XP: authors and politics

[secretlyevil]

This is an interesting discussion started over on book club. Thought I would see what CE&P thought about the subject.

Post over there or over here. Doesn't matter.

Aurora asked:

I generally don't seek out information about the politics of the authors whose books I enjoy, but I remember feeling very sad when I learned that Michael Crichton was an anti-environmental activist because I felt like I should no longer support him by buying his books (obviously this was before he died). I'm wondering whether others have made similar decisions.

To clarify, I'm not talking about political books where you know the book is written to make a political statement (Animal Farm, Atlas Shrugged, etc.), but rather books that have nothing to do with politics but where you very strongly disagree with the author's political actions outside of his or her writing.

The question: Will you buy books written by authors with whom you have strong political disagreements?

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=nbc&action=display&thread=8633#ixzz1vhs4QaEf

[Deleted]

I know I'm an outlier here wrt this topic but in general, I don't think one's politics should have much to do with whether or not I choose to patronize a business, author, or artist.

Maybe it's because I'm a conservative and doing so would extremely limit my options. IDK.

[Melissa W.]

It really depends on what the issues is for me.

[wawa]

I'm not going to stop reading something (or refuse to patronize a business) because of a difference in political opinion as it relates to economic theories or pretty much anything policy-wonkish.

I might get turned off of a book (or business) if there is a difference of political opinion expressed in such a way that it comes across as a difference in moral opinion.

Example:
Will keep reading/patronizing - I am not in favor of amnesty for illegal residents, because I think that instead we should do [insert alternate policy here].

Will be seriously turned off and may stop buying book/patronizing business - I am not n favor of amnesty for illegal immigrants because they are dirty mexicans who are all trying to take our damn jobs.

Big difference. One just means we disagree. The other means you're an asshole who doesn't deserve my money.

this has actually come up for me - Orson Scott Card is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage. (he's mormon) Enders Game was my absolute favorite book in middle/high school. I was kinda crushed when I found out that he was campaigning on behalf of the anti-gay marriage lobby. I haven't purchased anything of his since, but I already owned most of his books so it's not like that's saying anything.

ETA: I lie - I forgot the Ender's shadow books started coming out right around the time I found out he was publicly and loudly anti-gay marriage. So I didn't buy them. And then I managed to forget they existed, and now I'm reminded and annoyed at his ass all over again. Particularly since i just googled to see if he's changed his mind, but nope, he was in NC campainging for their ammendment. why can't you just shut up and think these thoughts quietly in Utah OSC? WHY?

[zelda25]

Like you, I don't make a point of seeking out the political leanings of a writer before I read his/her work, so it usually won't be an issue. In Crichton's case, I think he was really vocal about his disdain re: environmentalism in general and climate change research in particular. If memory serves, he was actually kind of douchey about it (understanding that douchey is totally in the eye of the beholder) and I remember having an "Ew. Note to self: don't buy his shit" reaction when I saw him spouting off about it on TV.

[Deleted]

Also, I'm thinking of how many great works of literature one would have missed had we rejected them on the basis of the author's political ideals.

[aurora]

May 23, 2012 10:37:49 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

Also, I'm thinking of how many great works of literature one would have missed had we rejected them on the basis of the author's political ideals.

See, this is the benefit of not seeking out the information - it's very unlikely that there will be a sudden news blurb about Homer making crazy political statements that would turn me off to his books, so I can enjoy The Odyssey in peace.

(I did just admit in the Book Club version of this thread that I recognize that I am inconsistent!)

[aurora]

May 23, 2012 10:35:18 GMT -5 wawa said:

...
this has actually come up for me - Orson Scott Card is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage. (he's mormon) Enders Game was my absolute favorite book in middle/high school. I was kinda crushed when I found out that he was campaigning on behalf of the anti-gay marriage lobby. I haven't purchased anything of his since, but I already owned most of his books so it's not like that's saying anything.

...and I had just downloaded Ender's Game to my Kindle when I learned this about Orson Scott Card. It annoyed me but I did go on to read and actually enjoy the book, which of course has absolutely nothing to do with gay marriage. However, I won't be supporting him by buying more of his books.

[Deleted]

I'm thinking mostly of Russian authors like Tolstoy. The fact that history later validated many of his opinions doesn't detract from the fact that his opinions weren't exactly popular at the time and may not be in other places in the world.

[pixy0stix]

Usually I don't care. The M. Crichton mess really turned me off his books (as well as the bad writing). He misinterpreted the data/findings of my old boss (and included a citation as a footnote in his book), and she was in a tizzy for a MONTH about it. She has an attention span of a gnat, so to hear about it for a month was especially grinding.

[secretlyevil]

I guess I should answer my own post. I'm just going to be lazy and quote myself from the OP.

May 23, 2012 10:24:48 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

I never really thought about it because I don't normally seek that information out. If I stumbled onto an author's belief on issues and strongly disagreed with them, I think I wouldn't read their work anymore. It would suck but it's just like any other company I boycott for whatever reason.

I pretty much feel like wawa. Difference of opinion is important and even healthy, however, if you're a dick about something than you don't deserve my money.