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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 985
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 10:37 am: | 
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I remember coming up there was this book called the Harrad Experiment, that I bought but never read and everybody was reading because it was controversial (I think it had college students shacking up). Remember this was the 60s.
It was a time of Free Love and Cheap Thrills. Free Speech. Revolution. Novels were shocking and controversial because of language and nudity and because they depicted the sex act in graphic terms--among other things.
Can any mere novel be shocking today? You hear language on tv that would have gotten a book banned in Boston. You see naked butts. You see gay people in Children's cartoons (at least that's what Jerry Falwell tells us)
I remember the time you could have only purchased Zane type stuff under the counter at shady bookstores in plain wrappers. Now people read her openly. What would a writer have to do to be shocking? |
Mahoganyanais
Veteran Poster
Username: Mahoganyanais
Post Number: 63
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 10:46 am: |
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CH: What would a writer have to do to be shocking?
Mah: Write about pedophilia? Dunno. Nabokov wrote "Lolita." |
Thumper
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 344
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 11:22 am: |
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Hello All,
Hell yeah, it seems that The Known World was controversial. But, in the future, sure books can be controversial. I can name you two: a Toni Morrison caliber written hoochie mama book, or a Toni Morrison calibur written street thug book; and especially if the author is white. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 986
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 11:25 am: |
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Thump:
I'm talking haul the author into court and try to throw him in jail controversial. I am talking Lolita controversial (which was, in its day prosecuted for indecency. I'm talking "Howl" controversial (same thing) I'm talking William Burroughs and Henry Miller controversial (who are okay today but were banned in their day) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 1957
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 12:41 pm: |
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Anybody book that graphically depicted a man or woman having an ongoing sexual relationship with an animal would be controversial enough for moral advocates to demand that it be banned - which would only make it a more sought after book. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 988
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 01:25 pm: |
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Cynique:
Do you think people would be so outraged they'd try to jail the author--or merely disgusted? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 1961
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 01:36 pm: |
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I don't know, Chris. Depends on how inclusive the laws against bestiality are. They probably differ from state to state and banning such a book could really be a challenge to the first amendment. |
Emanuel
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 84
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 11:58 pm: |
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I can think of a few controversial topics like books that:
1) Advocate sex with children
2) Advocate rape
3) Serve as a how to guide on assasinating the president
4) Advocate sex with animals
5) Demean religious figures or questions their sexuality
6) Serve as a how to guide for terrorism
I'm sure they're a few more controversial topics out there.
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Thumper
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 345
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 10:51 am: |
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Hello All,
Chris, my bad. I misunderstood your question. I'm with you, I don't see any book today being that controversial. On the other hand, I do have one book. Any book that advocate and correctly tell how to overthrow the U.S. government! Now THAT book could bring a few headlines. |
Jasmine
Newbie Poster
Username: Jasmine
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 09:10 am: |
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There is one more you forgot. Dana White addresses it in her book and in the poem entitled "TOUGH LOVE". Hold on to your hats!
www.danawhite.com |
Zane
Newbie Poster
Username: Zane
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 08:03 am: |
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I feel the DaVinci Code has caused a ton of controversy in religious circles. Of course, it has helped sales as well since it has been on the NY Times List forever, proving that controversy truly does sell. I read it because I heard so much about it (and loved it). Then my father, who is a minister, asked to read it because he had heard so much about how it conflicted with common religious beliefs. We had a heavy discussion about the book so it has my vote on being controversial. Bottom line, there is still much room for controversy in books.
It is funny that my books were used as an example. People have been writing about homosexual or bisexual sex for years, getting numerous awards and mad recognition for it, and having bestsellers at that, but once a black woman comes out speaking about the most natural thing in the world, sex between two consenting adults, it is controversial. Amusing! J.L. King's book sparked a lot of controversy as well.
Peace, Zane |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2034
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 06:20 pm: |
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The Pope's right hand man has just come out with a statement, forbidding Catholics to read "The DaVinci Code", and demanding that religious book stores take it off their shelves. My feeling is that any religion that can't stand scrutiny has something to hide. I throughly enjoyed this book because in addition to it being a good mystery, it is was also educational. |
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