| Author | Message | ||
     Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.23.242 |
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/06/25/britain.rushdieknight.ap/index.h tml Knighted today. On another thread is the discussion on Martin Amis. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/sep/10/september11.politicsphilosophyandsoc iety Any opinions? | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.161.241.208 |
I am a great fan of Salman Rushdie's fiction. Especially 'Shalimar the Clown', 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' and, of course, the incomparable 'Midnight's Children'. des | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 98.220.71.248 |
Ally, are you saying that Amis is being knighted? | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.198.155 |
All these famous folk being knighted... whereas I am merely benighted. :-/ | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.78.20.92 |
No Chris - I was just inviting opinions on the two articles. There has been so much controversy over what Martin Amis said. My opinion is that we (I haven't gone over what MA said with a fine tooth comb so this isn't in defence of him) should able to live in a society where we can speak openly about religion without fear of someone demanding that you be arrested for a hate crime - obviously if the comments are about religion and not race. I feel desperately sorry for women who (because they don't conform to what is demanded of them) get beaten up. That is where I'm coming from but the latter article covers much more. And probably we should just take that as given and leave it at that. In mentioning the plight of these women a different can of worms could be opened and that is never my intention. Just let the thread slide down please. | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
Martin Amis' comments were oafish and unpleasant. There are real concerns over the growing influence of religion in society, however, his approach was ill thought out and had an undertone of ugliness. | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
What do people make of Ian McEwan's thoughts on the issue: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2174813/Ian-McEwan-I-despise-militant-Islam.html | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
The Independents journos suggest he could be open to charges of hate crime: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/i-despise-islamism-ian-mcewan-fac es-backlash-over-press-interview-852030.html If you think this is far fetched check out what's happening in Canada. | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.93.30.31 |
Not this Amis thing again. Yes I agree with Griff. I once had a class at Bard College with Salman Rushdie. He had lots of people with him with earpieces and bulging black suits. I am sick and tired though of hearing writers make statements about what we should think, like rock musicians also think they should. I wish for example, that I had never heard one single word of Dan Simmons' comments about the above issue, it completly ruined my reading experience of his work. It still does. Now it always will. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.161.241.208 |
That why I publish writers nemonymously, Karim. des | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.93.30.31 |
Ha! :-) | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.149.134.59 |
Karim, I think it's hearing offensive and stupid views that's the problem, not hearing views at all. Politicians and journalists rarely hesitate to tell us what we should think, and they rarely talk anything but bullshit. In principle the views of a writer or a musician are more likely to be worthwhile. In practice, not always. | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.93.30.31 |
You are of course right Joel. A world view is obviously expressed in the writer's work. There is just a HUGE difference about the way an artist can go about expressing his or her opinions in public (and when they feel they should), and they differ considerably from one to the next. I am speaking of Amis, Simmons, etc, not Rushdie for example, or even Campbell, or King. Very different situations. I was very dissapointed with Simmons, I couldn't quite marry the wonderful imagination and writing, with his views. But thats how that goes. I can easily read authors whoes views I disagree with, but this case soured the prose for me....Very rare occurrence. |