The+Issues+Related+to+Contemporary+Realistic+Fiction

Talk about some of the Issues related to contemporary realistic fiction
Added by Tarah

There are many issues that are dealt with in contemporary realistic fiction and some of them are controversial. Many of the storylines in contemporary realistic fiction are based on the lives of average children who are facing everyday issues in our contemporary world. Those issues may include friendships, school problems, divorce of parents, and the death of loved ones. As the world is constantly changing, so is contemporary realistic fiction. Historically, realistic fiction focused on traditional and stable families, where the men and women stayed in their traditional roles; men with their careers and women with motherhood. Values such as religious commitment and helping the poor were emphasized and the stable families depicted were white and middle class. It wasn’t until the 60’s that realistic fiction began to change and reflect the changing values of society, as well as the changing face of modern society, where some families are unhappy and some are nontraditional. Religion is not emphasized as much, children are more independent and ethnic and racial minorities are more prominent. In the decades that followed, realistic fiction has continued to reflect society’s problems and has dealt with increasingly controversial issues. Television has a huge influence on children and children are now exposed to more issues than ever before, and realistic fiction follows this trend. There is now more frankness about sexuality, which includes issues of premarital sex, homosexuality, and sexual development. Children see much more violence on television and now also in realistic fiction. Profanity is much more common, even as what is considered objectionable has changed over the years. Interracial marriages, multiethnicity, and racism are openly discussed. Along with this increased openness have come more censorship issues. As educators, we must be aware of the controversial issues within our own communities and choose books not because of their controversial subject, but because of their literary merit. We must also weigh a book’s positive influences and be able to discuss censorship issues and explain our reasons for choosing a certain book.

Donna E. Norton, //Through the Eyes of a Child, An Introduction to Children’s Literature.// Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1999.


 * Added by Meg**

There are many issues surrounding Contemporary Realistic Fiction; sexism, sexuality, violence, profanity and family problems are several of the common controversial topics. Due to the realistic nature of these stories they describe issues that many may see as controversial. Although these books may deal with uncomfortable subjects it is important to select quality tiles that send the right messages to children. Sexism and sexuality are important topics. We want the literature to re-enforce positive role models for our students in terms of male and female behavior. Sexuality is a topic many find to be unsuitable for children however these stories depict the realities in many children’s lives. Although we may find it inappropriate for many it is important that they are able to learn of others experiences in life. Violence and profanity are also common topics. Children are exposed to these two in television, books and movies. Profanity used to be deleted from children’s books now however authors are able to use realistic dialogue. Stories are not believable and will not become popular unless they realistically display their characters. Having a book about a gang member who does not swear makes the reader disbelieve the story. A family issue including the lack of a strong adult family member is another controversial topic. Many children grow up with strong adult role models in their families however just as many do not. What is real for one child may not be real for another making it all the more important that they be exposed to others experiences. Overall most subjects are appropriate for children’s literature according to Giblin. The way the author handles a subject is what makes it appropriate not the subject itself. Children need to be aware of other situations and to see what others experiences can be like. Works Cited: Norton, Donna E. //Through the Eyes of a Child, An Introduction to Children’s Literature.// Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1999.