There
was an article in the New York Post on July 10 about how Amazon and B&N
were selling more titles with erotic themes but also were starting to pull
titles that it felt were over the edge.
Who
makes the decision on which books to write, publish, sell, or buy? What educates these decision-makers? Is there any definitive filter or test by
which we can objectively rate or review a book’s content to the point such a
tool helps determine if a book should be available to the public?
It’s
an age-old debate when it comes to obscenity, pornography, nudity, sex, and
erotica. Definitions and censorship and
bans and punishments vary by culture and time periods.
The
books in question, on Amazon and B&N’s site involved incest, bestiality,
and pedophilia. As revolting as any of
this may be to many of us – but apparently not all – I think the bigger
question is this: Are we talking about fiction or non-fiction?
The
distinction means everything.
Books
that fantasize about terrorists, murderers, rapists, etc. are a lot different than
how-to manuals that encourage one to commit a crime, shows them how to do it and
then how to cover it up.
I would not choose to read a manual about how to have sex with a seven-year-old and question why such a book should be published, though I would still lean towards agreeing the book has a right to be published. But one step away from that would be a novelization about subjects such as pedophilia and incest. I wouldn’t choose to buy it, but I’d accept its right to be published without any reservation or doubt. Books represent ideas, history, and imagination. As repulsive as some books may be, we cannot have books banned or censored.
Although
I am a staunch free-speech advocate, there are limitations to any of our
rights. No one has the right to publish
a manual on how to violently harm another.
But as a fantasy or a story of fiction, that is completely and utterly
acceptable.
So
it surprises me that our booksellers would be hypocrites. First they sell books they want to be quiet
about. Then, they pull them for fear of
criticism. Fiction is harmless and
allows us to express ideas or situations that otherwise would not be permitted
to take place. Having a fantasy outlet
for our dark side helps us keep that part of us in control.
Perhaps
a novel about someone killing the book banners at Amazon and B&N would sell
well – if it were ever made available.
Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2013
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2013
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