On the editing of Huck Finn
It's lame, but it's not the end of culture as we know it, Jesus.
The trick any teacher would have with this book would be explaining in an understanding way the context of the use of the word and the times in which they were written. That, in this day and age of 'reality' TV and instant fame for being famous would be tough on its own, let alone in the aforementioned quote unquote culture we live in today.
If I found myself teaching an edited version of the book, I would do the same as before, and let the students know the real word used as well as the context and times in which it was written. I lament the editing, but I don't think it detracts from the power of the book at all, nor does it really change the context of the story, as the old and new words were at the time interchangeable.
What bothers me FAR more is the outright and blatant false history being taught in the new text books in Texas and other states, omitting politically 'incorrect' founding fathers, deemphasizing or outright ignoring important civil rights issues and individuals, teaching religious doctrine as science and claiming slaves were just fine with slavery really they were it was a war of Northern aggression don't you know.
Compared to that, editing Huck for one of the most reviled and hated and divisive words in the history of our culture seems not that big a deal to me. Don't let it blind you to the true travesties going on.
The trick any teacher would have with this book would be explaining in an understanding way the context of the use of the word and the times in which they were written. That, in this day and age of 'reality' TV and instant fame for being famous would be tough on its own, let alone in the aforementioned quote unquote culture we live in today.
If I found myself teaching an edited version of the book, I would do the same as before, and let the students know the real word used as well as the context and times in which it was written. I lament the editing, but I don't think it detracts from the power of the book at all, nor does it really change the context of the story, as the old and new words were at the time interchangeable.
What bothers me FAR more is the outright and blatant false history being taught in the new text books in Texas and other states, omitting politically 'incorrect' founding fathers, deemphasizing or outright ignoring important civil rights issues and individuals, teaching religious doctrine as science and claiming slaves were just fine with slavery really they were it was a war of Northern aggression don't you know.
Compared to that, editing Huck for one of the most reviled and hated and divisive words in the history of our culture seems not that big a deal to me. Don't let it blind you to the true travesties going on.
posted by opus512 at 11:43 AM
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