Wrote this letter for class - it really challenged me to think about what questions I had, what I want changed, and how to effect that change in media.
Dear Toni Morrison,
Hello,
I am Matthew Nielson. I am a 24-year-old student in Utah. I am in the middle of
reading your novel, Song of Solomon.
I was immediately drawn in by your powerful characters and intense, ingenuitive
use of language. However, after continuing with the book I am becoming more and
more disheartened with your liberal use of offensive language and sexual
content. What I really want to know is your motives for including these
elements in your writing. Is it to give a realistic depiction of the life that
these characters would have had, had they been real? If that is the case, is it
possible to give a realistic view of a culture without including deleterious
language and scenes? I also wonder whether it is harmful for someone to stay
naïve or innocent about some of the atrocities in our modern world; obviously
offensive and depraved acts are going to continue whether I am apprised of them
or not. Is there value in introducing this derogatory material into my life? I
would appreciate your views on this topic because I am honestly do not
understand it. According to what I have
experienced so far, modern literature would be improved if offensive language
and overtly sexual content were limited. In my opinion, it detracts from other
themes and messages of the writing, it limits audiences, and it leaves a
negative feeling.
One
important reason why I do not appreciate strong language and explicit sex in
literature is because it detracts from the other themes in the book. As you
know, humans are physical creatures and have a natural arousal corresponding
with sexual content. Of course literature can use sex in many different ways,
several which are not intended to be arousing. However I think the very nature
of the topic makes it overshadow other issues that may be present. I would
rather spend more time thinking about the journey of discovery you characters
undertake, but it is difficult when the sexual content speaks with such a loud
voice.
If
lingering thoughts about the book are on sexual content and language rather
than other messages, the receptive audience of the message will be naturally
limited. This is in addition to younger readers who (in my opinion) should be
shielded from many of the topics you explore in the book until they are older.
That raises the question that what about being an adult makes reading mature
themes acceptable? If something is pornographic shouldn’t it be inappropriate
for everyone?
The
last reason that I feel that sex and swearing do not improve a book is the
overall negative feeling that accompanies it. I am not talking about depression
or realism that may come from seeing such a naked view of the sad state the
world is in, I am talking about how peace, love, comfort, and light cannot
share the stage with wicked things. When we choose to surround ourselves with
bad influences, good influences cannot stay.
I
love reading and I want to be well read, but offensive language and explicit
sexual scenes make it difficult to achieve that goal. I do not want to enforce
my own ideas of morality on other people. We are free to think and choose to
take in what we will, but as for myself, I would appreciate it if you would
limit your use of profanity and sex in your novels. I would also appreciate you
answering some of my questions about the role of naiveté or awareness.
Sincerely,
Matthew Nielson
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