Dante's Comedy no longer Divine?

annis · Post by **annis** » Thu March 15th, 2012, 3:00 am

Political correctness gone bonkers - Dante's Divine Comedy is slated by Italian NGO as being offensive and discrimatory amid demands that it be withdrawn from classrooms --sighs and bangs head on nearest wall--
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/ma ... riminatory

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Thu March 15th, 2012, 3:18 am

And I'm proud to live in America, cause at least it's not Italy... Sorry, couldn't resist.

Depending on the ages of the students I could see them having a point about school curricula. They don't want it banned altogether, just not used in the schools.

DianeL · Post by **DianeL** » Thu March 15th, 2012, 11:06 pm

I don't know - even for fairly young students (I mean, how low a grade would this be used for a curriculum?), the issues brought up by great literature from times with different mores could start incredibly valuable conversations and actually be a way to *engage* students. Intelligently taught, and treating students intelligently as well, ancient prejudices and tricky issues could be very rewarding.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Thu March 15th, 2012, 11:08 pm

There is always someone like this. Not long ago, Huckleberry Finn was censored from school libraries because of the use of the word 'nigger'. Those who were offended seemed to miss the point of the book, which was to give dignity and personalize black people in an era where such literature was rare.

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Fri March 16th, 2012, 1:05 am

[quote=""LoveHistory""]And I'm proud to live in America, cause at least it's not Italy... Sorry, couldn't resist.

?

Depending on the ages of the students I could see them having a point about school curricula. They don't want it banned altogether, just not used in the schools.[/quote]

dont blow this silliness out of proportion. this is one minor NGO trying to get some attention. after living in italy for several years, it is certainly a minor or minescule view of the actual italians. italians love their Dante more than English love their shakespere. in no way would any PC nonsense take that away from them. and like shakespere, you dont have toi concentrate on all of the inferno, just the good parts. no one bothers with shakesperes "timon of athens", do they?

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Fri March 16th, 2012, 2:03 am

[quote=""Kveto from Prague""]no one bothers with shakesperes "timon of athens", do they?[/quote]

Speak for yourself, Kveto.