tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post5715688963227697128..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: Not in Front of the Children? Charlie ButlerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-14953430430696506472010-04-26T19:20:30.270+01:002010-04-26T19:20:30.270+01:00When I was a kid, politics belonged very much to t...When I was a kid, politics belonged very much to the boring side of the adult world along with things like pensions, mortgages, overdrafts, working for a living... I guess that's the reason these things don't often feature very big in children's books? Whereas things like blood, violence, sex and death belong to a more exciting part of the adult world, one every kid gets curious about at some stage, so those books will sell.Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-48579265454262744132010-04-23T19:10:20.214+01:002010-04-23T19:10:20.214+01:00That's a great come-back, Nick!That's a great come-back, Nick!Cathy Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03838615971611193743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-48672716135062472082010-04-23T12:29:20.257+01:002010-04-23T12:29:20.257+01:00What is important, I think, is to introduce childr...What is important, I think, is to introduce children to the idea that politics matters. That it is not just the boring stuff off the news, the men in suits, the meaningless speeches, but that it is simply the business of living.<br /><br />I remember my English tutor telling us that 'politics is everything. Everything we do is political.' Someone said, 'Not everything! Tying your shoelaces is not political.' Our tutor shot back, quick as a whip, 'It is if you don't have any shoes.'Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11307045090887391553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-39174663045779866872010-04-23T11:58:02.079+01:002010-04-23T11:58:02.079+01:00Plenty of politics in my books too, including desc...Plenty of politics in my books too, including descriptions of real politicians (there's one with a 'smooth certain face' for example and another who's the 'blond weird one from off the telly') But, I hope, no overt political message, just another layer to add to the mix of things readers may want to think about.Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-52640543453470178952010-04-23T11:29:41.167+01:002010-04-23T11:29:41.167+01:00I think party politics should probably remain a ta...I think party politics should probably remain a taboo, if only for the reasons Nick outlines (but for other reasons too). That said, there's plenty of politics in my books. Politics is only about how people organise and govern themselves, after all (or how they react to that government). But Cat's right - there are plenty of subliminal political messages in children's books. I haven't seen the David McKee book - does it mention a party or a movement by name, or only political principles? In the latter case, that's as justifiable as any political 'message' - and if it's too blatant, readers will see through it anyway.Gillian Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775401199564200537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-66504768508530967282010-04-23T11:11:51.009+01:002010-04-23T11:11:51.009+01:00Trying to blatantly indoctrinate children is proba...Trying to blatantly indoctrinate children is probably not considered acceptable by responsible publishers. That said there are many attempts at subliminal indoctrination.catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-6860467392476625442010-04-23T09:30:54.769+01:002010-04-23T09:30:54.769+01:00I think perhaps children are simply too clever for...I think perhaps children are simply too clever for party politics. Like the little girl on 'Outnumbered', they are quick to see through anything that is simply ridiculous in nature, and party politics is up there with American Football on the scale of absurdity.<br /><br />We adults, we may have grown to accept that our clumsy way of creating a government for ourselves really is the best system we can come up with, without inviting bloody revolution, but younger minds probably won't buy that. So books about party politics aren't so much taboo, as too ridiculous for those brought up on more logical fare like Alice in Wonderland.Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11307045090887391553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-9344590873538302422010-04-23T09:24:23.864+01:002010-04-23T09:24:23.864+01:00I've not read McKee's book, but that's...I've not read McKee's book, but that's very interesting. My impression is that the politics of children's books are generally quite liberal, in the sense emphasizing placing value on others, preserving the environment, etc. Although there's also a strong strain of "you can be whatever you want to be", which might resonate with neo-con individualism, I guess. I wonder what others think?Cathy Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03838615971611193743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-2470619723852180432010-04-23T08:51:40.954+01:002010-04-23T08:51:40.954+01:00Interesting post, Charlie. I suppose, apart from t...Interesting post, Charlie. I suppose, apart from the issue of whether children are interested in party politics, there is the point that if parties and politicians are named then the book has no co-edition potential. David McKee's new book, Denver is blatant political propoganda (pro-conservative), presented through a narrative of social inequality and politics of envy. I was stunned, even shocked - and I'm hard to shock. As it's a picture book, it may be read by young children without any guidance from adults. Brainwashing, insidious, irresponsible.Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.com