busyThis poem is presented in relation various discussions about the homophobic content of the book Hamlet's Father by Orson Scott Card. Most particularly, I've called for a round of Poke a Bigot in the Eye, and this is my contribution.
Two alien anthropologists
leaned over four carefully reconstructed documents,
piecing together a notable cornerstone
in the history of human literature.
"So we're agreed
that this is the original?"
the taller one said to the shorter one,
tapping her antenna on a copy of
Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
"At least, it's the oldest version we've found,"
said the shorter one.
"Now this description --
isn't it a pity we haven't found a full script? --
is much later, but seems like a legitimate cultural variation
based on a society we can cross-reference from other sources.
We should forward a copy to the 'Africa' team."
He indicated a transcript
of Shakespeare in the Bush by Laura Bohannan.
"Did you have any luck connecting the Klingon translation
to any of the other recorded languages from this planet?"
the taller one asked, poring over the spiky text.
"No, the closest I came was identifying a few similar features
in some of the languages from the 'America' continent,"
the shorter one said.
Then he picked up the final object.
"This one doesn't really match the others
in terms of tone or theme -- the core message is different,"
he declared. "I've listed a number of examples."
His colleague glanced at it. "Oh yes, it staggered off-track
in pursuit of some rumination on sexual practices.
If you're done with it, send that copy
to the team working on human relationships and reproduction.
They're always asking for more samples."
Then she laughed, a musical buzz of wings against carapace.
"Who would have thought one species could be so creative
with a simple thing like sex?
I can't wait to read that team's results."
So the shorter scholar tossed the copy of
Hamlet's Father by Orson Scott Card
onto a pile of things to be mailed
to someone who might actually appreciate it.
* * *
References
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare in the Bush by Laura Bohannan
The Klingon Hamlet translated by Nick Nicholas and Andrew Strader
Hamlet's Father by Orson Scott Card reviewed by William Alexander
September 7 2011, 10:48:32 UTC 9 years ago
Nice poem, Eilzabeth!
Thank you!
September 7 2011, 19:26:35 UTC 9 years ago
September 7 2011, 22:37:42 UTC 9 years ago
LOL! Shakespeare in the original Klingon! :-D
Earth has people who spew bile about homosexual sex... but the planet Traipah, where the 3 native sentient species are all hermaphrodites, I think *they* have a few people who spew bile about heterosexual sex. :-D But not many. Puritanism is pretty rare there.
Yes...
September 8 2011, 02:49:21 UTC 9 years ago
I get a kick out of looking around and imagining how inexplicable some things would be, when taken out of context.
>>LOL! Shakespeare in the original Klingon! <<
Yep, that's one of my all-time-favorite Star Trek jokes.
>>Puritanism is pretty rare there.<<
Some of the cultures I write about are really tolerant, most average, others downright oppressive. The variety makes things interesting.
I have one alien species where bisexuality is the norm, though in terms of affection, it's more like homosexuality. They have two sexes, one sessile and one mobile. It takes two mobiles and a sessile to reproduce. One primary relationship is between siblings, a mobile and a sessile. The other is between two mobiles, one of whom is the sibling of the sessile, and the other of whom is an unrelated wanderer settling down with them. The mobiles can have recreational sex with each other. To procreate, they have sex together inside of the sessile (who is about the size of a small cottage). The mobiles create the young; the sessile incubates the young and somewhat influences the expression of genetic traits. It makes for some interesting family dynamics. I've got a poem about this, "Courting on the Porch," but it hasn't sold yet.
Re: Yes...
September 8 2011, 07:03:22 UTC 9 years ago
Some of the cultures I write about are really tolerant, most average, others downright oppressive. The variety makes things interesting.
Ditto. One society in the Mindeodean storyverse, the Osstrotians, were inspired by certain Arabic countries. The Osstrotians breed their females to be docile and stupid.
But the Sharavians are worse, oppression wise. Or better, depending on your point of view. The society is basically feudal, with what would be organized crime families in other cultures instead of kings and lords and so on. There are citizens and slaves. Citizens are free to do whatever they want, as long as they don't anger the government people or get in their way. Murder is legal there, as long as it's not someone important (unless the murderer is more important than the victim). Slavery, prostitution, everything is legal. But no government oversight. As long as you pay generous bribes to your higher ups, you'll be okay.