In our pursuit to shield ourselves and our children from negative influences, it is easy to be inclined towards rejecting any content associated with malevolence. Recently a mother expressed her concern about the overwhelming array of modern content that inundates children and our failure to teach them to navigate what to engage with. As children grow older and move beyond the restrictive reach of parental control in their engagement with various forms of art—be it television, music, or literature—it becomes crucial for them to be well-grounded in understanding what it means to edify the soul. They must learn to seek out what is true, good, and beautiful.
On a surface level, the answer seems clear: reject anything associated with evil, such as witchcraft, murder, mutilation, stealing, and indecent behaviour. However, if we rejected these themes solely for their presence in literature, we would miss out on some of the best that Western literature has to offer. Many of Shakespeare's stories would be excluded. For instance, "Macbeth" would be rejected due to its prominent themes of witchcraft and bloody murder. "The Merchant of Venice" would also be rejected because of the character Shylock and the themes of revenge and attempted mutilation. "Hamlet" contains murder and themes of revenge, making it a candidate for rejection as well. Even "The Tempest" might be excluded for its association with sorcery and magic. By rejecting stories that feature these themes, we would lose many of Shakespeare's most profound and complex works, which explore the depths of human nature and morality. These works reveal to us all that is good, true, and beautiful, yet they do so by delving into content that is sometimes disordered and disconnected from God.
The difficulty in discerning the right course is a challenge, and families, who are the ultimate guide for their children, will come to different conclusions. Rather than starting with a list of things to reject, it is far better to consider an approach to decide if a book, show, or music is something that is good for our souls. Take the book "Gulliver’s Travels" by Jonathan Swift, which was a point of contention for a young educator I came across. Hypervigilant of any impropriety, she was certain that it was entirely inappropriate for a teenage audience due to its vulgarity and lack of decorum in parts. She was particularly concerned about a scene where Gulliver urinates to extinguish a fire in the Lilliputian palace. She believed students should not be exposed to such depravity.
After being taken aback for a moment, I decided to ask the educator some questions. "Have you read the book?" The answer was no. "Do you understand what literary techniques the writer was using here?" The answer was no. "Do you know the message the audience was being sent?" No. "What about the historical context? The meaning of the story? Was it oriented to all that was good, true, and beautiful?" The educator had no idea how to engage with any of these considerations. How had she concluded this story was bad and should be banished? She had googled for bad reviews, found the indecency outlined above, and gone no further. Whilst a case could be made to not read “Gulliver’s Travels” or indeed Shakespeare, we must equip ourselves to do so by more than a cursory internet search. It is akin to telling a child, "because I told you so," which is perfectly fine if you are dealing with a four-year-old; however, your eighteen-year-old will not be satisfied with this response- and neither should they.
In our modern society, the ability to discern what is true, good, and beautiful within the arts is paramount. We must equip ourselves and our children with critical thinking skills, allowing them to navigate a world flooded with diverse narratives and discern what they should and should not be watching, listening to, and reading. The Ancient Greeks designed a series of exercises that can be applied to both attack the credibility of literature (primarily myths and legends) and confirm the credibility of myths and legends. These skills can be applied to all forms of artistic expression. In doing so, adults and children can develop the necessary skills to, with reason, decide what literature is worthwhile for them to engage with.
When refuting literature, identifying elements of obscurity, incredibility, impossibility, illogicality, and unfittingness is crucial to discerning the reliability and coherence of the narrative. Obscurity occurs when the narrative is unclear or overly complex, making it difficult for the reader to understand the author's intent. Incredibility refers to elements that stretch believability to the point where the story loses its plausibility. Impossibility involves aspects that defy natural laws or logic, rendering events or actions within the story unrealistic. Illogicality is present when the plot or character actions do not follow a rational sequence or lack common sense, creating inconsistencies within the story. Unfittingness describes content that does not align with the story's context or theme, often promoting vices or inappropriate moral messages. By identifying these flaws, we can critically evaluate the work's artistic integrity and its overall value in conveying meaningful and coherent messages.
Conversely, we want to ascertain credibility – the extent to which we can affirm the art as worthwhile – to aid in growing in virtue. To ascertain if a myth or legend (and more broadly other art) is credible, one can use a framework based on several criteria: is it manifest, probable, possible, logical, fitting, and profitable? A myth or legend is considered manifest when its elements are clearly apparent and readily understood, making the narrative evident without needing further explanation. Probable elements of the story are those that are likely to have happened based on available evidence or circumstances, suggesting a reasonable expectation of their occurrence. The possible aspects of the myth are those that, while not certain, do not violate natural laws or logic, thus remaining within the realm of feasibility. Logical coherence ensures that the narrative follows clear, sound reasoning and adheres to principles of logic, leading to consistent and valid conclusions. Fitting components are those that align harmoniously with the cultural, historical, or situational context, making the myth appropriate and relevant. Finally, a myth can be deemed profitable if it yields benefits, advantages, or insights, either in a literal sense or through the value it adds to cultural understanding and human experience. By applying these criteria, one can systematically evaluate the credibility of myths and legends.
At Via Classica, we introduce this evaluation in the fourth book of our Australian Progymnasmata series, Confirmation and Refutation. This series uses literature of ancient myths and legends to develop the students' refutation and confirmation skills. One of the stories students will analyse is "The Emperor Has No Clothes." Ironically, we are presented with the same problem identified by our educator earlier with "Gulliver's Travels" — the indecency of a key aspect of the story (the story is predicated on a naked man walking through the streets) — which we could refute as unfitting.
"The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen and Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," specifically Gulliver's experiences in Lilliput, share thematic similarities in their satirical examination of human nature, social structures, and the folly of pride and pretence. Both stories critique the absurdity of power and pride: the emperor's vanity blinds him to the truth (manifest), while the Lilliputians' grandiose ambitions mirror the triviality of European politics (probable). They also highlight the impact of conformity and social pressure, as the townspeople in Andersen's tale pretend to see the emperor's clothes out of fear (possible), and Gulliver conforms to Lilliputian customs to avoid conflict (logical). The innocent child in "The Emperor's New Clothes" and Gulliver as an outsider both reveal the absurdities of their respective societies, underscoring the value of honest perspectives (fitting). Although both stories contain elements of indecency and lack of decorum, these characteristics serve to enhance the narrative's credibility by exposing the underlying truth, goodness, and beauty. By stripping away pretences and societal norms, the tales emphasise the importance of authenticity and moral integrity, encouraging readers to question authority, recognise the folly of vanity, and appreciate the significance of honesty (profitable).
The messages conveyed in these narratives hold profound relevance in the context of contemporary Western civilisation. It would be regrettable to dismiss them due to certain elements that might appear inappropriate or lacking in decorum. The authors, through these very elements, captures our attention and imparts a significant truth: if we do not stand up for what is true, even when societal pressures urge us to disregard our perceptions, we ultimately betray the principles of truth, goodness, and beauty. Moreover, by teaching our children to critically evaluate literature, music, and television through this lens, we empower them to discern what is truly valuable. This discernment enables them to distinguish between content that enriches the soul and that which lacks moral integrity.
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