Discuss....

[faustus]

"Childhood is the need to be sheltered from adult secrets."

I have no attribution - seems to be Neil Postman, The Disappearance of Childhood (New York: Delacorte Press, 1982).

Comments

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

Yes, but whose need? A child's or the adult9s) taking care of the child?

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

In RL it seems to be adult need in typical Foucauldian othering - you're a child so I'm adult. Of course, it poses as being for the child's benefit.

I think I need to go seek context.

[foucaultonacid.livejournal.com]

childhood is the invention of adults that suggests that children can ever be sheltered from adult secrets

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough just saw the episode of Raines where the victim is a ten year old rape victim where Raines is uncomfortable that a child would know what molestation and rape was - even when that child is a projection of his imagination. Innocence must be maintained even (especially) when it has been taken away from her.

I need to locate quote in original context as it feels stupid as a sentence. Maybe the author believes it.

[foucaultonacid.livejournal.com]

james kincaid and others have done some great work on this. also the book curiouser.

the invention of innocence, of childhood latency and the like - it makesm e wonder about the evils committed to preserve and pretend it.

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

I know of Kincaid but have yet to track copies (I recall two titles, just not right now).

This is, of course, a side track, though I need to get back to the piece on teen gay novels (or gay teen novels).

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I've been trying to get together a set of essay questions, and that's a great quote for the purpose!

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

I found it in a YSJ diss on children in movies or adults using children and had to write it down. Glad to pass it forward