Boycotts and Banning: Is Either Ever Appropriate?
November 21, 2007 by Kelly Phillips Erb
Filed under Parenting
I previously posted that the Catholic League has called for a boycott of the movie, The Golden Compass. The trailer for the film is here:
This is certainly not the first time that a film or television show based on a children’s book has caused controversy. Many of the Harry Potter books (and movies) were said to promote witchcraft, demons and evil. The Gossip Girl book series lead to calls for banning of the book because of racy themes including sexuality, homosexuality and drug use; the television series has cause similar outcries. Other books to the big or small screen that have been criticized include Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Twelfth Night for their use of adult language, sex, violence; Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn for racial slurs; Of Mice and Men for inappropriate language and Charlotte’s Web for its themes related to death and the fact that it has been deemed potentially offensive to Muslims (in the UK, it was prohibited in certain schools).
In today’s society, I think most people agree that books for adults should not be banned. However, when it comes to children, it’s a tricky concept. Many adults feel that it is their duty to protect children from harm – can reading ever be harmful?
And if you believe that banning books is not appropriate, what about a boycott for works based on potentially offensive books? Are boycotts appropriate? Do they work?
A quick Google of The Golden Compass seems to suggest that it might. There is quite an internet buzz bad-mouthing the film and encouraging folks not to go see it. I’ve even received emails encouraging me to avoid the film because it promotes “evil and atheism.” Word about the film is definitely out because of the boycott – that might work against the Catholic League.
I am curious as to your thoughts – and remember, this is specifically about children’s books and the wider media. As grown ups, how far should we go to protect children?
Much to consider here, Kelly. You’ve written a thought provoking post.
I wrote about this on Christian Music Fan when I got the first e-mail about it from a friend. Since then I’ve read a couple of more people’s thoughts about it and my brother posted a good response from the Christian community as well. I’d be interested in hearing what people think about the response and backlash that’s been displayed from the church and Christians.
It should be up to individual parents to guide their children away from certain works, and at some point, even we have to realize our kids’ authority over themselves and encourage them to make those decisions on their own. When that is depends on the maturity of the kids, I suppose.
Good question.
I think it is definitely our responsibility as parents to monitor EVERYTHING our kids watch and see. We are solely responsible for them and their behavior and television, movies and books has a direct correlation to their behavior. Children don’t just “become” that way. They emulate what they see done and spoken on television. I usually watch and/or read everything before I let my kids watch it. One thing that almost slipped past me was the High School Musical 2 debut. My daughter’s friends had a HSM2 party and I was just going to take her, drop her off and go back home. I ended up staying and chatting with the parents for a while into the movie and am I glad I did! There was one scene, albeit brief, where there was a kiss shared between two characters. I didn’t know what to do or how to react when this happened since I’ve explained to my daughter that you’re only supposed to kiss your husband. Yeah, I know it’s old-fashioned. But, I don’t want my 10-year old daughter thinking that it’s ok or even expected that you should go around kissing boys or even having to deal with that issue in the ‘tween stage. Anyway, the scene caught me by surprise and I figured I’d deal with it later. I played it cool and decided to go ahead and leave, let the girls enjoy the party and just talk to my daughter about it later. Well, when I went back to pick her up, the girls were walking around with pillows in their shirts saying how they were pregnant and it was the guy from HSM2’s baby! OMG!! These are only 10 year olds folks! My daughter and another friend were off to themselves playing and not having any part of the pregnant-pillow fun. I think they were a little nervous. I said nothing. Television and movies sometime shows a little too much and introduce too much before we as parents are ready for our kids to deal with certain issues. Although my daughter knows about babies and sex (the right way) she also knows appropriate and innappropriate behavior. Being pregnant is NOTHING a ten-year old needs to know about, deal with or play around about. I like to sit with my children, if possible, and explain movies and scenes to them and then open up for them to honestly and frankly ask any questions. I think that’s a healthy and productive way for kids to learn about certain issues.
I haven’t got kids but if I did, I wouldn’t stop them seeing this film, or reading the book it’s adapted from.
Since when has Atheism been evil, it’s a choice the same as Christianity, Islam or any other religious belief is, be it major or minor.
We’re all entitled to our own belief systems, and kids should be allowed to choose what they believe is right without being shielded from hearing alternate viewpoints by their parents.
Whenever hear about parents boycotting or seeking to ban things like The Golden Compass or Harry Potter, I have to assume they have very little faith in their own religion, and so fear their kids may be influenced by a film or book.
Let people choose their own way in life, without inflicting your will on others.
It is amazing to me that people who claim to have such strong faith are so easily threatened by an alternative view and the opportunity to have a wide-ranging discussion with their children.
Could we all agree that children are not adults? And that children form their opinions about life based on what they are exposed to? And that children are universally willing to trust and believe anything and anyone, (ex. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny)? And that parents have the right to decide what their children get exposed to.
I am aware that 4th graders (9-10 year olds) in public school were read this book. Do the public schools know this will cause no harm to the minds and perceptions of the children, even if that “harm” is limited to fostering a bias against religion or Christianity? Do the parents know, or deserve to know that this is happening in the schools they entrust with their children?
Below are a few quotes from the author of the book:
“My books are all about killing God,” “I am all for the death of God,” and “I am of the devil’s party, and I know it.”
Is there ANY chance that a majority of parents would find the writings of someone who says these things objectionable, offensive, or potentially harmful to their childrens upbringing?
Just curious?
I agree with you that parents have the right to decide what their children are exposed to. As the mother of three young children, this is something that I think about a lot.
But this is the thing… I think it should be MY choice and not that of other parents.
Banning a book means that I don’t have the opportunity to share it with my child. Consider some really great works have been banned. Why is it okay for someone else to make that choice for me?
Boycotts mean a similar end. If groups succeed on keeping something out of the theatre, a bookstore or a library because they fear it or find it offensive, why is that okay?
I understand your point about school libraries, but I know every book that my daughter checks out at school. I help her unpack her schoolbag every day. And I talk with her teachers. I’ve been to her library. I feel like I’m an informed, concerned parent. If parents take their jobs seriously, we don’t need other parents policing our kids lives for us.
And yes, kids will, at some point, rebel. When I was a kid, I took books out of the library that were perhaps not age appropriate. But I’d like to think that my parents gave me the background to understand what was right and wrong. More important, I was old enough to be at the library by myself which meant that I was old enough to make some of my own choices.
I hope that I am able to raise my children to think for themselves and know the difference between right and wrong. I am sure they’ll make mistakes – we all do. But that’s an important part of growing up, no?