Wiscon 33 - Writing to Recruit
Jun. 8th, 2009 11:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
julieandrewsWe Want Your Children: Writing to Recruit
"Children's literature can be a powerful force for feminist ideas—and under some circumstances, can fly right under the radar and into the hands of the children of the Other Side. How do you write subversively for children without turning the books into (boring) propaganda? What books are successfully bringing feminist (or other progressive) ideas to an unsuspecting audience even as we speak? And what do we do (as parents, teachers, or librarians) about the books out there that are attempting to corrupt our children with their ideas?"
There seemed to be some disagreement amongst the panelists as to whether anyone should be writing to recruit. Sharyn November, editor, was moderating. She kept repeating that she just wanted good books. I think she was against the idea that anyone should be writing with an agenda.
From my notes:
Most offensive books - Left Behind kids, Rudyard Kipling, Oz books, well-behaved little white kids, Twilight
The panelists were generally more concerned about books they loved as kids, and the problems they see in them now. Clearly there was something about them that was captivating, and thus more likely to suck in more children? Sword in the Stone, Hobbit, Narnia, 12 Candles Club, Dr. Dolittle
On the list of good books: American Girl (something) - Great Depression and First Thanksgiving, Digger comics starring a wombat, Moomin, Tobe Josen(? Can't read my writing), Sculpture's Daughter, Harry Potter, Boxcar Children
Sharyn mentioned that a trend in books seems to be that girls are spunky until they're about 12, and then they're messed up (ie, cutting) (Or hanging out with creepy sparkly vampires?)
Teenage girl characters should be empowered and not screwed up.
Websites: unshelved.com and guyreads.com
Boys read books with facts or fiction in a nonfiction way.
Rapunzel's Revenge - graphic novel by Shannon Hale
And that's all I can remember and all of my notes. I really should write these things up when they're still fresh in my mind.
"Children's literature can be a powerful force for feminist ideas—and under some circumstances, can fly right under the radar and into the hands of the children of the Other Side. How do you write subversively for children without turning the books into (boring) propaganda? What books are successfully bringing feminist (or other progressive) ideas to an unsuspecting audience even as we speak? And what do we do (as parents, teachers, or librarians) about the books out there that are attempting to corrupt our children with their ideas?"
There seemed to be some disagreement amongst the panelists as to whether anyone should be writing to recruit. Sharyn November, editor, was moderating. She kept repeating that she just wanted good books. I think she was against the idea that anyone should be writing with an agenda.
From my notes:
Most offensive books - Left Behind kids, Rudyard Kipling, Oz books, well-behaved little white kids, Twilight
The panelists were generally more concerned about books they loved as kids, and the problems they see in them now. Clearly there was something about them that was captivating, and thus more likely to suck in more children? Sword in the Stone, Hobbit, Narnia, 12 Candles Club, Dr. Dolittle
On the list of good books: American Girl (something) - Great Depression and First Thanksgiving, Digger comics starring a wombat, Moomin, Tobe Josen(? Can't read my writing), Sculpture's Daughter, Harry Potter, Boxcar Children
Sharyn mentioned that a trend in books seems to be that girls are spunky until they're about 12, and then they're messed up (ie, cutting) (Or hanging out with creepy sparkly vampires?)
Teenage girl characters should be empowered and not screwed up.
Websites: unshelved.com and guyreads.com
Boys read books with facts or fiction in a nonfiction way.
Rapunzel's Revenge - graphic novel by Shannon Hale
And that's all I can remember and all of my notes. I really should write these things up when they're still fresh in my mind.
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Date: 2009-06-09 01:15 am (UTC)