Philip Pullman & C S Lewis - Pullman criticizes Lewis for being racist and sexist
Pullman says of C S Lewis's writing:
It is monumentally disparaging of girls and women. It is blatantly racist. One girl was sent to hell because she was getting interested in clothes and boys.
There are three things we can say about this:
- First of all, some of Pullman's charges are simply untrue. For example, how is C. S. Lewis's work racist?
- Secondly, Lewis certainly had a different view of women from what is commonly accepted today, but that is not the same as being 'disparaging of girls and women.' How could his view not be different? He was writing fifty years ago. Not only that, but he was a professor of Mediaeval literature, saturated in the knightly ideals of honor and valor. Of course his view of women was different from ours. Lewis was a child of his time, just as Pullman is a child of his. In fifty years, what will people criticize Philip Pullman for?
- Thirdly, Pullman is using crass propaganda here. Racism and sexism have become such large problems in contemporary culture that the words have almost stopped having any objective meaning. They are just dirt-words, to throw at anyone whose opinions you do not like, in the hope that some mud will stick.
However, Pullman is a better story teller than he is a propagandist. His propaganda is far too 'in your face' to be effective:
By setting out to do the opposite of Lewis, Pullman's own work is propaganda. Moral ambiguity is written into the text, but he is far less ambiguous in his attack on the church and priests. Put simply, he would be a far better children's writer if he ceased trying to recruit children for the National Secular Society. (Andrew Carey, writing in Church of England Newspaper, June 13th 2002)
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People often disagree with what we say on these pages. This is OK. However, if you read these pages carefully, you'll see that we aren't recommending that the films should be censored, or that Pullman's books (or Pullman himself) should be burned, or that people should be otherwise prevented from watching the films and reading the books. We disagree with what he says; not with his right to say it. We uphold the right of free speech, even - especially - for views we disagree with. Will you do the same if you disagree with us?
Web Sites
The Golden Compass - the official web site of the movie.
His Dark Materials web site, containing many interviews and news stories.
The Bridge To the Stars - a 'His Dark Materials' fan site, with the latest news and info on the HDM books, movie and stage version, as well as an active discussion forum
The Truth in 'The Golden Compass' - a video from Tony Watkins, Culturewatch
'Dark Matter: a thinking fan's guide to Philip Pullman', by Tony Watkins - a collection of resources including Tony's book about Philip Pullman and a briefing paper for churches on The Golden Compass.
'Hollywood Jesus' Philip Pullman resource center
Pullman vs. The Magisterium, by Terry Mattingly
The
Golden Compass: Pointing in the Wrong Direction - Steve Cable, Research
Associate of Probe Ministries, gives his response to The Golden Compass.
The
Golden Compass - Christianity Today contributor Peter T. Chattaway's
review of the movie.
Thinking
Christian Blog Tom Gilson's blog review of the His
Dark Materials trilogy.
The
Golden Compass: A Briefing for Concerned Parents - Dr
R. Albert Mohler, Jr outlines the worldview and
the agenda that lies behind the His Dark Materials trilogy.
The
Golden Compass: A Primer on Atheism - Russ Wise explains The Golden
Compass as a primer of Atheism, and presents suggestions of how Christians,
especially parents, can respond.
Atheism
For Kids - Gene Edward Veith examines the attack on C.S. Lewis and
The Chronicles of Narnia as the behind the scenes passion of author Philip
Pullman.
'The most dangerous author in Britain'? Article from 'The Mail on Sunday', 27th January 2002. "Philip Pullman is being hailed as the new C. S. Lewis after being awarded the Whitbread Book of the Year prize for his latest novel aimed at children: The Amber Spyglass. The judges described it as visionary, but Peter Hitchens reveals that the author appears to have his own sinister agenda..."
See also: 'A labour of loathing.' Peter Hitchens on the worship of Philip Pullman, who has set out to destroy Narnia. From 'The Spectator', 18 January 2003