A Special Book Collection in a Deep Freezer, 2017
Because I teach about problematic art curriculum, people give me “multicultural” books that they find are hurtful towards the subjects of the book. Recently I realized that I have a substantial collection of these now. I mentioned it to my colleague and he said, “You have a library of horrors.” I mentioned it to a librarian and she said, “You have a special collection.” Should books ever be burned? I think not, but some should be frozen for examination, so I exhibited my collection in a fully functioning deep freezer.
My collection includes books that:
- snuff out inquiry
- marginalize people
- inflate cultures of power
- inoculate empathy
- perpetuate stereotypes
- sentimentalize reality
- spurn non-capital producing items and ventures
- exude hubris
- dismiss metaphorical thinking
- promote essentialism
- silence manifold points of view
Anne Thulson 