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| "Tintin in Congo" |
The cause of the uproar was that Behrang Miri, the artistic director of the children and youth section at Kulturhuset of Stockholm (The Culture House), decided to move the Tintin books by Remi Hergè from the children and youth section to the adult section.
Miri´s reason for doing so, was that the Tintin books reflect racist and discriminating caricatures from a colonialistic perspective. In his view the fact that the books have lately been provided with a preface explaining that they are written during a time with other values is not enough. In his opinion this was not something children should be exposed to alone.
Thw news of the move made the so called "cultural elite" of Sweden explode on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and you name it. These ethnic Swedes and other Westerners cried "censorship" at the top of their lungs and took upon themselves the right to tell those who are subjected to demeaning and insulting depictions and characterisations how, when and at what they could rightfully react. They should be ashamed of their words and actions in this bruhaha and are themselves part of the problem and not of the solution. Stupid twats!
Even more shameful is the fact that the direction of the Kulturhus, instead of backing their artistic director in his decision, caved in to the outcries and pressure from their buddies and cronies and moved the books back. Ignorant racist bastards!
I read all the Tintin books as good young belgian boy... of course! But now I come to think of it, my parents never bought me the Tintin in Congo one. Probably because of the way they felt about the colonial history of my country. Yes I come from a time when even liberal minded parents used to censor what their children read :)
ReplyDeleteThat being said... removing all the Tintin books from the children's section seems a bit harsh. And I kinda question the effectiveness of it Especially in a time where children can just go on the internet and read all they want anyway. So was this just a move by a politically correct elite? I hate them almost as much as the cultural elite!
Well that sure does explain a lot! (joking)
DeleteHonestly Guykechen, in my opinion the decision to move the books from the youth section to the adult section was wise and a well balanced measure considering the content in many of the books. The Congo book may be the most blatant example but it sneaks into other Tintin books too.
Children do not read prefaces, at least I know I never did and neither did my friends, or if they do they would not understand the subtlety of it anyway. I don't think that children can understand that the concept of right or wrong or acceptable and unacceptable can change over time without a dialogue with a grown up.
The move to the adult section simply meant a recommendation that an adult should be present when the child reads the book.