Can I get schools to ban Othello?

[tulipsandroses]

Just saying

[Bantamfancier]

1. The play or the game? Nt

[tulipsandroses]

4. Didn't even know there was a game

I’m referring to schools banning books

[elleng]

2. Prolly.

[EarnestPutz]

7. Please forgive me. I know that I'm sometimes too much of a purist about the English language and....

....you may feel that this is one of those times. But please rethink your use of the word "prolly". It's use is growing and I really hate to think that it will eventually displace a perfectly good word in my favorite language. Thank you.

[EYESORE 9001]

23. A language that doesn't evolve is a dead language

At one time I was overprotective and felt certain that the English language was going to hell in a handbasket. I shoulda known better.

[RussellCattle]

25. I've got to agree with Earnest. "Prolly" is English "devolving" rather than evolving.

[meadowlander]

26. How darest thee?

Knowest þee not þat Moðer Ænglish ne'er changeð?

[wcmagumba]

3. How about Paradise Lost, required reading in AP HS class...nt

true story (not Milton but the required reading part) "sarcasm thingy"...

[USALiberal]

5. Thanks for the detailed information. Nt

[Zorro]

6. Miscegenation

[EYESORE 9001]

24. What, then, would there be to complain about?

[wryter2000]

8. Makes me wonder

Why it isn't already banned. Maybe the idjits aren't aware of it.

And you ought to go after the opera, too. Verdi's Otello.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Not Saying Ban...

...but they can quit making kids in Jr Hi & HS read it.
I never understood the value of reading a play with 400 year old syntax.
See the play? Sure!
Read it? Not so much.
But, I'm sure someone could fund a way, with the right silly school board, to get nearly anything banned. At least for a while.

[Ocelot II]

10. The value of reading Shakespeare is to understand some of the origins

of the English language and to appreciate some magnificent poetry. I loved Shakespeare's plays so much when I was in high school that I read all of them voluntarily. I would hope that there are still a few kids who would do the same. I also loved Chaucer, but maybe because some of the Canterbury Tales are kind of dirty. I can still recite the prologue in middle English. The English language and its origins fascinate me, but maybe I'm weird.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. We're Different

I've seen a few productions and enjoyed them.
I read a few plays and found it miserable reading.
I get your love of language evolution, and appreciate that. But, that sounds like an interest entered voluntarily (like you mostly did).
I dig etymology myself, but reading the plays? Nope.
Now some of his poetry is pretty pleasant reading, even though I'm not big into poetry. But, the plays? Not for me.

[Midnight Writer]

13. I'm weird, too.

[taxi]

12. By yourself it may be difficult.

And depending on where you are, going to a school board meeting may be risky.
Good luck.

[tulipsandroses]

14. Thanks for all the responses. My apologies

to those who have never read Othello, or watched the movie or play.
I am being sarcastic about banning Othello.
If parents want books banned because some books may upset white kids, then can black parents chime in about books to ban? Can I say the depiction of Othello in racist terms upsets black kids?
If we are banning Toni Morrison, because it’s vulgar. Can I ban Othello because it talks about sex? I remember discussing what making the beast with two backs means. Lots of silly laughter by high school kids ensued.

I’m not sure why these people think their kids are so delicate, that they need to be shielded.
From time to time, we would watch a movie that was first a book. We watched Bonfire of the Vanities. I swear It didn’t screw me up or traumatize me.

Let educators, educate.

[treestar]

19. But hasn't it been done?

I recall there were people wanting to ban Huckleberry Finn. Books have been discussed for banning for upsetting black kids, likely that came first and these people are retaliating.

[ms liberty]

15. Really. And how about Taming of the Shrew?

I haven't tried to watch my favorite movie version (Liz and Dick, natch) lately but I'm worried it will look completely different to me, in the same way that McClintock and a dozen other old movies that I used to love look now.

[greenjar_01]

16. I mean...

[11 Bravo]

17. Hard to say. Are you a loud-mouthed, annoying, entitled, white shithead?

If so, you have a shot.

[ripcord]

18. A professor in Michigan got in trouble for showing the 1965 Laurence Olivier version

It was deemed offense because Olivier was in blackface.

[BlackSkimmer]

20. Best get rid of Heart of Darkness by Conrad too.

Kipling should be looked at…

[panader0]

21. It's your civic duty to at least try!!11!

Do you have any idea what that smut is about? It's about a black ram tupping a white ewe!!
How did it evade the censors so long?! Burn it now!

[keithbvadu2]

22. Should we ban the Bible for the sake of the children?

Should we ban the Bible for the sake of the children?

It has plenty of illicit sex and violence.

No white people from what I hear.