AIBU to think outdated terms in literature should be changed?

[ValerieCupcake]

I'm reading a book at the minute. I am not going to share the title, but it is historical fiction. Set in Victorian London. It was written only about 4 years ago. But it uses words that are now inappropriate. Dwarf, midget and the n-word. This is an attempt to replicate speech and terms of the time. But should this be allowed?

I find it uncomfortable. But that is how they spoke. It is not allowed on TV. So should it be in literature?

No, I personally don’t think it’s appropriate. Plus, some people of this generation won’t know what they mean anyway.

What makes you think it’s not allowed on tv? Programmes with that sort of language usually have a warning at the start.

Do we really want to ban books from using language we find offensive and who would decide?

How far back do you want to go? Should we rewrite Shakespeare? Dickens?
Censor history books?

But that is how they spoke

So it's either a fair representation of the times, or it gets sanitised for a modern audience.

Isn't that trying to cancel history?

no no need to sanitise stuff

@pussycatunpickingcrossesagain

But that is how they spoke

So it's either a fair representation of the times, or it gets sanitised for a modern audience.

Isn't that trying to cancel history?

Totally agree with this. You yourself say it’s ‘historical fiction’. I mean, should they be on Instagram and have iPhones to make it more relatable?

Meh, let’s just get to end game - burn all the books other than those by prescribed woke authors and be done with it!!….can we do the same with tv & film too?! No? Why not?

@endofthelinefinally

How far back do you want to go? Should we rewrite Shakespeare? Dickens? Censor history books?

I didn't mean that. I meant should contemporary writers use those terms. I just checked. The book was written in 2015.

I don’t think that older books should be sanitised because that would be a bit 1984.

but something written 4 years ago could probably have been written a bit less offensively - although it’s difficult to know if it’s appropriate without the context.

@jytdtysrht

I don’t think that older books should be sanitised because that would be a bit 1984.

but something written 4 years ago could probably have been written a bit less offensively - although it’s difficult to know if it’s appropriate without the context.

They talk about all the sellers in the markets. One of them is a 'midget' and there are the n*** bands playing. The narrator is a 12 year old girl.

Literature should represent the time it’s set and not sanitised. Where would you draw the line in your censoring? It’s not the road to go down. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.

I voted YANBU although I see I’m in the minority.

I’d say a book written now shouldn’t use those words. They can be avoided.

If a book from the past can easily be updated there’s an argument for that (eg one of Agatha Christie’s books) but if it’s integral to the plot / authentic to its time then that can be argued too. So ‘it depends’.

But a book written 4 years ago shouldn’t use those words even if set in a different time IMO

I didn't mean that. I meant should contemporary writers use those terms. I just checked. The book was written in 2015

Contemporary writers using period language.

What if a contemporary writer was writing a chapter where someone experienced racism. Would they not be allowed to use racist language there even though in real life racist insults would be common?

Snow White and the seven unusually short men.

It’s not possible to rewrite literature, However modern adaptations can and should be more pc wherever possible. Eg. Modern version of dam busters the dog was renamed digger. Has no effect on the story and is massively less offensive.

While I don't like those words, and wouldn't condone modern usage of any of them, they are important as part of the context.

Agatha Christie novels are often quite jarring to read because of this - but they reflect they era they were set in/written about.

If you find it uncomfortable to read language used in a certain time period maybe it's not the genre for you.

I imagine all the outbursts on Twitter. Cancelling authors, that sort of thing. Which is wrong.

I think for me the fact it was written 4 years ago makes the difference. I imagine it’s mainly written in today’s English, rather than imitating the Victorian style completely, so I don’t think offensive words should be used. I imagine there are other ways of phrasing things that would get the equivalent strength of feeling across to current readers.

I don’t, however, think that books written in different times should be sanitised - that is the language they used at the time and I think it’s important not to minimise this. An editorial preface pointing this out is a better way to go, I think.

@Spudina

Literature should represent the time it’s set and not sanitised. Where would you draw the line in your censoring? It’s not the road to go down. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.

Completely agree with this.

Look at the book bans in US schools. Things like To Kill a Mockingbird.

@LibrariesGiveUsPower

Snow White and the seven unusually short men.

It’s not possible to rewrite literature, However modern adaptations can and should be more pc wherever possible. Eg. Modern version of dam busters the dog was renamed digger. Has no effect on the story and is massively less offensive.

I read about the dog's gravestone being replaced and his name taken off. He was a black retriever from what I recall.

Or you could, you know, stop reading it

If we don't allow those words, aren't we burying the evidence of racism, etc?

I think in a modern book about historical events it depends - I'd hope that those words are chosen to fit the plot etc rather than for shock value. But that's a judgement authors, readers, etc need to make. If you think it's being done gratuitously, don't buy the author's next book!

@ValerieCupcake

I imagine all the outbursts on Twitter. Cancelling authors, that sort of thing. Which is wrong.

What do you mean? People getting cancelled for using authentic language when they’re writing in a historical context?

But you, yourself are writing those words here!

In fact, you have decided one word is definitely offensive as you are using stars to spell it..... but the other 2 words you say you feel are offensive , you are happy to bandy them around on the internet!!