Alison Bechdel, the author of "Fun Home," a graphic memoir that at least one faith group is seeking remove from the hands of incoming freshmen at the College of Charleston, says she's surprised by the controversy and takes no pleasure in creating it.
"Fun Home" is the story of Bechdel's life growing up in Central Pennsylvania, where she faced numerous challenges including her father's suicide and the realization that she was gay. The book has been widely praised and appeared on The New York Times' Bestseller List.
Bechdel is also the author of the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and the graphic memoir "Are You My Mother?"
Bechdel is also the creator of the Bechdel Test, which measures gender equity in films.
Incoming freshmen at the College of Charleston have been assigned "Fun Home," published in 2006, for summer reading.
But Oran Smith, President of Palmetto Family, told the Post and Courier last week that the book is inappropriate for freshmen. Smith said he did not think the book should be banned outright, but he also objected to the use of public dollars to purchase the book and invite Bechdel to the campus in October. The total cost is more than $50,000, according to a school spokesperson. The school's Provost told the paper there are no plans to change the book.
Note: Tomorrow, Patch will speak to two College of Charleston students about the appropriateness of the book.
Bechdel spoke to Patch via email about the controversy.
Patch: Has this sort of thing happened before--where a group effectively wants to ban your book--and if so, has your reaction changed over the years?
AB: Actually, I don't recall this precise situation arising before. There was an issue with Fun Home in some public libraries soon after it came out. Both Fun Home and Craig Thompson's graphic novel Blankets were banned in a Wisconsin library, at least temporarily, because they were being shelved in the kids' section. That was more a problem about how to categorize graphic novels that were NOT for children. Eventually the books were reinstated, but not with the kids books.
P: Do you wish the book could just be considered on its literary strengths? Or did you always know that because it was discussing the experiences of a so-called "non-traditional" family that would be what's most often discussed?
AB: In my experience, the book HAS been considered in terms of its literary merit, and the "non-traditional" family aspect has really not been a big deal. This is a new thing for me.
P: Given the Supreme Court's rulings last month with respect to gay marriage there is obviously a political context here. Do you think that's the essence of what's happening, a group on either side wants to score political points?
AB: I can understand that a conservative family organization might be feeling particularly threatened in the wake of the same-sex marriage rulings, but I have no way of knowing whether that's part of why Palmetto Family is objecting to the book.
P: In that vein, bringing a story where homosexuality is embraced rather than condemned into the Bible Belt is kind of going behind enemy lines as it were. Do you view yourself as a messenger of sorts in addition to a storyteller?
AB: I have never considered myself a messenger. I've always been more of a preacher to the choir. I know lots of writers or public figures might relish this kind of situation, the chance to fight back against a public attack. But I'm not one of them. I don't like conflict. I don't want to shove anything down anyone's throat. All I want is to tell a story so good that people want to read it.
P: Has this controversy made you think twice about coming to the school in October?
AB: No, not at all. I'm really looking forward to my visit to Charleston.
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