations and didnââ¬â¢t go too in-detail about what each experiment entailed but the outcomes gave enough data to let the reader establish their own opinion. Kinseyââ¬â¢s findings claimed that many men were not comfortable with the idea of two men together, but another same-sex relation, being women, didnââ¬â¢t bother them. These ââ¬Ëfactsââ¬â¢ were pretty irrelevant since the experiment was very outdated and didnââ¬â¢t mention wheth er nature or nurturing were involved but just the appeal of being gay. Also it never mentioned how homosexuality came to be, as Kinsey claimed was one of the reasons for the experiment. Hooker did a great analysis to prove that homosexuality was completely not a mental disorder yet a decision of the heart. Swaabââ¬â¢s focus was on how theShow MoreRelatedHomosexuality: Nature or Nurture811 Words à |à 3 Pageswith development across the human lifespan is the theory of ââ¬Å"Nature versus Nurtureâ⬠. It is an unsolved debate that has been around for centuries. It covers a broad spectrum of topics from intelligence to emotions, or in this case homosexuality. Although homosexuality is often thought of as a trait that is ââ¬Å"genetically determinedâ⬠, many others disagree and argue that it is rather a learned behavior (Lathe, pg. 20) Is it nature or nurture that causes this so-called ââ¬Å"abnormalityâ⬠? Or does it depend onRead More Homosexuality, Nature or Nurtur e? Essay1911 Words à |à 8 PagesHomosexuality, Nature or Nurture? Homosexuality has become a large issue in our lives today. Gay Rights activists have been making their voices heard; this has attracted the attention of the population making them take notice of their cause. The church has not been able to get away from the powerful political and social pressure of homosexuality. Some churches have accepted homosexuality but many still do not accept homosexuals, saying it is unnatural and not what godRead MoreHomosexuality - Nature or Nurture Essay2535 Words à |à 11 PagesHomosexuality Nature or Nurture Have you ever wondered what creates a persons sexual preference? Is it possible that their social influences and environment can lead them to certain sexual practices and same sex relationships or could it be that some people have a genetic makeup that makes it completely natural to be attracted to members of the same sex? These questions lead us to the long-lived debate of nature or nurture. Some scientists believe that people behave as they do accordingRead MoreNature vs. Nurture: Homosexuality2002 Words à |à 9 Pagescause of sexuality. The whole subject is hidden in darknessââ¬â¢; this is a quote by Charles Darwin which illustrates the fact that your sexual orientation is unknown- this suggests that homosexuality is evolved through the upbringing and personal experiences. Many Social Theorists agree with this and they argue that Nurture is the main factor when considering the reasons behind human sexuality. They also suspect that upbringing and parental and family dy namics has a direct effect on a child s sexualityRead MoreEssay on Homosexuality as Nature or Nurture1936 Words à |à 8 PagesHomosexuality as Nature or Nurture Human sexuality has been one of societys most interesting, controversial, debated, and misunderstood topics. It has been the topic of numerous books, essays, documentaries, websites, and television magazine segments. More specifically, homosexuality is probably the most misunderstood aspect of human sexuality. This is mainly due to lack of education, exposure, or just a general close mindedness. Homosexual tendencies are genetically caused, but actingRead MoreHomosexuality: Nature vs. Nurture Essay1208 Words à |à 5 Pagesthat people hear about daily in the news, media, and daily lives of others, especially when it comes to the field of psychology and the nature versus nurture debate. For being as commonly debated and discussed as it is, there are many questions that come along with it: what is sexual orientation, how do people know their sexual orientation, what causes homosexuality, is it normal, is it possible to change, and can wanting LGBT, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and tra nsgender, youth to change lead to suicideRead MoreEssay about Homosexuality: Nature Versus Nurture2099 Words à |à 9 PagesHOMOSEXUALITY: NATURE VERSUS NURTURE Nature; all things belong to Mother Nature; the trees, the flowers, insects, the great waters, animals, and even the human race; all following the laws of nature that we are instinctively born with. However somewhere along the line something or someone defies those laws and go against what nature intended. Whether or not this rebellion is fostered by nurture, or if there is an exception to the laws that Mother Nature has set forth is a question that psychologistRead MoreEssay about Homosexuality: Nature or Nurture?1275 Words à |à 6 Pages Homosexuality is one of the most hot button issues in America today. Everyone has an opinion, some based on religious views others based on other external factors. People are afraid to talk about it because itââ¬â¢s something we donââ¬â¢t actually fully comprehend. This is because it scares people to admit they donââ¬â¢t know something. We need to find out if being a homosexual is something we are born with, or is it something we learn over time. Review of the Research There have been many research studiesRead MoreHomosexuality : Nature And Nature871 Words à |à 4 PagesHomosexuality: Nature or nurture By: Clifnie francois Advance Placement Psychology Mr. Cuetara June 4 2015 Abstract The nature and nature of homosexuality is heavily debated. Some people believe that homosexuality is biologically determined and others believe itââ¬â¢s base on ones environment. This topic can be argue to be base on both nature and nurture. Studies conducted in the past decades support both the biological and environmentalRead MoreDifferences Between Homosexuality and Homosexual Behavior Essay921 Words à |à 4 PagesHomosexuality (the tendency to be more sexually attracted to the same sex) is often confused with homosexual behavior (acting on homosexuality by engaging in homosexual acts), but the two are distinctly different. Even though homosexual behavior, especially in more recent years, has become an acceptable standard in our society it is a voluntary act and a sin, but the church has the ongoing responsibility and God-given call to love our neighbors, regardless of their sin because we too are all sinners
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature Review Free Essays
Introduction This literature review explores the contemporary assumptions that underpin the theories and criticisms in childrenââ¬â¢s literature. Although this genre of literature has fairly recently been made into an academic discipline, it has become an increasingly important area in literary scholarship. Criticism of childrenââ¬â¢s literature has expanded beyond the field of pedagogy and literary studies and has been intersected by numerous other disciplines including psychology, history and queer theory. We will write a custom essay sample on Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature Review or any similar topic only for you Order Now There are four main approaches to criticism of childrenââ¬â¢s literature; firstly, the ââ¬Å"child-centricâ⬠approach, which attempts to define books that are inherently ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ for children to read and why. The second approach concentrates on the construction of the child and their identity. The third approach merely focusses on the text itself, and completely disregards the audience in question. The value of the text is therefore measured only through the authorââ¬â¢s standard of writing. The final approach focusses on childrenââ¬â¢s literature as a cultural study, and analyses the genre as an aspect of contemporary culture. This topic can be fairly broad, and as such, this analysis must be narrowed and focussed. This review therefore concentrates on drawing together significant theories and criticisms relating to childrenââ¬â¢s literature, and does so specifically through means of the second main approach to criticism; analysing how the child and their identity are constructed. Four topics divide the paper and directly relate to my doctoral research: ââ¬Å"The difficulties in defining childrenââ¬â¢s literatureâ⬠, ââ¬Å"The rejection of simplistic texts and the underlying ideologies that are presentâ⬠, ââ¬Å"The problematic colonialism of the child debate that exists within the adult-child relationshipâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Presenting the postcolonial in childrenââ¬â¢s texts ââ¬â defining ââ¬Ëthe otherââ¬â¢ and identity in literatureâ⬠. Defining Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature ââ¬â ââ¬Å"The Difficultiesâ⬠Defining childrenââ¬â¢s literature can be quite problematic, as one definition can differ extensively from another; depending primarily on the culture in question. For instance, the age range of the ââ¬Ëchildââ¬â¢ can vary from 0-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 in western culture.[1] Furthermore, the reading level of children is under constant scrutiny, as it can be argued that children have no input in the creation of the texts that they are subject to. In his recent attempt to generate a working definition of this diverse group of texts, Perry Nodelman contends that ââ¬Å"defining childrenââ¬â¢s literature has been a major activity of criticism throughout its historyâ⬠.[2] John Rowe Townsend suggests it is impossible to define childrenââ¬â¢s literature as the possession of ââ¬Ëthe childââ¬â¢: ââ¬Å"Childrenââ¬â¢s implies that young people own or control a body of texts that are generally written, published, reviewed and bought by adultsâ⬠.[3] Townsend also suggests abandoning such definitions.[4] Karin Lesnik-Oberstein asserts that there is a faulty grouping of children into one neat category as ââ¬Å"childrenâ⬠, with no regard to their individualism.[5] Oberstein also introduces a paradox within childrenââ¬â¢s literature that denotes: ââ¬Å"Childrenââ¬â¢s literature repeatedly refutes this; claiming that ââ¬Ëindividualityââ¬â¢ is its priority above all elseâ⬠¦ This is precisely the claim which cannot be sustained and is undermined within the field itselfâ⬠¦ The ââ¬Ëchildââ¬â¢ is an ââ¬Ëindividualââ¬â¢ within the category of ââ¬Ëchildhoodââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ .[6] The author is suggesting that the literary world deems the child as being part of an autonomous group rather than the child being a ââ¬Ëyoung adultââ¬â¢ or moreover, a sentient being. Nodelman observes that although it is difficult to clearly define what is considered childrenââ¬â¢s literature, it does not mean that some texts do not clearly fall into the category.[7] For instance, classic fairy tales such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs[8] have and always will be judged as part of the childââ¬â¢s canon of literature, if only for its extensive history. In Nodelmanââ¬â¢s The Hidden Adult, McDowell presents the obvious defining characteristics that set childrenââ¬â¢s texts apart from other genres of literature. Namely, these characteristics include universality; ââ¬Ëgood over evilââ¬â¢ and moral teachings.[9] Although defining characteristics in childrenââ¬â¢s texts serves to neatly organise muddled definitions, it is perhaps too ideological and simple an approach. Just because childrenââ¬â¢s texts have ââ¬Å"universal structural traits and patterns common to all childrenââ¬â¢s literatureâ⬠[10]; to link them is impossible. This theory assumes that childrenââ¬â¢s texts remain similar at all times and do so within all cultures. This is certainly not true. The prospect of ââ¬Ëgood and evilââ¬â¢ is subjective amongst all cultures. By linking this philosophy to childrenââ¬â¢s texts, Shavit is thereby declaring that all tales that oppose the western ideal of universality (for example) canââ¬â¢t app ropriately be labelled as childrenââ¬â¢s literature as differing views of what is inherently ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ will surface from culture to culture. Thus, it is with the boxed definition that Shavit and Nodelman employed that the definition of childrenââ¬â¢s literature is explained in a very Eurocentric manner.[11] Recent definitions of the genre have attempted to avoid the generalization of children; although this has proven extremely difficult because of contemporary ideology that states plots do not deviate from the same basic forms.[12] Childrenââ¬â¢s literature is extraordinarily simplified as a result of this theory, and conforms to the ââ¬Å"binary approach that underlies all adult thinking about children in the centuries in which a ââ¬Ëspecialââ¬â¢ literature has existed. The understanding of children is determined purely in terms of their opposition to, lack of, and subordination to maturity.â⬠[13] This demonstration of childrenââ¬â¢s literature arguably only serves to stereotype and de-humanise its adult authors, who have since become the harbingers of patronising connotations. Throughout the literatureââ¬â¢s history, they have depicted children as fundamentally incapable, single-minded, vulnerable, and above all, completely innocent. Adultââ¬â¢s definitions of child-driven narratives have consequently indoctrinated this view onto their child readersââ¬â¢ minds. The hierarchy of age is still present, whether or not the intent is for the best. In The Hidden Adult, Nodelman proposes: ââ¬Å"In working to construct childhood as a smaller and more protected version of being human; a safe home separate from the more dangerous world around it, childrenââ¬â¢s literature paradoxically closets its adulthood and keeps it a safely hidden secret that allows for the supposed safety and innocence of the protective structure that surrounds it.â⬠[14] Here Nodelman has clearly highlighted the difficulties of defining childrenââ¬â¢s texts. Doing so works only to alienate children from the real ââ¬Ëadultââ¬â¢ world, he suggests, which results in children being judged as completely un-educated, delusional and almost mythical in their state of innocence. Would it not better treat the child to expose them to more practical scenarios that they could relate to in realityThis will be answered later. As it stands, childrenââ¬â¢s literature is defined through its message rather than its artistic value. However, Marah Gubar has counter-acted this point and argued in Artful Dodgers: Reconceiving the Golden Age of Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature that childrenââ¬â¢s literature can be ââ¬Å"rich in irony, in ambiguity and in linguistic subtletyâ⬠and suggests that the essentialism of children tends to narrow out vision.[15] It should not be forgotten that these texts are still works of literature; and their construction, together with their command over language is the cornerstone for their success. The fact of the matter still remains that childrenââ¬â¢s literature is arguably indefinable, being as though the child readers themselves do not take part in their construction at all. One can still afford to discuss and dissect the genre, however, as it is part of the literary world. In light of this, and in order to distinguish childrenââ¬â¢s texts from other texts, it has been largely determined that the genre deals with literature written for, or mainly read by, children between the ages of 1 and 16, in formats and styles ranging from the picture book to the young adult novel. Ideology ââ¬â ââ¬Å"No Text is Simpleâ⬠Childrenââ¬â¢s literature is most usually seen in binary of ââ¬Å"goodâ⬠for children, or as ââ¬Å"badâ⬠for children. Child-centric criticisms usually focus upon this binary divide and look at what is ââ¬Å"goodâ⬠for the child ââ¬â in reading and in types of texts the child reads. Although this approach is fairly out-dated in childrenââ¬â¢s literature studies, it is still used by many educators and librarians around the world. It is also included in the many ââ¬Å"best ofâ⬠collections for analysing childrenââ¬â¢s literature. Keeping in mind the development of the child, child-centric ideology considers this the most important aspect of childrenââ¬â¢s literature. To further this point, Bruno Bettelheim reinforces the importance of fairy tales in his book The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales[16]. Here, Bettelheim asserts that fairy tales are an integral part of a childââ¬â¢s development and that they are of the utmost importance in nurturing the childââ¬â¢s growth and understanding of the world. He emphasizes that by dealing ââ¬Å"with universal human problems, particularly those which pre-occupy the childââ¬â¢s mind, these stories speak to the childââ¬â¢s budding ego and encourage its developmentâ⬠[17]. Although Bettelheim only assesses fairy tales, this theory of a ââ¬Å"moral goodâ⬠is still a method of judgement used today. Adult readers and parents of child readers will seek out the morally good message in childrenââ¬â¢s literature in order for their consent to be given. This is severely problematic, as Jack Zipes points out in Second Thoughts on Socialization Through Literature for Children[18]. He rejects Bettelheimââ¬â¢s analysis of fairy tales and argues that, along with the rest of childrenââ¬â¢s literature, the texts are not for children. Instead, Zipes stresses that childrenââ¬â¢s literature never belonged to children in the first place, and that it is in fact ââ¬Å"a script coded by adults for the information and internalization of children which must meet the approbation of adultsâ⬠.[19] In The Hidden Adult, Nodelman agrees that adults write these stories in order to acculturate the child towards the adultââ¬â¢s definitions of proper behaviour, mannerisms and socialization.[20] Whilst this might seem like warped philosophy, it does give reason for the texts to be created; to compliment the lower-reading level standard that is more easily relatable to children who wish to involve themselves in reading as a hobby or past-time . The adult writer-child reader relationship also presents another method of acculturating the child. Nodelmen in The Hidden Adult shed some light on how engrained adult assumptions are in supposedly innocent and simplistic texts: ââ¬Å"Childrenââ¬â¢s literature is not simple. The most rudimentary of baby books comes to exist and has meaning only within a complex context of assumptions about books, about babies, about books for babies, about language and visual imagery, about education, about pleasure, and about the economy and the marketplaceâ⬠.[21] Regardless then, of complexity or artistic construct; no form of text is without ideology. It is inevitable, and a product of contemporary belief; not to mention a product of what will sell a good amount of copies in the marketplace, as stated by Nodelman. In Ideology and the Childrenââ¬â¢s Book[22], Peter Hollindale assumes this position as well, and advocates it is ââ¬Å"because of the multiplicity and diversity of both ââ¬Ëbookââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëchildââ¬â¢ and of the social world in which each of these seductive abstractions takes a plenitude of individual formsâ⬠. Hollindale also suggests three levels of ideology in texts. The first is formed of ââ¬Å"the explicit social, political and moral beliefs of the individual writer and his/her wish to recommend them to children throughout the storyâ⬠. Hollindale believes that this type of ideology is mostly deliberate, and overtly promotes the message that the writer wishes to convey. However, Hollindale argues that this is mostly to an unhappy consequence, in which the ââ¬Å"ideological explicitness is often achieved at the cost of imaginative depthâ⬠. The second category of ideology within childrenââ¬â¢s texts is the un-examined assumptions and ideologies that the writer infuses into the work. It is nearly impossible to confine the subliminal or passive values of the writer. These values will be relocated into the text and into the overall sense of the storyline. They are then relayed to the reader through subtle and often unconscious choices of language and imagery. Furthermore, Hollindale affirms that ââ¬Å"un-examined, passive values are widely shared valuesâ⬠¦ (and one should not) underestimate the powers of reinforcement vested in quiescent and unconscious ideologyâ⬠. The third category of ideology is one that suggests our thinking ââ¬Å"may be affected by an over-simplified stereotype of possible authority and influenceâ⬠¦. (and that) writers for children are transmitters not of themselves uniquely, but of the worlds they share.â⬠The fictional universe that is made up for children in their literature is therefore a product of not only the individual writer, but of the values that were bestowed upon them when they were a child themselves. Colonialism of the Child Jacqueline Rose in The Case of Peter Pan or the Impossibility of Childrenââ¬â¢s Fiction[23] looks at J.M. Barrieââ¬â¢s Peter Pan[24] in order to present differing interpretations of childrenââ¬â¢s literature and asks ââ¬Å"what adults, through literature, want or demand of the child,â⬠rather than ââ¬Å"what children want, or need from literature.â⬠Furthermore, she identifies a problematic adult-child relationship in literature. She explains that childrenââ¬â¢s literature published for children is ââ¬Å"a way of colonizing (or wrecking) the childâ⬠.[25] Nodelman, in The Hidden Adult argues using similar threads and relates Edward Saidââ¬â¢s Orientalism to the case of children and their literature. The adult is seen as the colonizer and the child is seen as the colonized. Peter Hunt (literary critic) reinforces this point by concluding books that are ââ¬Ëwritten forââ¬â¢ children are more appreciated by their adult counterparts.[26] As a result, the relationship between writer and reader seems to be fairly one-sided, as the books then become texts that are written by adults, for adults. The child, quite notably, is taken out of the picture all together, as if they have been thoroughly colonized by adults and forced to grow up. Nodelman explains that ultimately, adults canââ¬â¢t escape the role of the colonizer because they are the only party that has the ability and foresight to write childrenââ¬â¢s books that will withstand the test of time. ââ¬Å"In order to combat colonization, I am recommending a benevolent and helpful colonizing attitude towards childrenâ⬠,[27] Nodelman suggested. However, if one is to conclude that no childrenââ¬â¢s literature exists that is not colonizing, what does this mean for the future of childrenââ¬â¢s booksAre we to simply stop writing books that have been read and loved by generations of children over centuriesOr is contemporary society merely becoming too carried away with social practiceOr furthermore; are we too afraid of damaging childrenââ¬â¢s innate ââ¬Å"innocenceâ⬠with any pre-mature thought of the adult world? Granted, this lack of urgency is less prominent in literature targeted at adolescence, but the types of literature published and chosen to be highlighted must also be taken into consideration in that genre as well. In conclusion, it seems that in terms of controlling relationships, adults are continuing to colonize children in literature, through an un-avoidable turn of events. Post Colonialism ââ¬â The ââ¬Å"Otherâ⬠and Identity in Literature ââ¬Å"Child psychology and childrenââ¬â¢s literature can be discussed and analyzed as the corporate institution for dealing with childhood ââ¬â dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it; in short, child psychology and childrenââ¬â¢s literature as an adult style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over childhood.â⬠[28] This quotation demonstrates the thorough colonization of the child through literature that is aimed solely at them. Whilst this section deals with post-colonization, it is necessary to address the effects that colonization had on the world in a political and social sense. For instance, a divide was created between the West and the Orient. Both senses of each cultureââ¬â¢s identity were molded within their given territories, as well as against one anotherââ¬â¢s given territory. A western child grows up knowing that he is a western child, and at the same time develops knowledge of the oriental child. Therefore an identity is made to suit himself, whilst another foreign identity is made to suit the oriental child in his eyes. In post-colonial society, the decolonized child develops a post-colonial identity that has since stemmed from being colonized by their own society. Children are influenced by the ââ¬Å"good and the badâ⬠of the previous generations. They are influenced to read materials given to them by their parents ââ¬â materials that the parents themselves have deemed worthy and acceptable of the childââ¬â¢s embrace. Again, there is no possible room for a world in which colonization does not exist in the parent-child relationship. There is still the role of the colonizer (played by the parent) and the role of the colonized (played by the child). The colonizerââ¬â¢s influence is strong and un-deniable on the child, much like the influence that the British Empire had during its reign over India. Clare Bradford exhibits this point well in her book Unsettling Narratives: Post-Colonial Readings of Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature[29], in so far that she observes how mainstream cultures have used and recycled the same classic narrative discourses for decades. Clare suggests that this is a mere reinforcement of colonization, and that the movement is a product of children having been colonized by their parents for the whole of child literatureââ¬â¢s history. Bradford has pointed out the perpetuating cycle of this activity; and how it will never change because of the relationship found between the colonizer and the colonized i.e. parent and child. With this passing down of identity from colonizer to colonized, the child begins to forge his or her own will to carry on the generational hierarchy, and indeed, their own will to recognize their identity from others. Nodelman touches upon this point very well in The Otherâ⬠¦, by comparing Orientalism to common assumptions about childrenââ¬â¢s literature and childhood itself. His discovery was triggered by Edward Saidââ¬â¢s Orientalism[30], which acts as a commentary about the ways the West views the East. It dictates that by analyzing and authorizing views about the Orient, we are also dominating and restructuring it, much in the same way as we are dominating and re-structuring childhood by allowing adults to write about it. Roderick McGillis reinforces this point by using the example of cowboys and Indians at the start of his book Voices of the Other: Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature and the Postcolonial Context[31]. After observing how some boys act out the massacre of 40,000 native Indians because their cowboy idols are doing so, he determines that ââ¬Å"the success of American culture amounts to a colonizing activity that these boys appear to accept readily and unquestioningly.â⬠The same activity that McGillis noticed in these boys happens within all veins of childrenââ¬â¢s literature; children are accepting Peter Pan (for instance) without question, and addressing morals and universalities much in the same way as their beloved protagonist does. In conclusion, it is evident that modern post-colonial society canââ¬â¢t escape the relationship it has between adult-writer and child-reader. It is an observation that could be seen on the surface as being sinister, but one has to remember that adults were children once too. Who better is there to teach a child how to actDevelopmentally, humans are creatures of imitation. In this respect, literature should also be deemed as so. Bibliography Barrie, J.M. 2013. Peter Pan. UK. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN-10: 1484102827. Bettelheim, B. 1991. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. UK. Penguin Books. ISBN-10: 0140137270. Bradford, C. 2007. Unsettling Narratives: Postcolonial Readings of Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. UK. Wilfrid Laurier University ISBN-10: 0889205078. Brothers Grimm. 1987. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. UK. Square Fish. ISBN-10: 0374468680. Gubar, M. 2010. Artful Dodgers: Reconceiving the Golden Age of Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. S. OUP USA. ISBN-10: 0199756742. Pp. 45. Hollindale, P. 1988. Ideology and the Childrenââ¬â¢s Book. UK. Thimble Press. ISBN-10: 0903355264. Hunt, P. 1994. An Introduction to Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. USA. Oxford University ISBN-10: 0192892436. Lesnik-Oberstein, K. 2004. Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature: New Approaches. UK. Palgrave Macmillian. ISBN-10: 1403917388. 2008. The Hidden Adult: Defining Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. UK. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN-10: 0801889804. Pp. 188. McGillis, R. 2012. Voices of the Other: Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature and the Postcolonial Context (Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature and Culture). UK. Routledge, ISBN-10: 0415653150. 14-20, Chp. 43. McGillis, R. 2000. Voices of the Other. UK. Routledge. ISBN-10: 081533284. Nodelman, P. 2008. The Hidden Adult: Defining Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. UK. Johns Hopkins University ISBN-10: 0801889804. Pp. 163. Nodelman, P. 1992. The Other: Orientalism, Colonialism and Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature Association Quarterly. Vol. 17, No. 1. Pp. 29 ââ¬â 35. Penguin Group USA. 2013. Accessible: http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/children/booksbyage.html. Last Accessed 24/10/2013 Rose, J. 1984. The Case of Peter Pan or the Impossibility of Childrenââ¬â¢s Fiction. S. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN-10: 0812214358. Said, E. 1979. UK. Vintage. ISBN-10: 039474067X. Shavit, Z. 2010. Poetics of Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. S. University of Georgia Press. ISBN-10: 0820334812. Townsend, J. R. 1971. Standards of Criticism for Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature. S. American Library Association. Pp. 194. Zipes, J. 1981. Second Thoughts on Socialization Through Literature for Children. The Lion and the Unicorn Vol. 5. UK. The Johns Hopkins University Pp. 19-32. How to cite Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature Review, Essay examples
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