Why should a would-be author even bother to concern themselves with Political Correctness?
Let’s use ivory as an example. Would it be okay for an author to write about the brutal killing of Elephants and the Black Market in ivory? Would there even be an audience for such a book?
Similarly, would it be politically incorrect for an author to create a magical object partly made of ivory in a fantasy or magic-realism novel.
Authors have the same problems if they choose to write about race, ethnicity, class, religion, or crimes committed by a particular group - and of course politics.
What should a book contain to be Politically Correct?
Must it have Black, White and Asian characters? Must they all have to be from the same social class and background? Must it have left-wing and right-wing characters? Should there be an equal mix of Heterosexual, Lesbian and Gay characters?
Of course not, that would be incongruous.
A writer should write what he or she knows about and stick two fingers up to those who object. Why some of you may ask? It’s because we live in a democracy in which freedom of speech plays an active part in our daily lives – and long may it do so.
Under good old Joe Stalin, it was the death knell for creative artistic expression. Artists, Writers and Classical composers, were killed for not toeing the communist line. Russian art suffered severely as a consequence.
How dumbed-down and dull books would be if authors concerned themselves with every aspect of Political Correctness.
As much as aspects of Political Correctness have helped to civilise society, it is darkly oppressive at its core. At its worst, Political Correctness represents a virtual gagging filter placed between the thoughts of an individual and the vocal expression of them.
It is a social conditioning designed to seriously limit free expression and exchange of ideas.
Dear Vic,
I rather rashly assumed that it was your 1yo G smearing porridge into your hair. It now occurs to me that - considering her artistic aspirations and talents - it might have been your 5yo G*!
Whichever of them it was, my earlier comment stands: I would love to have porridge smeared into my hair by EITHER of your artistically talented offspring.
* 5yo G (for the information of other readers) HAS - I'm afraid - betrayed her literary purity by submitting a really lovely piece of flash fiction AND a fantastic drawing to our refugees anthology.
Mr. Sroka,
You are very fond of quoting George Orwell's advice on novel writing.
It is true that in Down And Out In Paris And London, The Road To Wigan Pier, and Homage To Catalonia, he was using his own experience. The events of these books happened to HIM or in his presence.
However, they are not novels. As far as I know, Eric Blair (aka George Orwell) never lived in Stalinist USSR. And yet he wrote the brilliant 1984 and Animal Farm, both severe criticisms of Stalinism and totalitarianism in general.
BTW, many shallow Conservatives seem to believe that Orwell was criticising Socialism. (Or maybe they just pretend to believe that, in order to sell their own brand of selfishness.) He was doing no such thing. He was savagely criticising those who BETRAYED Socialism.
Can we now expect to see you desisting from quoting from Orwell, that incorrigible writer of fiction that he had not lived himself?
p.s. Please, please, please, all TRUE writers: Do not contaminate the purity of creative fiction by contributing to the "Stranger(s) In A Strange Land" anthology*, or the "Tadpoles" one**!
Let's keep Art's hands from getting muddy!
Refugees should not be encouraged by improving their lot! If we can make life in the refugee camps unpleasant enough, many of them will choose to go home to their war-torn or famine-plagued countries.***
Why should WE care whether women in 3rd-World countries have a decent, well-trained midwifery service??? Or children in earthquake-devastated regions can forget their troubles for an hour or 2, laughing at clown shows???
In short, true writers: do not prostitute your art by using it for ANYTHING other than the contemplation of your own navel and the fattening of your own bank balance.
Anything else can only 'seriously limit free expression and exchange of ideas'.
* http://la-granota.com/stranger.htm
** http://la-granota.com/tadpoles.htm
*** This is actually European policy... and it is working!