Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / March 3, 1983, edition 1 / Page 2
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Thursday, March 3, 1983 / Kaleidoscope I 2 editorial Lysistrata causes controversy “Everyone has an opinion.’’ This is a clichfe that we probably have heard all of our lives. As long as we live in a free society we can express our opi nions without fear of retaliation. The editorial of Feb. 24, entitled “Risque language offends students,” was an article of opinion on the editorial page. We feel that everyone has the right to voice his opinion; however, in the process of expressing the opin ion, we should not lessen the professional integrity or scholarship of a pro fessor. This was not the intent of the Blalock article. A lack of communication seems to be the problem in this case. The students in this particular class read an English translation of the play Lysistrata. According to the professor (discussed in the article) and other professors familiar with the play, the scenes contain very explicit sexual in nuendoes in the original Greek version of the play that do not translate well in the English version. When the students read only the English version of the play, it is understandable that the original Greek version explained by theprofessor may have seemed “twisted and fabricated” compared to the only version they had read. The professor used the original Greek to explain points which in his pro fessional academic opinion were valid points to discuss. The students mentioned in the article were not aware that the descrip tions and explanations were derived from the translation of the original Greek which the professor was qualified to make. He felt the students would miss valuable meanings in the play if he did not translate the points from the original Greek. The Humanities curriculum includes the play Lysistrata. The professor was obligated as an instructor of this university to explain what, in his judgement, was relevant in the play. The play, no matter how vulgar in content, does have merit as a piece of literature. Another instructor in his lecture introduction to Lysistrata ex plains, “It must be remembered that, although Aristophanes’ pornographic portrayals belie a fiendishly clever wit, the blatant and open presentation of obscene matter was expected by the Greek audiences. Comic obscenity per se was traditional. The innovative aspect lay rather in the sophistication of his scurrility.” Today, however, such pornographic portrayals are not expected by some students in a classroom. The play needs to be explained in scholarly terms referring to the original Greek meaning, but we feel that it can be done with decorum. The instructor should exercise good taste when choosing words or phrases to explain sensitive and controversial subjects in a classroom. We feel that if instructors exercise good taste in explaining obviously sen sitive subjects they can maintain the respect of their students without com promising their positions or scholarly observations. Allison Decker Whitt, Editor Dana Murdock, Associate Editor letters [KALE-ITOiCOTCll^ Language scholar disagrees Kerri Pace, Entertainment Editor Suzanne Booker, Features Editor Tim Riddle Sports Editor Carol Whitener, Photography Editor Susan Benfield, Advertising Manager Kaieidoseope Catherine Mitchell, Advisor Marty Cherrix, Business Manager Staff writers: Tim Riddle, Kari Howard. Jennifer Blalock, Elise Hen- shaw, Leigh Kelley, and Johnella Williams. Staff artist: Hai-Kang Hsu. Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed in the editoriais, editoriai cartoons, coiumns and news stories in the Kaleidoscope do not necessariiy reflect the viewpoint of the staff advisor, UNCA’s Student Government, administration or facuity. Opinions may or may not agree with those of the Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope's content is the responsibiiity of the editoriai board. To the Editor: As a student of languages at UNCA, I am quite dismayed by the absurdity of Jennifer Blalock’s editorial of Feb. 24, “Risque Language Offends Students.” What troubles me is my fellow-student’s evident ignorance of the play read in the Humanities course, and her straitened educational outlook. Ms. Blalock apparently did not bother to investigate the play Lysistrata before she so stupidly at tempted to gainsay a professor who, as I gather from Ms. Blalock’s own description of the affair, has given an accurate representation of the force of the original language. I have been reading Greek for seven years and I know that the inter pretation in question is sound. Still, even in translation, the intention of the passage can only be mistaken by a simpleton. It seems to me that the professor. whom Ms. Blalock is too cowardly to mention by name, was offering a knowledgeable and accurate inter pretation of a play that is famous for its excellence as well as its humor. And if that professor is guilty of anything, it is that he lacks the mediocrity necessary to teach students of her mentality. I hope Ms. Blalock can refrain from making such ill-advised statements in public places in the future. If Ms. Blalock, like her friend and her sister, is embarassed by the ex cellent instruction in the Humanities program, perhaps she ought to try some remedial gram mar, for it is not very becoming to the image of the student body at UNCA when she misspells in print. My advice to her is to avoid all occa-- sion of absurdity like this while she is connected with Kaleidoscope. Sincerely, Mark C. Mueller French club trip even better Dear friends at Kaleidoscope: The French Club would like to say “Merci beaucoup” for your lovely article on our planned trip to French Canada. One tiny error~the sug gested spending money of $150 is in cluded in the estimated cost of $335. Travel and lodging are $185 with $150 for food and urban transporta tion. The total cost of the trip is $335 including food making it a “tres bon marche.” Merci again for a lovely article. Michelle Vaden La Presidente Club Francais
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
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March 3, 1983, edition 1
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