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About ArmaVirumque ( AHR-mah wih-ROOM-kweh) In the Aeneid, the Roman poet Virgil sang of "arms and a man" (Arma virumque cano). Month in and month out, The New Criterion expounds with great clarity and wit on the art, culture, and political controversies of our times. With postings of reviews, essays, links, recs, and news, Armavirumque seeks to continue this mission in accordance with the timetable of the digital age. Recent posts
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Nov 13, 2006 06:22 PM The most offensive least offensive cartoon by James Panero
Dartmouth College is up in arms again--this time, thank goodness, not over the Alumni Constitution. No, the offense du jour concerns a cartoon by Drew Lerman, a freshman at the college, that appeared a week or so ago in the Daily Dartmouth. And here is one of the editorials written in response: While the publication of this comic may bring up issues regarding free speech, censorship and individual and collective responsibility, the issue I want to focus on is the disastrous effect this comic, and other forms of tacit and explicit condoning of sexual assault, have on our community. I find it imperative to talk about what attitudes, values and behaviors are reinforced as a result of these scenarios. While it is easy to say that the intention of the comic was not to reinforce sexual assault as an accepted behavior, the impact of the comic was, indeed, just that.Too bad for the sensitivity patrol, but it doesn’t look like the young Lerman is about to cave. Here is Mr. Lerman’s reply to the uproar. If that’s not all, meanwhile, across campus, Joe’s Dartblog reports on another PC fuss. It appears that after a student notified the school’s offense hotline, the associate dean of student life brought the campus police down on a "cowboys and indians"-themed dance party. It all reminds me of a quote from Randall Jarrell’s mid-century send up of the american university, Pictures of an Institution (which I wrote about a few years ago): "If Benton had had an administration building with pillars it could have carved over the pillars: Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you feel guilty." Man the defenses. The culture wars are back.
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