Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Yamanaka Controversy
I agree completely only with Yamanaka's will to write uncensored and unafraid. Writing with truth means pulling from our deepest roots and beliefs which usually comes from experiences in an unjust world. Negative emotions flow from negative experiences, including racism, and are part of a whole truth we as humans experience. However, if the private institution (the AAAS) decides that giving an award conflicts with their beliefs and goals, they are certainly allowed to not give the award. No matter how much anyone could despise the decision to revoke the award from Yamanaka, the decision was for the AAAS to make. Award or not, however, I think it is clear what literary genius Yamanaka has achieved with Blu's Hanging.
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I feel the same way. Though the award came from an institution which ultimately revoked it, it still has to be seen that the award was given, and merit was recognized out of the raw, often in your face truth Yamanaka presents in Blu' Hanging about grief, parenting and the trials and tribulations of growing up. Literary awards are not a precursor for success. They are not requirements for noteworthy literature, and despite the revoking of said Award, Blu's Hanging is in my mind regarded as a heavyweight piece of literature, with insight and passion and an intensity too fierce to be branded anything other than genius.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this view because this person also agree's with Yamanaka's "will to write uncensored and unafraid". The world we live in is not perfect and there are a lot of controversial subject matters that effect everybody. The uncensored writing definitely "pulling from our deepest roots and beliefs". I believe this poster used great word choice when giving their explanation. And whether the AAAS decide to not give her the award, in the big picture it does not matter and Yamanaka got her point across and now has a controversial book that we are learning about, uncensored, and able to understand and interpret it's meaning.
ReplyDeleteI think the AAAS loses merit for rescinding its award from Yamanaka, though. Despite the criticism, I wish they had stood their ground and listed the reasons why they decided to give the award to her in the first place. From what I can remember, the organization revoked the award almost immediately, never really given the Yamanaka or those who supported her a chance.
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