Go to hell!
Who doesn’t love Maurice Sendak? And I’m loving him even more in the wake of his ‘go to hell’ piece!
It’s not just the BBC who are making waves about political correctness and what kids should be reading, hearing and seeing… There has been a few quibbles and questions about Where the Wild Things Are being too scary for kids.
And Sendak’s reply? In a chat with Newsweek, he, Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers make it pretty clear:
Sendak: I would tell them to go to hell. That’s a question I will not tolerate. If they can’t handle it, go home. Or wet your pants. Do whatever you like. But it’s not a question that can be answered.
Eggers: The part about kids wetting their pants? Should kids wear diapers when they go to the movies? I think adults should wear diapers going to it, too. I think everyone should be prepared for any eventuality.
Sendak: I think you’re right. This concentration on kids being scared, as though we as adults can’t be scared. Of course we’re scared. I’m scared of watching a TV show about vampires. I can’t fall asleep. It never stops. We’re grown-ups; we know better, but we’re afraid.
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I was intrigued by Eggers’ comment “I think everyone should be prepared for eventuality”. Kids can’t live their entire lives in a bubble, they eventually grow up and think for themselves. Should we try to protect children from experiencing fear from stories or movies? Exposing them to fear in movies might help them to cope with fearful situations in real life.
i am not happy with its review….. so disappointed and so sad…………
@Emily ‘Should we try to protect children from experiencing fear from stories or movies?’
Kids are frightened outside of books/movie and that has to be a part of storytelling. Within reason anyway…