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Due to the time period in which the books are set, race plays a very large role throughout the Warramunga series. Do you think that racial issues were properly represented based on the time period or was the treatment of race (like uses of terms like "half-caste" and "lubra") too distracting for a modern audience?

No. It isn't too distracting for the modern audience. And one must note that although racial issues were very common at that time, it hasn't ceased. Not hearing it been mentioned all the time doesn't necessarily mean it no longer exists.

Dorcas Serwaa Adu wrote: ↑03 Oct 2019, 06:39 No. It isn't too distracting for the modern audience. And one must note that although racial issues were very common at that time, it hasn't ceased. Not hearing it been mentioned all the time doesn't necessarily mean it no longer exists.

I have to admit, there is so much truth to what you've said.

Thanks

I agree back then, race was a big issue and the treatment of others was more acceptable. But in today’s society racism is still strong. People just make it appear differently. It’s a different time and a different way of showing it.

There’s a certain authenticity that is created in a period novel when names or words peculiar to that era are used in the writing. Sometimes when it comes to racial language, it can be a bit shocking that people would use such ‘politically incorrect’ jargon. But that was the reality in that time period and the writer needs that authenticity.

Only1Cola wrote: ↑03 Oct 2019, 15:22 There’s a certain authenticity that is created in a period novel when names or words peculiar to that era are used in the writing. Sometimes when it comes to racial language, it can be a bit shocking that people would use such ‘politically incorrect’ jargon. But that was the reality in that time period and the writer needs that authenticity.

I actually came here to say this exact same thing!

There is a certain authenticity that is needed in a book like this and if the word was used then and the writer puts it in their work, as a reader I would understand that this was a different time. The author isn't okay with it. They are just replicating the 'accepted' speech of the time period.

It's like writing a book about slavery in America and not letting any of the slave masters use the word '******' because it is taboo or frowned upon today. It may be jarring for us now, but it was how they spoke back then.

While this may be a sensitve thing to talk about, I am not a fan of striving for authenticity for its own sake. There are a lot of creative ways to express the issue of race in a novel.

cindyr2416 wrote: ↑03 Oct 2019, 08:24 I agree back then, race was a big issue and the treatment of others was more acceptable. But in today’s society racism is still strong. People just make it appear differently. It’s a different time and a different way of showing it.

I think that's right. We've become, as a society, a bit more sophisticated in how we talk about things, but in a lot of cases it's a superficial improvement only.

I think it's very important to depict the past as it was. But it's also important to bear in mind the changing times and what is considered proper in this day and age. I think better words could have been used but I understand why some of the words that were used were used.

Dorcas Serwaa Adu wrote: ↑03 Oct 2019, 06:39 No. It isn't too distracting for the modern audience. And one must note that although racial issues were very common at that time, it hasn't ceased. Not hearing it been mentioned all the time doesn't necessarily mean it no longer exists.

Am afraid I have to agree with you. Though the terms used might have been "old-school", still, people understand the terms like half-cast etc.

What happened then cannot be compared to what is happening now. Remember South Africa and its problem of racism in the past. Today, if it still exists, it must be underground and not as it was in those days. In our modern society, racism is not very well pronounced.

I think people still understand those terminologies even in this modern era. It is not distracting in any way. In any case, the author needed to use the terms used in the period in which the book was set. It did not distract me in any way.

I think it is important to represent issues of race in literature. Although you might not hear these specific terms levied against this specific culture today, race issues prevail worldwide and by seeing them included in literature, we are reminded as readers that even though we have a come a long way, there is still a lot to learn.