This from Scott Lynch's LiveJournal:By now, much of the internet that lives in the actual 21st century has pilloried the bejeezus out of Orson Scott Card's "revelatory version" of Hamlet. Now, now, I can't help but feel that there might be some hidden genius in this notion of squeezing out all the hard words, tossing out all the actual characterization from the original plays, and substituting moral conclusions totally divorced from the tone, temper, and context of what our buddy Bill "Plastic Man" Shakespeare mistakenly thought he was driving at.
As I threatened on Twitter, I would therefore like to present excerpts from my forthcoming re-interpreted masterpiece...
Check it out! :P
15 commentaires:
I have no words........
Wait aminute, I do!!
So what's the deal with this hamlet thing?
Is it a satire? Or does Orson Scott Card actually believe gay people are evil?
Google Scott Card and homosexuality. He's been pretty outspoken about his beliefs in the past; kind of retroactively ruins books of his you've joined. Dude's fucking crazy.
Yeah, the article in Raintaxi is really an eye-opener. I also posted about Hamlet's Father in my blog:
http://rolandscodex.blogspot.com/2011/09/uncle-orson-boudlerizes-everything.html
And yeah, Luke is right. I am beginning to feel negative even towards Ender's Game which is one of my five favorite books ever...
Card seems to be one of those authors who is developing the unenviable ability to shoot himself in the foot and lose readers.
Polonius:
What is the matter, my lord?
Hamlet:
Between who?
Polonius:
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
Hamlet:
Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men
have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging
thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful
lack of wit, together with most weak hams; all which, sir, though
I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty
to have it thus set down, for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if
like a crab you could go backward.
Polonius:
[Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.
Madness indeed... And I thought the latest film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet with a modern theme was bad.
Evil is one word. Pretty sure he wants to get rid them all. I know at one point he that people in states that legalize civil unions(not even marriage at this point) have the God given right to OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. For realz.
It pains me to see Card be such a blatant bigot. I've always enjoyed his novels, but his diatribes against the gay community and joining NOM has made reading his works impossible. It's difficult to support an author who is an unrepentant bigot.
It's sad because his works often highlight minority and outcast characters and try to show they even though they might seem harmful, they have beauty within. Ender became Speaker of the Dead and worked to restore the Bugs. Pastwatch is one of the greatest novels I've ever read. A large chunk deals with Christian fundamentalists looking to enslave and convert lesser savages. His current behavior contradicts the actions his heroes\protagonists taken.
I'd like to think he'd come to his senses and at least keep his hatred of all things gay to himself. But he appears to have gone off the deep end and is full throttle in his attempts to demonize an entire group of people.
dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
Maybe this hatred is to cover up his own sexuality?
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If he thinks gays are evil and wants to share that opinion then fine. You don't have to agree with him, but to say he should keep his opinion to himself means we should all have to as well. Don't buy his books but don't tell someone they shouldn't share their opinion. Hear them out and then try to educate them
I couldn't disagree more. Sharing opinions is one thing. Actively promoting homophobia and being part of organizations whose goal it is to limit someone's rights is completely different.
Obviously nobody here is stopping Card from expressing his bigotry. If I could stop him though, I would without a moment's hesitation. I have zero respect for people promoting hate.
@anonymous Yeah, that worked out real great for the Jews under Hitler
Anonymous said "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If he thinks gays are evil and wants to share that opinion then fine. You don't have to agree with him, but to say he should keep his opinion to himself means we should all have to as well. Don't buy his books but don't tell someone they shouldn't share their opinion. Hear them out and then try to educate them"
I certainly don't feel he's not entitled to his own opinions. Nor do I feel he should be prohibited from expressing them. I wish I could sit down with the man and persuade him to see that being gay or lesbian is not a scourge to society, but that kind of bigotry is deep-rooted and is usually impossible to persuade someone to change their views. It generally takes knowing someone who is gay or lesbian to see they're not so different and are our friends, siblings, co-workers, and neighbors.
I am disappointed that he expresses his views so publicly and with such vitriol. He's long been one my favorite authors, but I feel I can no longer read his material without having his views overshadow my enjoyment of his writing. It cuts off access for me to any future works of his as well as rereading novels of his I consider some of my all-time favorite books. I also feel weird and reluctant to recommend his books to others now. I would feel the same way about an author who had racist views. It's a free country and you can think and express whatever you want, but if you say hateful things, I can boycott your works and encourage others to do so.
I really can't think of another example of an artist I truly enjoyed morphing into one I hold in contempt. I consider it a true shame, but it's one of Card's own making. He seems content with the position he's taken.
I really cant see how this could possibly be the same guy who wrote "Speaker for the Dead", it feels like there is a plot hole in reality.
Never read Card. Knew his opinions too early and I didn't want him to get that small amount of money he would from me buying a MMPB.
That said, huge numbers of authors and artists are or were assholes. It would be rough to cut out so much brilliance because of personality defects. Plus, according to the first amendment, he's allowed to say anything he wants, even if he is spewing vitriolic, misplaced hate. If he is doing that, it is our job to respond with enlightened opinions.
I really hate to see his opinions--his hate. I really hate virtually any kind of hate. LGBT issues are close to my heart. Not just because I have family and friends who fall into this umbrella--every single letter, actually. Ever since I was a little kid. It hurts me to hear this hate. I really don't understand it. Why pick on the LGBT community?
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