Monday, September 12, 2016

Visible and Necessary: Response to Gurdon

In the article, “Darkness Too Visible,” by Meghan Cox Gurdon, the author argues that “Young Adult” books are too depraved for the audience that they target. She provides examples of YA books corrupting the minds of the collective youth by showing them a world of grotesque exaggerations of life experiences that they have not yet imagined or experienced. Although Gurdon expresses genuine concern for teens and the sensitive content they are taking in, I must disagree with her views that YA literature is too dark for adolescents.
When I was a young teen, I read many YA books; although they did include some graphic violence and suggestive themes, they gave me a better perspective on a world I was beginning to understand. Gordon describes the YA genre as a funhouse, “reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what life is” (Gurdon 2). Life is not always pretty. Teen minds are definitely not all sunshine and rainbows. Young adult literature provides the opportunity for adolescents to explore fantasy, sci-fi, and real world coming-of-age stories. When children grow up, they will not be faced with anything less grotesque than what is in YA books. Even in the fantasy genre, books help to broaden the minds of the youth, expanding their understanding of the world around them. They help solidify understanding and empathy, allowing teens to enter the minds of others.

Gordon rebuts Sherman Alexie’s point that what teens see on the internet is much worse than what they find in books by stating “that's a failure of the adults around them” (Gurdon 5). If this is true, then parents should read through and investigate every books their child ever picks up. I believe, on the contrary, that parents should encourage to read widely and if there are sensitive topics, discuss with them. This is a much better model than trying to protect teens from the inevitable. If it is true that teens should not have to deal with difficult or grotesque topics, then they were born into the wrong world. Look at the news. It is full of truths that are for more terrifying than could be dreamed up in books. In books, there is a controlled environment in which young adults can safely explore thoughts and ideas in the world around them, preparing them for life and adulthood.

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