To teach or to preach... ( is that the question?)

In light of sadly misplaced controversy involving the study of literature in Egypt today ~~~

The discord involves two separate criterions: morality & literary analysis. Contentiousness prevails.

Stepping back might help. Here's a bird's-eye view: 

“"Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. They are engines of change, windows on the world, lighthouses erected in the sea of time."” Barbara W. Tuchman

Perhaps literature is nothing else if not comprehensive.
But literature as an art form is more than that:

"What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit."  ~John Updike

And now for a closer look with particular discord in mind:

Moral codes of behaviour and thought do not start and stop at sexuality; they include every facet of human strength and frailty.

A work inspired is one that aspires to portray genuine thought and emotion without pre-set conditioning or confines. Expression of an immediate truth perceived can only exist free from the shackles of constraint; advocating what it believes to be true from a relative and personal point of view.

"What the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth."
John Keats

The study of literature tackles fact or fiction without setting out to dictate but rather to enable thought, analysis and understanding. It does not aim to alienate us from our moral codes. It does not seek to alienate us from our principles but rather to embrace them more fully through understanding and inner conviction; to evaluate and consider their veracity and worth in a world of ultimate diversity if nothing else.

Literary analysis preoccupies itself with depth and the layers of truth. Our appreciation and esteem for a universal morality can only be enhanced. 
Indeed, the study of literature more often than not recognises that everything verges upon a morality of a kind and that illustration of the mind’s mechanism cannot be confined if content is to be treated with respect.

Sermons, just like any other writing may or may not inspire. Scrutinising all other literature on the basis of dubious morality, snipping and slashing bits we consider may encourage depravity would be to throw away all individuality of expression; to cripple context and make it unfit for analysis.

Literature in its fullness of array does not aim to preach. 

.Appreciation and high regard for religious or moral teachings should not preclude our respect for understanding, for appreciation of works that relate to the psyche of our minds.

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."  ~Twyla Tharp ~ a metaphoric message lies within ‘home’ signifying our innermost being.

Validating or dismissing a literary piece or work of art depends almost entirely upon personal wealth of interpretation.

The study of literature seeks to enhance that reserve.

It encourages us to recognise, distinguish & conceptualise.

Sensory perception must be free to explore, to fully assimilate; unrestricted by taboo that a culture instigates: A literary work referring to a business man’s ruthlessness or a miser's greed is no different to one referring to an addict’s weakness, a priest’s inner conflict, the thrill of an adventurer or the lust of two lovers. For indeed, what is our world if not one of diversity and infinite possibilities? A world of good and bad; of black and white and most importantly of so many shades of grey that colour our perceptions, our very thoughts and beliefs. 

“Books are humanity in print.” Barbara W. Tuchman  
Humanity is far from perfect. A person who abides by the strictest code of moral values cannot ever be free of imperfection.
For art to depict humanity it must be allowed to explore areas of imperfection if only to reflect its essence. 

"A subject that is beautiful in itself gives no suggestion to the artist.  It lacks imperfection." ~Oscar Wilde 

When miracles occur it is sometimes said that life imitates art. Art must surely have something of the miraculous ~ it exists in every speck of nature; it can be found wherever we look.
All writing may be said to be a form of prayer, a connection ultimately sought.

"A man paints with his brains and not with his hands." ~Michelangelo

  
From epic to greeting card, all literary endeavour seeks to convey a message. Without literary appreciation of a kind, the message would be lost. 

Were we to consider it 'unobjectionable' to rid all literature of content that does not visibly conform or blatantly adhere to moral codes, then no books could remain safely on the shelves. Blinkered judgement would draw in ever closer.

A world without freedom of literature, without imagination, without exploration of thought is an impoverished world; a world lacking in soul, understanding and compassion.

When bereft of empathy and understanding, we can only find ourselves depleted of the highest forms of morality.

To end this embitterment which reflects so very poorly upon a vast and rich culture of ancient and indigenous civilisation, here's a quote that strikes a biting chord: 

“Literature is strewn with the wreckage of those who have minded beyond reason the opinion of others” Virginia Woolf

However, since all is not lost, a splash of humour may not go amiss:

“The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable, and literature is not read” Oscar Wilde

& continuing on an even lighter note, with special attention to offense caused:
“There are three things men can do with women: love them, suffer for them, or turn them into literature.” Stephen Stills

:-)How immoral can that be? I ask you.



cg:amiraT

Rock, scissors, paper! [ *kulu bamia :-) ] (origin French: Qui est le premier?)

 

kilo bamia (okra)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXPp8IDmDOY

In this chat, there may appear to be consideration on all fronts but there is sadly no common ground to the basis of the argument. Aspects of morality and literary analysis are two quintessentially different benchmarks. Due credit to the broadcasting presenter for signing out on that note.

Free speech is all about listening to that which we do not necessarily agree with but laying down the law on the other hand is an entirely different matter and what we all need to be wary of. 
Assuming the moral highground is always an easy place to preach from but rarely with much substance.

Mr.el-Hafez’s reference to the Quran is not only unnecessary but decidedly inappropriate since it is actually stated in the Quran that the verses are by no means to be considered poetry; they are defined as transcendental to all human literary exploits and not up for comparison.

Moral dictums will always be with us wherever we are; it's really almost 'a given' as people are so desperate to turn the tide their way.

That goes infinitesimally more so for Egypt today.  

Both curbing and promoting will surface every which way we look.

Scissoring-out sections of a book on the basis of moral codes, personal or otherwise is a slippery slope indeed.  Lines in the sand are instantly blurred. Compromise is not an option since it cannot take place without seriously affecting content in all its layers and therefore right of expression.
   
Furthermore, does the intended censorship start and stop at sexual graphic detail or is it extended to include anything that does not conform at first sight to  a particular or even global morality? Rhetorical question indeed.

Sympathetically however, we may plead a benign validity to Mr.el-Hafez’s reaction, since he repeatedly points out that first year students, hitherto sheltered, felt shocked and embarrassed. How he perceives the solution is where utter dismay lies.

Had he handled the situation differently, perhaps through an attempt to discuss sensitivities with the ‘nameless’ teacher rather than make such irrevocable moral judgement, the outcome might have surprised him. Casting a slur upon a team of educators is hardly a step in the right direction. Perhaps, once the students had settled in and understood the nature of what freedom of expression comprehensively entails in the art world, the ‘shock absorbers’ would have set in:

Analysis would be understood to be the object of the exercise. Depth of analysis would validate use of whatever imagery is involved or discredit it. No condemnation of any kind necessary.

Even though the press media often relies heavily on title grabbers, no journalist, least of all a reputable one such as Mr.el-Hafez would take kindly to being dictated to, even though his own morality may certainly not be in question.

I remember an occasion when young senior school girls were dealt out a play by an excellent drama teacher. The play appeared to be somewhat pretentiously ‘avant-garde’ and contained lesbian innuendo of a kind. A whole group of girls came to me and expressed their reluctance to take part in it. These particular girls were confident and outspoken so there was no doubt in my mind that sensitivities should be addressed. At first I mentioned that they could just opt out but they felt, since they had been chosen to perform, they would wish to participate in the school play of the year. So, I wrote to the teacher, whose production of another play I had seen and admired, expressing the youngsters' reservations which I was indeed able to appreciate.  Her immediate cooperation was forthcoming and a play of more substance and altogether more suitable for girls of that age was chosen instead. There was no judgement, no condemnation and certainly no cast aspersions. There was consideration on all fronts and the matter was resolved without any threat to literature of any kind. Whatever the outcome would have been, no code of morality was ever in question, least of all the playwright’s.

Hopefully people who are actively in charge will not be daunted and translators and teachers will still be able to get on with their jobs without having to look over their shoulders for doing so. Misunderstandings may occur, challenges may continue to present themselves but sweeping all that does not conform to an individual’s moral codes under the carpet is not the answer.
   
Finally, we can but hope that anyone stumbling across Arabian Nights or Snowdrop for that matter copes with having to sneak it out of the library, providing they are tall enough to reach the top shelves!

Issue 2 July 2011
أميرة نويرة
http://www.shorouknews.com/ 

*Video link submitted by Amira Nowaira
*Egyptian playground game counterpart submitted by Nadia and Sh.elS 

Offense unlimited

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/jun/29/academic-freedom-egypt

Posted as comment:

Censorship goes on everywhere. We are a little further down the line here in the UK but it keeps rearing its head through in some form or other. A small example is how political correctness keeps changing and how words gather moss: Terms are never free of being judged and condemned even when offense is quite obviously unintentional; people have been lynched left right and centre for not keeping up-to-date with the new current word that should or should not be used and ended up bewildered and shell-shocked through some minor lapse of thoughtlessness and nothing more. Even trivia such as choice of fancy dress may blemish a person’s career if the general consensus so dictates. Taboo would indeed be everywhere if nobody dared say otherwise. Do we still have a 9 pm watershed when the brutal news is on all day? As for television soaps and episodes, these are now consistently required to meet certain criteria; to involve different cultural backgrounds and sexual preferences even when they are not essentially integrated into the storyline itself, just for political correctness of an age. 
An example would be a recent debate broadcast about whether 'Midsomer Murders', a series which takes part in a rural English village should perhaps include a black person even though the likelihood of that happening in reality would indeed be extremely remote. Similarly, if there's a choice of promoting a new series it would probably be more likely that one which included a Muslim family would win as choice preference over any better plot submitted in another form. Include an 'across the board' selection of topics such as homosexuality, male or female or preferably both and some contentious issue of current interest to the mix and you have an instant dead cert winner, regardless of story, plot or ingenuity of subject matter. Substance will more often than not come secondary to arresting, sensational headers; unmissable irony therein since the subject matters now being dealt with on a daily basis and almost necessarily included in every production are the very issues that were formerly unacceptable to the general public: now contrarily being rammed down everyone's throats just to suit political correctness of a kind. When did a good storyline ever necessarily have to meet such criteria?

In Egypt, films containing sexual scenes have always been heavily censored and yet I remember a time when the most violent of such scenes in 'Soldier Blue' was allowed to be shown. The film contained shocking scenes of graphic butchery. The monstrosity of war was absolute and only gasps of horror could possibly be expected to emanate. However, even though the flesh was violated and literally sliced, since there was nudity involved, the frustrated male audience rooted and cheered for more; the film's message forever lost amid acute misinterpretation. That was a clear pointer to how censorship can go terribly wrong.

* Soldier Blue is a 1970 American Revisionist Western movie directed by Ralph Nelson and inspired by events of the 1864 Sand Creek massacre in the Colorado Territory.

In September 1970, Dotson Rader of The New York Times, wrote that Soldier Blue "must be numbered among the most significant, the most brutal and liberating, the most honest American films ever made".

Everything is relative, and things keep changing but the bottom line is that censorship does exist in some form or other and so it is indeed imperative for Egypt now to keep challenging the authorities or risk regressing further. With the attempt to ban literary works such as Moll Flanders, we see again how politics and religious morality seem to hold hands and dictate at will. We are all talking about self-appointed nannies of the state but the battle just keeps shifting shape.