Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Third Alvin Ho ( What Happened?)

Last week Debbie Reese did a critical analyses about Alvin Ho: Allergic to birthday parties, science projects, and other man-made catastrophes by Lenore Look. One of the major themes of the most recent Alvin Ho is a cowboys vs. Indians birthday party. I haven't read the book yet but Reese has included textual and visual excerpts, as she denounces it for being filled with stereotypes
Reese
"When I got to the glossary, I thought, "This book needs another glossary entry... STEREOTYPE. And, it needs that word stamped in big letters on the front of the book." From the feathered headdress to the war paint to the war whoops and bow and arrow, all the elements of the stereotyped Indian are in this book."

I really liked the first two Alvin Ho stories and was very surprised by this. The stories are set in the present day. I didn't even realize kids still played cowboys and Indians. I respect Look for not shying away from Reese's criticism. The author responded the next day. Since I don't agree with the direction Look has taken this story, that's the only good thing I have to say.

Look's argument such as it is loses all creditability when she sites the Disney's Pocahontas. No one should be looking to Disney for the rights and wrong on racial representation. To be fair to the author, it doesn't appear as if she did that. (I just thought it sounded good.) However it does appear as if Look used the Disney movie for justification of a playing Indians theme which is just as bad.

From the author's response
"But do kids play politically correctly? No. Should I perpetuate play that is not politically correct? No. But I would not be TRUTHFUL if I were to fabricate a scenario for them that conforms to our current, enlightened-adult sense of how kids should play if that’s not the behavior that we’ve already passed to them. And good writing is about being honest, regardless of how discomforting it might be, especially when echoed in our children's play."

That would hold more weight is Alvin Ho were set in historical time. However the stories are set in modern times. It simply doesn't make sense that Alvin and his friends want to play cowboy and Indians. It's already nearly impossible to find positive portrayals of Indians in children's literature, authors should not be turning back the clock.


From the glossary (which I saw thanks to the amazon google preview)

"King's Philip's War - started in 1675 in Plymouth Colony before it became a part of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The war spread and nearly wiped out all of New England in a little more than a year. King Philip was the English name for the native Metcacom. The settlers were fighting to take land away from the Natives and Natives were fighting to preserve their traditional way of life. "

It's the last sentence and what wasn't said that really gets under my skin. Indians were fighting for their lives. I am surprised no one noticed all the red flags in this book. From Reese's and Sarah Park's criticism its obvious that playing Indian was a major theme. I can understand a paragraph or a chapter slipping by since many times people aren't aware to the slights to another group. But someone should've caught this.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nicely said, Doret. I wonder if perhaps in calling it 'settlers and Indians' the situation was deemed politically correct and acceptable? I mean, if Disney is your guiding force, this justification would work!

write my paper for me said...

Thanks for your post it is very interesting for me!

research paper outline example said...

I really liked your article and the photo is super. Thanks you.

homework help said...

This is very useful information for me. Thank you very much for the link!

William Brixton said...

Nice posts!
Here is someone who could write your essay - https://canada.papercoach.net/ .

Additri Kapoor said...

Can’t find a reliable service to order your paper from. Check our https://scamfighter.net/review/unemployedprofessors.com on Scamfighter. Only real reviews based on personal experience and clients’ experience.

iphongthuy.net said...

iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet

KUBET said...

KUBET được cộng đồng cá cược đánh giá là nhà cái số 1 Châu Á trong năm 2019 hiện tại. Với nhiều trò chơi hấp dẫn, tỷ lệ cược cực cao, trải nghiệm mượt mà mang tới cơ hội kiếm tiền cho anh em. KUBET.IO là trang web cung cấp link đăng ký, đăng nhập KU BET - KU CASINO chính thức, hướng dẫn hội viên tham gia các trò cá cược trên nhà cái, cũng như cách nạp tiền, rút tiền.



Từ khóa: #ku, #kubet, #kucasino, #kubetio, #ku777, #ku888, #ku999, #casino, #thienhabet, #kubetcasino



Mạng xã hội KUBET chính thức:


https://infogram.com/dang-ky-kubet-cach-tao-lap-tai-khoan-ku-bet-don-gian-1h8j4xglr0od6mv

https://trello.com/kubet

https://block-x.co/dang-ky-kubet/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyPQbqZIZKV60Q7njSmKe3A


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S5X7VBD


Website: Kubet.io







KUBET said...

TOPSoiCau - Chuyên trang SOI CẦU MB, MT, MN VIP 24h tốt nhất Việt Nam 247 cho anh em tham khảo, lấy số đẹp. Dự đoán kết quả xổ số 3 miền Bắc, Trung, Nam nhanh nhất hàng ngày.

Xem thêm: #topsoicau, #soicau, #soicauxsmb, #soicauxsmt, #soicauxsmn, #dudoanxsmb, #dudoanxsmt, #dudoanxsmn, #soicaurongbachkim, #soicauviet, #soicaulotto, #soicaulovip, #soicau3mien, #soicau7777, #soicau247, #soicau555, #soicau366, #soicauwap, #soicau568, #soicau24h, #soicau888, #soicau666, #soicauwin2888, #soicaukubet, #soicaukhongtu


https://www.domestika.org/en/topsoicaucom

https://sketchfab.com/topsoicau

https://stocktwits.com/topsoicau

https://vimeo.com/topsoicau/about

https://band.us/@soicauasia



Website: TOPSoiCau.com


Monnika Jacob said...

I haven't read this review yet but it is confirmed that criticism for criticism is not a good thing. As a professional writer at coursework writing services, I would say criticism should always be constructive, should not be destructive.

timeandxcess said...

Thanks for sharing this informative article.
office automation services
hearing aid Pakistan
hearing aids in lahore
custom suits
ad agency
chemical industries in lahore
Architecture Designs in lahore
mbbs in china
hearing clinic in lahore

shahzaib said...

green tea


Termite Treatment in lahore

English tivi said...

Englishtivi.com is a free website for English learners. You can improve your English story, vocabulary words, grammar, sentences, speaking, writing, idioms …. Thousands of English videos and lessons are waiting for you.
That's why, this website was founded with a simple vision: To become your go-to resource to Improve Your English Skills | Help You Change Your Life!
Official website: englishtivi.com
https://sites.google.com/view/englishtivi
https://trello.com/englishtivi
#Englishtivi
#Englishtv
#englishtiviyoutube
#englishtivionline
#englishtivilevel3
#englishtivilevel1
#learnenglishthroughstory
#learnenglishthroughstories