Some students at the University of Utah are frightened by autobiographical graphic novels, as shown in this story where they compare Fun Home to pornography. There’s even a protest group with an online petition, I find horrible mid-90s web page design much more frightening than porn. If students are horribly traumatized by reading graphic novels in English class, there’s always another school in the state they could transfer to, where they would be in no danger of being exposed to material involving homosexuality. Usually when you hear about book challenges like this, it happens in a school library setting. But Utah is special!
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Oh god forbid, someone doesn’t like to see sex acts!
Interesting news!
I’m not a regular here, I found this through WFA.
But here’s my thoughts on the matter: This is another reason why universities ought to be more selective during their application process. I mean, come on, you’re in college and you think “Fun Home” is pornographic? You’re in college–you’re obviously an adult. You do realize that other adults like to occasionally indulge in sexual acts–some times with members of their own sex! Shocking!
Hm. Done venting.
I just read “Fun Home” about two weeks ago. I thought it was brilliant. I’ve recommended it to everyone I know–especially the “I don’t like comics, I only read serious literature” types–because it bridges the gap between comics and literature. Which is the main reason I think it’s good for a college level class. Reading “Fun Home” involves a higher level of critical thinking. It’s something that’s supposed to make you think. I mean, “Fun Home” references Proust! Proust! How much more literate can you get? (and no, I am not middle aged yet, but I have accepted that I’m never going to actually read “Remembrance of Things Past”. However, one day, I will read and comprehend “Finnegan’s Wake”.)
Anyway, my point is that “Fun Home” is not pornographic in the sense of “Debbie does Dallas” or “Ilsa: She-Something of the SS”. It’s pornographic in the way that Mozart was. That J.D. Salinger was. That James Joyce was.
Essentially, it’s pornographic because small minded people can’t think outside their own small clusterfuck values and realize that there are other people on this earth that have different perspectives than them.
And me? I guess I always thought that learning critical thinking was what going to college was for.
I would guess that part of the problem is that college students in Utah are generally much more sheltered and socially conservative compared to the typical college student in any other state.
I find it discouraging that the first line on this site uses the word “frightened” to describe U of U students. Disgusted is probably a more accurate description. What we put into our minds is there to stay. I know, it’s hard to believe! Even students should have the freedom to be discerning about what they view and read. If someone thinks something is pornographic, are they not allowed to have an opinion? Should they be forced to view what is in their opinion pornography? This hints of the left pushing its agenda to the detriment of inherent freedoms once again.
To address my fellow blogger, what “other adults like to occasionally indulge in” is their business. Don’t make it everyone else’s. Critical thinking without freedom of choice isn’t really critical thinking, is it? By the way, I was unaware that referencing Proust makes something literate.
[...] Via Posted by JK Parkin in Graphic Novels, Legal, News & Views [ Permalink ] [ ] [...]