I know this is reductive (and your analysis is fascinating) but I've adored Rich's poetry since I was an undergrad, and dammit I hate that she aligned herself with "feminists" of that era who were transphobic. So disappointed. Dream of a Common Language is one of my favorite collections and today is Transgender Day of Remembrance and that just makes me feel things.
I think it's a real issue, how we respond to learning these types of things about authors we love. I haven't read a lot of Woolf's writing, but I've loved some of her biography, and hearing she wore blackface was an unpleasant surprise.
My youngest, who is nonbinary, thinks that we should separate the text from the person who wrote it; but I disagree. I think context is important, though what we *do* with that context admittedly has me stumped.
I guess we call it out, but do we continue to consume it? I guess what you did is kind of a both/and approach, which I don't disagree with.
I mean, I think it depends on what they did, how it affects the work...I think it can be a case by case thing. I just think it's important not to get defensive about it if someone else wants to talk about it or brings it up.
I know this is reductive (and your analysis is fascinating) but I've adored Rich's poetry since I was an undergrad, and dammit I hate that she aligned herself with "feminists" of that era who were transphobic. So disappointed. Dream of a Common Language is one of my favorite collections and today is Transgender Day of Remembrance and that just makes me feel things.
It's a problem with a lot (though not all) of the second wave. And I don't think it's reductive; it's part of her legacy unfortunately.
I think it's a real issue, how we respond to learning these types of things about authors we love. I haven't read a lot of Woolf's writing, but I've loved some of her biography, and hearing she wore blackface was an unpleasant surprise.
My youngest, who is nonbinary, thinks that we should separate the text from the person who wrote it; but I disagree. I think context is important, though what we *do* with that context admittedly has me stumped.
I guess we call it out, but do we continue to consume it? I guess what you did is kind of a both/and approach, which I don't disagree with.
I mean, I think it depends on what they did, how it affects the work...I think it can be a case by case thing. I just think it's important not to get defensive about it if someone else wants to talk about it or brings it up.