I am in disbelief of this..

[danastas]

They weren't worried about urban black kids being exposed to it. Huck Finn is well within the bounds of what might be taught in African-American Studies. They pulled it mainly because of the N-word. Let's see, you have a rebellious kid who realizes that racism isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I can't wait until these people discover that the most well-known American novel in history--Moby Dick--has a lot of gay men in it.

[horns666]

Moby Dick is Gay??

Well then, that sure explains his extremely large blow-hole...

[lerxstcat]

They weren't worried about urban black kids being exposed to it. Huck Finn is well within the bounds of what might be taught in African-American Studies. They pulled it mainly because of the N-word. Let's see, you have a rebellious kid who realizes that racism isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I can't wait until these people discover that the most well-known American novel in history--Moby Dick--has a lot of gay men in it.

I figured that was it but I thought I'd let you say it! If you think about it though, Huck used that word throughout in a way that had no hatred attached. It was matter-of-fact, no more than a name. Also, with Tom Sawyer,"Native-American Joe" wouldn't have the same ring! But as for Huck Finn I think the album is classic enough to abide the N-word. It's just one of the first books as a kid that I really immersed myself in. That and my dad was into James Fenimore Cooper and those were also some great books I loved as a kid.

[horns666]

Rich..I read Twain in school, different world back then. That's when the nuns beat my ass with a stick, remember that shit?!

Bro, did you ever read Twain's "Letters from Earth"..it's very simliar to my POV..pretty weird really.

Emmy told me to read it, I didn't even know it existed until a couple years ago..I have a link of the entire book , if you're interested. It's a cool story..

[hippietim]

there is no avoiding the 'N' word or 'colored' if we are to study any significant amount of work from most of US history - I grew up in Virginia and can remember teachers letting students know they were free to say or not say those words when we were reading aloud. everyone, including the black kids, read the text as written. it's stupid and much more absurd to pretend that sort of thing doesn't exist.

about 15 years ago I was working for the marines down in jacksonville, florida. one morning as i was driving to work there was a news story about how the county was banning snow white from public schools. wtf? snow white? disney made a fucking movie of this yet some group of crazy right-wing religious nutjobs managed to infer nefarious intentions from that story. the clincher was when the station went to a commercial it was an ad from some gun superstore that had banter like the classic 'crazy eddie' electronic/appliances ads of the day - 'get yourself down here, we will not be undersold, need a handgun? we've got hundreds of 'em. rifle? are you kidding me? the shelves are OVERFLOWING! bring the kids. yada, yada, yada' - so it's cool to promote weapon sales as a fun family affair but look out for the dangers of snow white.

[horns666]

Well, if Snow White had a gun..she would have shot that evil bitch..

Those dwarfs boinked her..I know it..especially Dopey..you know he was high!!

Dwarfs need pussy too..you know they sport wood. There was no dwarf pussy anywhere in that movie, they certainly weren't gay, it wasn't cool back then..maybe Dopey..he could be Bi, I can see him swingin' both ways because he was kinda soft but that's it!

Grumpy didn't get any ass..

Sneezy..he did coke..

Name the dwarves..I got 'em all numbered!!

I'm going to really right-wing this fucker!!

[horns666]

They are still banning the N-word..just ask Kramer and Damon Wayons..

[horns666]

Could you imagine how much Dwarf spooge had to be in that place..

You have seven dwarves, and you know they all got major wood..and then you have this peice of ass named Snow White ..all passed out at their place and you're telling me..they didn't bang her..or even feel her up??

I KNOW what part they didn't like ..the Bukkake scene..

[Twisteramps]

They are still banning the N-word..just ask Kramer and Damon Wayons..

I guess Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle didn't get the memo. Hell, I heard Richard Pryor is saying the N-word in heaven right now...

Pete

[horns666]

I guess Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle didn't get the memo. Hell, I heard Richard Pryor is saying the N-word in heaven right now...

Pete

The is true..

They need to put a quarter in the quarter jar everytime they say it..Snoop Doggy Doo Doo Too..

Dave Chappelle is hilarious..I love that guy..

[danastas]

The ultimate irony about banning HuckFinn is that he treated Jim that way because he considered him an N---. The book is clearly all about race, and if that word gets taken out of the book, the whole thing doesnt make any sense.

[horns666]

Spanky loved Buckwheat..

But those assholes always made Buckwheat dress like a girl when he was younger, you didn't know if he was a boy or a girl..but Spanky knew and he loved him..they were buds, you could see that.

No matter how much I loathe people ..I'll always love kids..

Just like a Michael Jackson..I didn't think he was guilty that guy isolated him self from "People" and just loved kids because he never grew up himself..kind of weird but if you think about it..everyone here did something stupid in their sexual exploration years..the neighbor girl kissed my PP when i was five..I had no idea that was wrong ..so, I told my mom..two years later my mom caught with my pud stuck in a vase..see..

[Tashtego]

I assume you're talking about a grad intro class. Obviously there's not enough time in one class to take this all on. In fact, there are very few people who even have a deep background in all 3. You have specialists, etc. But regardless, give me the political angle. What is it?


So, you think this is taught in school, eh? I've taught at 4 schools, next year I have a post at a new place and I've looked at their curriculum. This description is probably 30 years behind the times. In a lit survey course, you'll run into a variety of literary theories as part of the history of criticism. You'll run into theories of philology, new criticism, marxist litcrit, psychoanalytical, etc. I guess some of these can be labeled liberal or conservative, but I wouldn't do it. Is that what you're talking about? Toss in some philology alongside deconstruction? That balances it?

Still, I'd like to see a specific course, not just one that critiques what's out there. What do conservatives have to teach us about literature? The conservative course you're citing above sounds like a critique of what might be labeled leftist literary theory (even though something like deconstruction includes a critique of marxism). Given the fact that this critique of past literary theories is quite common in universities already, I'm not sure how/why such a course would be labeled conservative. Put it this way, can someone with leftist leanings teach that course? Why/why not?

I was thinking of an introductory undergraduate class that provides context and background to the literary criticism the student will be going on to participate in for at least the rest of his academic career. Cultural marxism and its intellectual progeny dominate the way the humanities are taught and the way literature is discussed today but of course this was not always so. A conservative approach would present classical thought on the human condition as an alternative basis for literary & historical criticism and analysis. This would include the development of western ideas about free will, individual responsibility and moral absolutes. These are some of the philosophical pillars our society was built upon. They oppose the determinism implicit in marxist thought which has evolved into the racial and sexual identity politics that dominate the political/cultural debate today.

Returning to the original point, I will reiterate, the english and history departments of the University I am most familiar with are utterly dominated by people who philosophically adhere to the identity politics that are the current dominant manifestation of leftist ideology. It also includes socialist & communist anachronistic oldtimers that can be accurately described as Stalin apologists and/or cutural marxists in the sense you referred to, that of the 60's era Marcuse. This situation is almost universal at Western Universities. Criticism of old-time marxists does indeed occur but is only tolerated from radical leftist positions that stretch the politics of identity to evermore absurd extremes. This is the manifestation of the 'selective tolerance' of Marcuse. This is why the violent repression of the free speech by organized mob violence is implicitly condoned on the campus of Columbia for example.

[horns666]

I was thinking of an introductory undergraduate class that provides context and background to the literary criticism the student will be going on to participate in for at least the rest of his academic career. Cultural marxism and its intellectual progeny dominate the way the humanities are taught and the way literature is discussed today but of course this was not always so. A conservative approach would present classical thought on the human condition as an alternative basis for literary & historical criticism and analysis. This would include the development of western ideas about free will, individual responsibility and moral absolutes. These are some of the philosophical pillars our society was built upon. They oppose the determinism implicit in marxist thought which has evolved into the racial and sexual identity politics that dominate the political/cultural debate today.

Returning to the original point, I will reiterate, the english and history departments of the University I am most familiar with are utterly dominated by people who philosophically adhere to the identity politics that are the current dominant manifestation of leftist ideology. It also includes socialist & communist anachronistic oldtimers that can be accurately described as Stalin apologists and/or cutural marxists in the sense you referred to, that of the 60's era Marcuse. This situation is almost universal at Western Universities. Criticism of old-time marxists does indeed occur but is only tolerated from radical leftist positions that stretch the politics of identity to evermore absurd extremes. This is the manifestation of the 'selective tolerance' of Marcuse. This is why the violent repression of the free speech by organized mob violence is implicitly condoned on the campus of Columbia for example.

In the great words of Samuel L Jackson... "ENGLISH MUTHFUCKA..DO YOU SPEAK IT????!!"

"Check out the big brain on Brad.."

Sorry man..I had to..

[fett]

These guys are getting deep here. All I can say is I take everthing anyone says to me with a grain of salt and the understanding that if they are telling me anything other than 2+2=4 they will have a bias. My concern is a teacher has "control" of the situation. I just hope that students understand that the "Prof" is not necessarily right. There is room for a difference of opinion in any class.