Is Huxley's "Brave New World" pornographic? Some Texans say it is...

[Wonk]

Poll question: Is Huxley's "Brave New World" pornographic? Some Texans say it is...

http://www.themonitor.com/NewsPub/News/Stories/2003/09/22/10642896312.shtml

(snip)

The board of directors for the South Texas Independent School District is expected to decide tonight whether to ban two books Ñ Aldous HuxleyÕs Brave New World and Robert HeinleinÕs Stranger in a Strange Land Ñ from the high schoolÕs 10th grade English Advanced Placement curriculum.

The books, part of the classÕ summer reading list, may lead to Òinappropriate sexual arousal of young teens,Ó parent Julie Wilde wrote in her complaint to the district.

ÒWe feel this is inappropriate for the ages of the students at (the) Science Academy or at any South Texas ISD High School,Ó she continued in her letter, specifically citing Brave New World. ÒThis is pornographic literature and we do not feel it has a place in any school funded by taxpayer dollars.Ó

Under school district policies, parents have the right to object to their childrenÕs reading materials, and to obtain alternatives to those materials.

However, ÒA parentÕs ability to exercise control over reading, listening, or viewing matter extends only to his or her own children,Ó the policies state under the section Guiding Principles. ÒWhen instructional resources are challenged, the principles of the freedom to read, listen, and view must be defended as well.Ó

more...

on edit: forgot to add "Other" just in case anyone felt like voting that way.

[MrJones]

1. I mean...

...this is the state where (until recently) sex between two men was illegal but sex between a man and a cow was legal.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

27. I can see why they don't want kids reading Brave New World

I say it hits a little too close to home. People always worry about the dystopia in 1984, but for the US, Brave New World is more likely, imo.

[JVS]

2. I read that at 14, It was a great read...

but if it had been pornographic it would have been even better

[Atlant]

14. See? Didn't your teacher tell you you should have looked up "pneumatic"?NT

[JVS]

23. Are you sure you aren't referring to "Naked Lunch"

:D

[Grins]

28. Gasp!!!

A child left behind! Lose your voucher along with your milk money?

[laconicsax]

3. Should being called to the front of class be banned too?

That causes (or at least coinsides with) inappropriate sexual arousal of young teens.

[sasquatch]

4. What a bunch of fucking morons

I read that for a book report in 11th grade english. It talks about breeding, but not really sex. How in the hell did thier kids get into advanced english, these dumb asses couldn't find thier asses with both hands and a flashlight :argh: I think someone needs to do some blood work and see if they arn't someone illegitemat child:eyes:

[JVS]

7. Malthusian drill and lax sexual mores

Basically in the distopian future people get it on a lot.

[mhr]

11. Immaculate Conception

Doesn't that explain how all High School student get to where they are?

[SOteric]

5. Oh Please.

Anyone who thinks either of these works more titillating than they are intellectually redeeming has been sitting a wee bit too close to the library paste.

Don't anyone tell them what kind of smut is lurking in their bibles, they'll run right out and ban those, too.

[DrFunkenstein]

10. It Encourages Teens To Separate Sex From Procreation

Which is a sin.

The really hot part, though, is the movie about the hot white chick getting abducted by the enormous black savage. Only the movies are not only watched, they are felt - so you get all the physical stimulation of being abducted by a black man. Don't worry. A white man rescues her.

I did a term paper in grad school about the over-looked racial aspects of the book. It really is pretty fascinating stuff. Plus the "pneumatic" (read: big-boobed) ladies are hot!

[dobak]

6. ugh

Fucking Texan Fundies

Damn, they piss me off

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Thou art God

[11 Bravo]

17. I grok that.

n/t

[Room101]

9. The bible is pornographic

With all its insest. What is that one story about the daughters getting their father drunk and fuc*kig him?

BNW does not have any explicit talk of sex. It talks about casual sex as the cultural norm, no details of sexual acts can be found in the book. Something by the way I wish was included.:)

[FireHeart]

12. Oh hell...

Young teens can be aroused by just about anything. :evilgrin:

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Not pornographic but atheistic

and I bet that's why they really don't like it. There's a scene where a church service is replaced by a community orgy. I bet they don't like the idea that organised religion is just a way of keeping people in line, and could be replaced by any group activity.

There's nothing explicit in BNW at all. It was written, and published, in 1930's Britain, and no-one batted an eyelid - and Britain was fairly prudish then.

[Atlant]

15. Oh for Ford's sake! :-)

You should make the Sign of the T when you say that!

Atlant

[JHB]

16. Nothing explicit, but...

...I recall a part where yongsters engaged in "sexplay" or some such. It came up in the form of a boy who was "wrongly" balking, thus flagging himself for closer observation by the Powers That Be and possibly some re-education.

You'd be amazed at how many "Cowardly Old World" boys would be willing to take his place without batting an eye...

[IrateCitizen]

18. In Texas, anything portraying a woman as wearing anything but an apron

is considered pornographic (Molly Ivins said something to this effect in Shrub).

Brave New World not only has the word "sex" in it, but it even discusses it. Ergo, it is the most vile of pornography, according to TX fundie standards.

[Enraged_Ape]

20. And yet in Dallas, there's a titty bar (er, "gentleman's club") on every

other corner, and a church on the corners in between them.

It's just unbelieveable.

[Throckmorton]

19. What was it that W.T. Sherman said about Texas 150 years ago,

"If I owned both Hell and Texas, I'd live in Hell and rent out Texas", or words to that effect. Still as true as ever in my eyes.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. Pornographic or Prophetic?

Got some wax in my ears.


*wince*

[Josh]

22. Parts of it are downright lewd

but that is pretty much the point, also the laid-back, nonchallant way in which many of the 'sex' scenes are portrayed: sport like but completely emotionless.

Great book.

[CheshireCat]

24. Kids that age get aroused by anything

When I was 14, I would get aroused while proving theorems in Algebra. So do we ban algebra?

Geesh! Morans abound!

[Atlant]

26. I think you must be speaking hyperbolically. (NT)

[noonwitch]

25. I'd rather live in Huxley's future than in Orwell's

At least, if I was considered an Alpha or a Beta.