i don't want even to begin to address ed owens'
wonderfully provocative question about offesnvely
provocative films [or other materials] used in a
classroom setting . . . i simply want to suggest
tht while sudent sensibilities must obviously be
a central consideration for anyone who takes
teaching seriously, ANY answer to ed's question will
inevitably have repurcussions for other areas in
which student sensibilities might be at risk . . .

specifically:   what do we do about issues such
as evolution with students whose religious beliefs
make such issues offensive? . . . similarly, may we
talk about freud to students whose lives include
a serious investment in the notion of soul? . . . and
how about teaching gay lit or film to those who
find the very idea an abomination? . . .

i'm not sure i see how we can readily distinguish
between teaching gay materials to the homophobic
on the one hand and teaching sexually explicit
materials to the prudish on the other . . . at
some point sensitivity or "political correctness"
comes into conflict with academic freedom and
intellectual integrity . . .

so what do we do? . . . this is a much more complex
problem than ed's apparently innocent question seems
to suggest

mike frank



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>From: Ed Owens <drsloomis@
>
>>Subject:  ...Too Provocative... (was Re: VOYeuRISM Assistance)
>
>.
>
>This brings up an interesting question, specifically for those that teach
>film.  Are your film selections guided by a consideration for the
>sensibilities of your intended audience?  One time in particular, I was
>approached by a student at the beginning of the semester and informed of
>her
>aversion to anything R-rated.  I worked with the student to come up with
>alternative films for the three in question, but wonder to what extent this
>sort of practice should be employed.  I'd be interested in hearing of
>others
>with similar experiences and how you handled them, as well as what your
>feelings are towards providing alternatives (or even designing the class
>around such issues in the first place).
>
>Ed
>
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