Booking Through Thursday
Do you have “issues” with too much profanity or overly explicit (ahem) “romantic” scenes in books? Or do you take them in stride? Have issues like these ever caused you to close a book? Or do you go looking for more exactly like them? (grin)
It's funny this question came up because I have been pondering the pornification of our culture lately. I have trouble, for example, finding 'clean' popular songs that my grade 8 students can play for their dances or their physical education program. My current favorite bands, such as Red Hot Chili Peppers or Black Eyed Peas, use profanity or unacceptable concepts (drugs, prostitution, sex) in just about every song. That said, I wouldn't change the music or its content. I just don't bring it to school.
The same applies for books. I am against censorship of any kind but I do think below a certain age, children should be protected from obscenity. I wish, in North American culture, we would give more thought to protecting our kids and teens from violence in the media. I'm sure it does more harm than scenes of consensual sex.
Do I read books for the sexual content? Not really. Do I avoid a book because it has too much sexual content? Yes, if it's a romance novel, chick flick or straight-up porn. Although.... I have been known to dip into an anthology of Victorian porn now and then. Fascinating people, the Victorians.
Happy reading.Labels: booking through Thursdays, Ethics