Talk:The Bluest Eye

Untitled

Simplify the language especially in the section labelled "effects of white beauty standard"

Add to the section titled "About the author"

Add to the themes e.g. Violence/ discrimination / sexual abuse / animal abuse / incest

Find more cases for the "controversy" section to make the article more up to date. e.g. Find a case form 2017

Could find cases for why some believe that it should be read in schools and not banned etc..

List of scenes making it unsuitable for a classroom text?

The picture of the book could be made more up to date

Also may want to list how many pages a paper back book has because it only gives the number for a hardback book.

More precise citations are needed for this article as it has insufficient inline citations

Add last names to publishers

Add that the novel takes place in 1941

141.161.133.39 (talk)

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This article is or was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Meredithtibbals.

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Edits

Plot Summary- way oversimplified, could be elaborated on more (Include Soaphead church, add in a better description of Pecola and her desire for blue eyes, when the book takes place)

Controversy- look for a 2017 case to make more recent

Elaborate more on Morison's background

Add Frieda on the character list — Preceding unsigned comment added by Vtl6 (talk • contribs) 13:57, 3 October 2017 (UTC)

Add in a portion discussing the significance of the "Dick and Jane" story — Preceding unsigned comment added by Vtl6 (talk • contribs) 13:50, 3 October 2017 (UTC)

Annotated Bibliography

• Bhardwaj, Neelam (2016). "The Bluest Eye:A Tragedy of Oppression and Internalized Racism". International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature. IX (VIII): 101–103. Internalized racism, oppression, sexual abuse, sexism, and female identity are stitched throughout the novel The Bluest Eye as well as within the journal by Neelam Bhardwaj. She takes those complex and weighted issues and discusses how Toni Morrison encapsulated those sensitive subjects openly. Bhardwaj also presents racial beauty's destructive implications on characters within the novel that unfortunately mar their own preserved notions of self both psychologically and emotionally. Sean.Robi733 (talk) 18:35, 15 March 2021 (UTC)

• Bloom, Harold (2007). "Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye : Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations". pp. 1–2. This Critical Interpretation by Harold Bloom delves into the undertones of Morrison's text. The piece analyzes the themes of womanhood and what it means to be a member of the black community, especially in times of segregation. Bloom writes, "Morrison herself, in an Afterword of 1994, looked back across a quarter-century and emphasized her "reliance for full comprehension in codes embedded in black culture." A reader who is not black or female must do the best he can..." (Bloom 1). Beauty, self acceptance, and love are key themes that Bloom discusses in this text. He addresses the abuse found throughout the novel, often the abuse of women from men, and how this abuse is an (even if twisted and wrong) expression of love. AnnaVorisek (talk) 17:52, 10 March 2021 (UTC)

• Cormier-Hamilton, Patrice (1994). "Black Naturalism and Toni Morrison: The Journey Away from Self-Love in The Bluest Eye". MELUS. XIX (4, Ethic Women Writers VI): 109–127. Retrieved 11 March 2021.This article by Patrice Cormier-Hamilton deals with the African American experience of "idealism". It goes on to explain how Morrison's novel represents how there is a consistent emphasis on the need to resist components of American society that wish to destroy or "white-wash" black cultural heritage. One big example of this is the novel is when Pecola wishes for the bluest eyes because she believes that would solve all her problems. This is an idea that American culture and western beauty standards have pushed on people for decades. Pecola is an example of what kind of mindset people can start having when they start to believe these false ideas of beauty. This article explains well how Pecola faces the world in a more complex, destructive, and oppressive way just because of the way she looks.Jennifero2000 (talk) 04:10, 12 March 2021 (UTC)

• Gomes, Rosana (2020). "Trauma and Possible Pathway to Healing in The Bluest Eye:Pecola's Story and Claudia's Narration". Revista Criação & Crítica. I (XXVII): 1. Retrieved 23 March 2021. Gomes intends to investigate how trauma takes a role in this story specifically with Pecola’s character. Pecola is exposed to many harmful situations that result in trauma. Gomes also explores the path to healing that the narrator portrays. Using trauma theory and examining how it relates to the novel are used in this analysis. Gomes also claims that storytelling is a method of healing for those who have undergone severe trauma. RyanArian (talk)RyanArian (talk) 15:26, 23 March 2021 (UTC)

• Islam, Minhauzl (September 2019). "White Beauty Standard in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye". Language in India. 19 (9): 188–205. Dr. Islam shares that the novel uses a social historical background set in the 1940s. This backdrop praises Eurocentric physical characteristics ,such as blonde hair, white skin, and blue eyes, which created a standard of beauty; the standard, while impossible for many, would turn into a diluted form for the impossible to use within their own race. This concept is explored within the novel through Pecola and Maureen. Pittmanraven (talk) 22:45, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

• Ropp, Sarah (2019). "Troubling Survivorism in The Bluest Eye". MELUS: The Journal of the Society of the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States. XLIV (2): 132–152. Retrieved 11 March 2021. In this essay, Ropp talks about how Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye has a theme of survivorism present in the novel. Ropp writes, "Although the novel's plot revolves around the victimization of eleven-year-old Pecola, by offering narrator Claudia as an antithesis to Pecola who is able, at an even younger age than Pecola, to assert agency and establish subjecthood; by defining "survival" according to these terms; and by giving Claudia a voice that is apparently only able to develop as a result of Pecola's silence, The Bluest Eye reinforces survivorism..." (Ropp 132). Ropp believes that being a survivor is something that is necessary and Morrison's novel only enforces that idea. Abi sap (talk) 02:16, 12 March 2021 (UTC)

• Rosenberg, Ruth (1987). "Seeds in Hard Ground: Black Girlhood in The Bluest Eye". Black American Literature Forum. XXI (4): 435–445. Rosenberg focuses on the absent use of Black girls in school anthologies other than the use of them only as props and background people. Toni Morrison states that she always found herself on the sidelines as the little black girls in the novels. Morrison revisits her childhood and uses the characters Claudia, Frieda, and Pecola in her novel The Bluest Eye as the interpretation of a dark-skinned girl never being able to achieve the blonde hair and blue eye status of beauty. Pecola longs to be loved but us taught that she never will be because she considers herself to be ugly by culture she is living in.--Ivy.sapp (talk) 15:37, 11 March 2021 (UTC)

• Sasha, Xu (2009). "The Hurt of Internalized Racism" (PDF). XVII (October2009): 35–39. Retrieved 11 March 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) The article focuses on racism in the novel. According to Xu Sasha, white-defined beauty has an effect on the African American people. Pecola is a prime example of this. Due to her physical appearance, she is not considered beautiful. In fact, she is rather ugly. According to society, Pecola does not meet the standards for the "ideal beauty" of her time. The article uses physical appearance and skin color to show oppression among the people.Anawimpy98 (talk) 04:12, 12 March 2021 (UTC)

• Su, Wen-hsiang (2021). "A Traumatized Girl: Pecola's Struggle in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye". Languages in India. XXI: 45–54.

“A Traumatized Girl: Pecola’s Struggle in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye” discusses Morrison’s use of blue eyes as an essential symbol of beauty. Pecola considers herself ugly due to her past dramas. Overall, the article provides excellent insight into Pecola's character. The article's primary focus is on Pecola’s past, which allows her to transform into an individual who rebels against a biased world. haley.carter1 (talk)

Censorship

There have been numerous attempts to ban this book throughout high schools and libraries in the U.S. so I think an additional section focusing on censorship should be added. This section could included specific cases of censorship as well as reasons why this book has been challenged and banned. Also, the background section could be expanded on to include more information about Morrison's life. Jm3038 (talk) 17:30, 2 November 2016 (UTC)

I don't know of any attempts to ban this book. Someone needs to back that claim up.

The Bluest Eye appears on the ALA's list of most frequently challenged books 1990-2000, see: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm It's certainly been challenged multiple times. CKarnstein 21:32, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Info box has been filled out (including cover image), so I removed the info box needed tag --RumiNationZ 03:47, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Also, this page is well-worded and relatively complete, if rather short. I therefore removed the cleanup tag for the time being. --RumiNationZ 03:50, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Shirley Temple's eye color

From the article: "In the story, Pecola drinks out of a cup with Shirley Temple on it since she wanted blue eyes like Shirley Temple and believed drinking from it would turn her eyes blue. In reality, Temple's eyes are actually brown." Why is there a citation needed for this? One only has to look at an image of Shirley Temple, from any point in her life, to see that they are brown. --Glisteningsquid 18:46, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:BluestEyeCover.jpg

Image:BluestEyeCover.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 02:57, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

In-line citations needed

There's a lot of information about the interpretations of this novel, but I have no idea whether it is original research or not since the sources listed under the References section are not directly linked to the information. One might assume these works are the source for the interpretations, but there's no way of knowing unless one goes to read those works. A lot of this article could be at risk for deletion because of the lack of citations. --Roseclearfield (talk) 20:13, 3 March 2012 (UTC)

On top of the page, there is a warning banner that claims there are "insufficient inline citations". Through providing specific examples from the book, I will provide more references and citations.Meredithtibbals (talk) 14:56, 2 November 2016 (UTC)Meredithtibbals

The plot summary doesn't flow well. I will provide more specific examples and will better organize the summary. Meredithtibbals (talk) 14:58, 2 November 2016 (UTC)Meredithtibbals

All the sources are credible and reliable sources and it seems as if there are sufficient inline citations now. The article links the sources in the Reference to the information presented in the article, so it seems that this problem has been mostly taken care of. I think the plot summary and Morison's background need to be elaborated to include a few more pertinent details. The current description are very short and slightly more information would be helpful.Vtl6 (talk) 16:20, 29 September 2017 (UTC)

Critical Reception

There should be a section in here about critical reception of the novel. Starting with initial reactions and then later analysis of the novel, there has been lots of talk surrounding the novel that should be included. Jmg370 (talk) 17:19, 2 November 2016 (UTC)

The critical reception section should also include literary analysis. The Bluest Eye has had a good deal of analysis, like that of Allen Alexander, J. Brooks Bouson, and Steven Luebke. I plan on incorporating these responses as well as researching for more literary analysis. Jrr108 (talk) 17:30, 2 November 2016 (UTC)

Bibliography/Reference

Combine the Bibliography and Reference sections into the singular Reference section. What in the page is referenced in the Bibliography section? As mentioned before, Reference section also needs to be cleaned up.Jmg370 (talk) 18:11, 9 November 2016 (UTC)

Works Cited

"Censorship Dateline: Schools." Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom 62.5 (2013): 184-5. Web.

Davison, Dana Ernestine Johnson. "A Roadmap for Survival: A Literary Analysis of the Mother-Daughter Relationship in Toni Morrison's “The Bluest Eye” and “Sula”." M.A. Morgan State University, 2002. United States -- Maryland: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Web.

Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A. : A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, US: Greenwood Press, 2002. Web.

Kochar, Shubhanku. "Chapter 4: Conclusion." 01; 2016/11 2013: 606+. Literature Resource Center; Gale. Web. <http://proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=wash43584&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA315370912&asid=08a8fb05276ab8e6960d40b3ab35b737>. 

"Morrison, Toni." Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature. London, United Kingdom: Continuum, 2005. Web.

Morrison, Toni,. The Bluest Eye. New York: Knopf, 2000. /z-wcorg/. Web.

Werrlein, Debra T. "Not so Fast, Dick and Jane: Reimagining Childhood and Nation in the Bluest Eye." MELUS 30.4 (2005): 53-72. JSTOR. Web.

Plans for The Bluest Eye Page: One way I would like to improve The Bluest Eye page is by updating the background paragraph. While this paragraph tries to give the reader background as to why Morrison wrote the book, I believe that it is disorganized and makes little sense. To make it flow better, I would like to provide information about Morrison’s own background, and how it influenced the views/ ideas she presents in The Bluest Eye. The article on Morrison in the Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature, the Kochar article, and the Werrlein article will help me develop this paragraph.

Another change I would like to make is to update the character descriptions. As of now, many of them don’t flow or are lacking information. I would like to provide specific examples and references to the book so the reader can have a better understanding of who the characters are. For example, Davison’s article will help me explain Pauline Breedlove’s role in the novel and her relationship to Pecola.

A third change I would like to make is to elaborate more on why the novel is controversial. I would like to include specific cases that involve different schools banning the book. Meredithtibbals (talk) 02:39, 14 November 2016 (UTC)Meredithtibbals

Additions to Censorship/Critical Reception/Literary Interpretation Sections

I plan to add to my previous research of a censorship case in Northville, Michigan and research another censorship case in Broomfield, Colorado. I can also contribute to the literary interpretations section and write about literary interpretations either explaining the effects of white beauty standards on the characters in the novel or African American motherhood. I have also found sources regarding the critical reception of Morrison's novel so I can add a critical reception section and explain how the novel has been received since its publication. Jm3038 (talk) 04:01, 12 November 2016 (UTC)

Bibliography

Alexander, Danielle. “Northville school board reviews controversial novel.” Detroit Free Press. USA Today Network. 9 April 2016. Web. 10 November 2016.

Ashley, Reimers. "Board Denies Effort to Change Decision." Westminster Window (CO). 27 August 2013. Web. 10 November 2016.

Bloom, Harold. Toni Morrison's the Bluest Eye. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2007. Print.

"Broomfield Enterprise Letter to the Editor: Make Curriculum Choices with Student Safety in Mind." Broomfield Enterprise (CO). 25 August 2013. Web. 10 November 2016.

"Censorship Dateline: Schools." Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom (Online) 62.5 (2013): 184-5. Research Library. Web. 10 November 2016.

de Weever, Jacqueline. "The Inverted World of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Sula." CLA Journal 22.4 (June 1979): 402-414. Rpt. in Novels for Students. Ed. Diane Telgen. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Literature Resource Center. Web. 11 November 2016.

Hicks, Mark. "Northville Schools Reconsider 'Bluest Eye' - Many Parents Deemed the Novel's Content Inappropriate for Students." Detroit News, The (MI): A3. 13 April 2016. Web. 10 November 2016.

Hoffman, Sarah. “The Bluest Eye Stays in Michigan.” NCAC. National Coalition Against Censorship. 13 April 2016. Web. 10 November 2016.

Karolides, Nicholas J., Margaret Bald, and Dawn B. Sova. 120 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature. New York, NY: Facts on File, Inc., 2011. Print. 10 November 2016.

“Michigan Parents see ‘Porn’ in The Bluest Eye.” NCAC. National Coalition Against Censorship. 23 April 2013. Web. 10 November 2016.

Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Vintage International, 2007. Print.

NCAC Staff. “In Broomfield, CO ‘Bluest Eye’ is Removed Without Being ‘Banned.’” NCAC. National Coalition Against Censorship. 13 August 2016. Web. 10 November 2016.

"Place of "the Bluest Eye" in Legacy High Classrooms Subject of Debate." Broomfield Enterprise (CO). 18 July 2013. Web. 10 November 2016.

Roynon, Tessa. The Cambridge introduction to Toni Morrison. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013. Print.

Singh, Monika. "Maternal images: reading Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye." Language In India Jan. 2012: 640. Literature Resource Center. Web. 11 November 2016. Jm3038 (talk) 04:12, 12 November 2016 (UTC)

Additions to Censorship Section and Creation of a "Themes" Section

In the Censorship section, I plan to discuss one instance when the book was challenged in Howell, MI in 2007 by a group called LOVE (Livingston Organization for Values in Education). Eventually, the book was allowed to remain in the English curriculum, where it was used in an 11th grade English class, but I still think it would be an important, recent case to add. Also in the censorship section, I'd like to include a sentence or two about 3 times when the book was censored in the 1990s (information from Foerstel).

I would also to create and contribute to a "Themes" section, adding in subtopics of "Religion" (Alexander), "Shame" (Bouson), "Media and Culture" (Kuenz), and "Duality" (Page).

Bibliography

Alexander, Allen. "The Fourth Face: The Image of God in Toni Morrison's the Bluest Eye." African American Review 32 (1998): 293-302. Literature Resource Center; Gale. Web.

Bouson, J. B. "‘Quiet as It’s Kept’: Shame and Trauma in Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye." Scenes of Shame. Eds. Joseph Adamson and Hilary Clark. Albany: State U of New York P, 1999. 207-236. Literature Resource Center; Gale. Web.

Foerstel, Herbert N. "Banned in the U.S.A. : A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries." Westport, US: Greenwood Press, 2002. 230-231. Web.

Hans, Casey. "Feds: Books Don't Violate Laws." Ann Arbor News (MI): A3. Mar 16 2007. Web.

---. "Group Wants 3 Books Banned." Ann Arbor News (MI): A1. Feb 16 2007. Web.

Kuenz, Jane. "The Bluest Eye: Notes on History, Community, and Black Female Subjectivity." African American Review 27 (1993): 421-31. Literature Resource Center; Gale. Web.

Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. 1st ed. New York, New York: Random House, 1970. Print.

NCAC Staff. "Award-Winning Books Challenged in Michigan School." National Coalition Against Censorship. Ed. Chris Finan, Joan Bertin, Ricci Joy Levi, Judith Platt, and Mary Ellen Aria. February 6, 2007 2007. Web. November 13, 2016 <http://ncac.org/update/award-winning-books-challenged-in-michigan-school>.

Page, Philip. "The Break was a Bad One: The Split World of the Bluest Eye." Dangerous Freedom. Jackson: UP of Mississippi, 1995. 37-59. Literature Resource Center; Gale. Web.

Jrr108 (talk) 03:15, 14 November 2016 (UTC)

In the introduction of the article, I plan to elaborate on Pecola's physical appearance, which is described as ugly – not only for her dark complexion. I also plan to emphasize Pecola's desire for blue eyes and briefly explain the origin of her fascination with them as symbols of beauty (blonde, blue-eyed dolls she was gifted). Finally, under the Plot Summary section, I intend to split the opening sentence into two, as I believe the current one is a run-on. Jillreilly (talk) 05:14, 29 September 2017 (UTC)

In the plot summary I might include more details about both Cholly and Pauline's pasts, rather than only touching upon it in the characters section. Also, I think it is important to note Soaphead Church's involvement in Pecola believing her eyes are actually blue. I also want to point out that at the end of the novel the behaviors of those around Pecola change not only because of news spreading of her rape but also because her losing a firm grip on reality and acting strangely - C battin21 (talk) 01:29, 3 October 2017 (UTC)

Under characters the needs to be specific about Auntie Jimmy's death. It was more than just the peach cobbler that killed her. The section "Effects of white beauty standards" under Themes should be split up into two different paragraphs to avoid it from sounding too similar to an essay. There could more about the ending of the novel and the analysis of Pecola after the miscarriage. Gmartinez1255 (talk) 13:41, 3 October 2017 (UTC)

Article Evaluation

This article is a useful source for those trying to understand the Bluest Eye. The plot summary highlights the most important parts of the novel, the characters are thoroughly analogized and the themes are explained in great detail.

This is a very great page on The Bluest Eye. The summary is very concise and well written. I would strongly recommend this page to a friend interested in the novel. The character's summary was also very brief and down to the point. I very much enjoyed learning about the author and the authors intentions. Overall this was a very professional page with great informative information. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Shalynkauzlarick (talk • contribs) 15:35, 6 October 2017 (UTC)

Article Evaluation

Very good article. After reading the book then reviewing this page, you have a great layout of your understanding and facts about the book. You explain each of the characters well, point out the key points throughout the story through the summary and themes, and provide a lot of background information about the author and time period. Very well done overall, I enjoyed reading it.

Article Evaluation

This article is a great source for those looking to gain more knowledge on The Bluest Eye. The way the information is displayed in an organized and clear fashion makes it easy for readers to find the correct information they are looking for. The abundance of embedded links and citations allows readers an opportunity to read more about topics relative to this text. Overall, I think this page is a very informative source and the information presented in this article is easy and enjoyable to read; well done. Ericaveldman (talk) 19:28, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

Additions to "Character" Section

I suggest changing the paragraph for Claudia to the following paragraph because Claudia with the additional information below, Claudia's role and importance is emphasized:

      Claudia MacTeer: The narrator of the majority of the novel. She is the child of Pecola's foster parents and is Frieda's sister. She is not only Pecola's fostering sister but she is also her friend. She can be seen to be an extremely independent and passionate 9 year old. Although she is unaware of all the major social issues, she is one of few, if any, characters that feel sympathy for Pecola. 

There is lack of charcters mentioned that had an impact in the story. Cholly's father had a key scene and I believe his name is worth mentioning in this article.

       Samson Fuller: Cholly Breedlove’s father who abandoned Cholly before he was born. After Aunt Jimmy dies, Cholly runs off in search of Samson in Macon, Georgia where he is left distraught and disappointed.

Mimifrancis123 (talk) 11:54, 14 November 2017 (UTC)Mimi FrancisMimifrancis123 (talk) 11:54, 14 November 2017 (UTC)

Proposed revisions to article:

To The Bluest Eye article I am going to add:

- change the sentence which starts with because in the intro as I am not sure it is okay to start a sentence with Because - change the wording of some of the sentences in the summary paragraph as to me they do not make sense - I am also going to add a chunck to the adaptations section as "Guthrie brings Toni Morrison's 'Bluest Eye' from page to stage with poetic power" was not talked about in this page. I am going to add this because I think it is important to have a variety of adaptations at hand as well as this is a very recent production (2017). - I may add to the character of Frieda because I feel she deserves more than just one sentence - There are also characters missing such as, Henry Washington and Samson Fuller and I think it is important to add these characters in order to make the character list complete - I think I will also add to the controversy cases as I have found one from 2014 that is not on their however, I need to look for more information on it as I have only found a few sentences on it so far. I think it is important to have as many cases as possible to see how challenged this book is.

Bibliography: I found these articles during the Wikipedia research days in the library but am not sure whether I will use all of them yet

Censorship dateline: Schools.(2013). Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, 62(5), 184-185. Retrieved from http://proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid&db=ofm&AN=102304898&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Censorship dateline: Schools.(2013). Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, 62(5), 184-185. Retrieved from http://proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid&db=ofm&AN=102304898&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Keung Hui, T. (2014). Common core critics attack use of ‘The bluest eye’ in schools.

Schultz, C. (2013, Oct 06). Connie schultz: Let's ban the book banners instead. Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME),

“Guthrie brings Toni Morrison's 'Bluest Eye' from page to stage with poetic power.” Star Tribune, www.startribune.com/guthrie-brings-toni-morrison-s-bluest-eye-from-page-to-stage-with-poetic-power/420264103/#1.

CCallagy (talk) 02:16, 21 November 2017 (UTC)

Possible Additions and Edits

The "Controversy" section has a case titles, "Buncombe County" and it looks short and not conclusive. I will add to this case with more details. Also, under the same section, it is lacking a current controversy so I will add one from 2017 to show that this book is still being challenged and that it is still very relevant.

The "About Author" section also seems to lack Toni Morrison's credibility and background as such a well known author. I will add more background information that establishes her more as a credible writer.

The section titles, "Characters" has Soaphead Church listed and his characterizations seems a little off and missing information to show the important role this character played in the novel. I will add and change some of the wording especially the first sentence which is lacking the proper citing.

I will change the order of the characters listed because Pecola, the main character of the book should be the first character on the list. I changed her from third on the list to the first. Also I plan to add the age of Pecola and how her community impacted her life. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mimifrancis123 (talk • contribs) 21:56, 11 December 2017 (UTC)

The following citations are where I will be retrieving my information from: Foerstel, Herbert N.. Banned in the U.S.A. : A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries, Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated, 2002. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/georgetown/detail.action?docID=3000898. Kathy, Rose, editor. The State of America's Libraries. Baker Count Library District, 2015, pp. 2–3, The State of America's Libraries, www.bakerlib.org/files/board/agendas-packets/2014/2015-06-15_boardpacket.pdf. Gomez, Betsy. “Two Challenges Kick Off Banned Books Week.” Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, 25 Sept. 2017, cbldf.org/2017/09/two-challenges-kick-off-banned-books-week/. Rekhi, Tanja. "Some Buncombe County Parents Upset about School Reading Assignment."WLOS. Portions Are, 21 Sept. 2017. Web. 21 Nov. 2017. By, W. G. (1993, Oct 08). Toni morrison is '93 winner of nobel prize in literature.New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/109187402?accountid=11091 The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Toni Morrison." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 06 Jan. 2017. Web. 21 Nov. 2017.

Mimifrancis123 (talk) 10:11, 21 November 2017 (UTC)Mimi FrancisMimifrancis123 (talk) 10:11, 21 November 2017 (UTC)

Amanda Edits

Pecola Breedlove: One of the main characters of the novel, Pecola is a young African American girl who comes from a financially unstable family

Remove “African American” because none of the other character descriptions note race. Or change all of the character descriptions to include their race.

For the character Marie under character list the author says “Prostitute.” as one sentence which he or she does not do for the rest of the characters, which signals some bias against Marie’s character. Otherwise, the article is fairly neutral. I didn’t note any bias, but some citation as mentioned above needs to be added.

“Due to Pecola's harsh characteristics and dark skin, she is consistently regarded as "ugly".”

I don’t like the phrase “harsh characteristics”

Characters, citation, lead paragraph,

Changing Themes → analysis Add some more themes, for ex. Race, abuse, etc Break down “effect of white beauty standards” into “White beauty standards” and “Internalized racism” Adding background/switch out author’s intentions? Make plot summary into actual plot?

Black girlhood

Morrison’s writing of the book began because she was “interested in talking about black girlhood.”[1] Dr. Jan Furman, professor of English at the University of Michigan, notes that the book allows reader to analyze the “imprinting” factors that shape the identity of the self during the process of maturing in young black girls. She references parts in the book where the main characters are taught to feel less than human, specifically when the shopkeeper avoids touching Peacola’s hand when giving her candy.

Internalized Racism

Susmita Roye notes the effects of living in a Euro-centric defined world of beauty. She contends that because Pecola believes in her ugliness as a black girl, she hopes and prays to God for blue eyes so that she can be seen as beautiful to the world as well.[2] She asserts that the longing for whiteness attacks young black girls’ confidence of being seen as equal and beautiful in the world around them.

White lifestyle standards

Debra Werrlein, professor at George Mason University, contends that the excerpts of Dick and Jane throughout the book project an image of an ideal family that contrasts with the family structures of the main characters.[3] She informs that because of its origination in post-World War II social sentiments, these two characters were meant to emphasize an importance on raising children the right way so to mold the future of the United States. However, as Werrlein points out, the whiteness of these characters came to equate the idea of the perfect American. In addition, the string of letters describing Dick and Jane’s parents as strong and nice offer contrast to the parents of the main character. Pecola’s father is then emasculated, Werrlein argues, because of his behavior and how it deviates from this standard of family. She goes on to say that because these two black parents have experienced oppression throughout their lives, that same oppression has carried into their familial structure, making the issue of racism prevalent in broken homes as well.

Amc452 (talk)

Plan for Article Revisions

Works Cited “BANNED: The Bluest Eye.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, Sept. 2017, www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/banned-bluest-eye/. Carey, Tamika L. RHETORICAL HEALING: the Reeducation of Contemporary Black Womanhood. STATE UNIV OF NEW YORK PR, 2017. Iyasere, Solomon Ogbede, and Marla W. Iyasere. Toni Morrison. Salem Press, 2010. Lemert, Charles C. Social Theory: the Multicultural and Classic Readings. Westview Press, 1993. Rhodes, Jane. “Race, Media, and Black Womanhood in the Early Twentieth Century.” AAIHS, African American Intellectual History Society, 24 Apr. 2017, www.aaihs.org/race-media-and-black-womanhood-in-the-early-twentieth-century/ Roynon, Tessa. Toni Morrison and the Classical Tradition: Transforming American Culture. Oxford University Press, 2014. Seward, Adrienne Lanier, and Justine Tally. Toni Morrison: Memory and Meaning. University Press of Mississippi, 2014. Simpson, Ritashona. Black Looks & Black Acts: the Language of Toni Morrison in The Bluest Eye and Beloved. Peter Lang, 2007.

� Plan for revising Bluest Eye Wikipedia page I plan to shorten certain sub-sections under the article’s “Controversy” section in order to prevent negative feedback for “The Bluest Eye” from being overrepresented. I plan to revise the “Author’s Intentions” section to remove unnecessary information regarding how the novel was written (e.g. “...she would work on the novel in the evenings.”) I plan to add onto the “Black Girlhood” and “White Lifestyle Standards” sub-sections under “Analysis” because those are huge themes within the novel and the page could benefit from additional analysis. I plan to read through individual sections to fix small grammatical errors and help improve clarity where possible. I plan to add a bit more detail to the plot summary while maintaining its current conciseness in order to include some important details from the novel that were not mentioned.

Chaunguyenle (talk) 17:49, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Proposed Edits to "Bluest Eye" Wikipedia Page

- In the header section, add information about Morrison’s fame as an African-American female author who has won a multitude of awards and acclaim for her novels’ exposures of the hard life of a black American. Also, discuss when the book was published, given the context of the time, and note that it was Morrison’s first book published.

- Add a genre section: This section would be especially important to this novel as Morrison is an acclaimed and famous author whose content and style are unique to her novels. The section would also discuss Morrison's use of multiple narrators, and the use of Dick and Jane to further clarify the complexity of the narrative.

-Edit wording in the reception page so that it is less subjective and biased. 

- Add more positive reception about the novel to keep the reception section more balanced.

- Reorder the article's structure to better meet Wikipedia's criterion for balance so that the article flows in a cohesive way.

- Add citations for the additional information so that the article remains reliable:

Romagnolo, Catherine. Opening Acts: Narrative Beginnings in Twentieth-Century Feminist Fiction. Lincoln, NE: U of Nebraska P, 2015. Web.

Roynon, Tessa. The Cambridge Introduction to Toni Morrison. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Web.

Vasquez, Shalene A. M. "In Her Own Image: Literary and Visual Representations of Girlhood in Toni Morrison's the Bluest Eye and Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John." Griot: Official Journal of the Southern Conference on Afro-American Studies, Inc. 31.2 (2012): 24-40. Web. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lgiordano18 (talk • contribs) 17:58, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Identity

Neelam Bhardwaj's article discusses race within the context of American Culture and its unforgivable dehumanizing effect on any race though her primary focus is within African-American culture because of the background of the author, Toni Morrison. Bhardwaj discusses how racism is a nebulous topic because of how there is a debate among scholars to it's exact definition alongside an absence of a unified agreement on what constitutes discrimination. Unfortunately, those topics have yet to yield an agreed consensus however, bringing forth those topics allows for a deeper dissection of them in an understanding setting. Unbalanced economic divide within the home is mentioned within the article in relation to the Breedlove and Macteer families. One family resides with a gracious social standing yet both are African-American homes so that cloud of prejudice remains though it is distilled between the two. The Breedlove's broken home life is made evident when the Macteers lose one of their children. The Macteer's search with urgency while when Pecola runs away the Breedlove's do not notice her absence. Bhardwaj also discusses how oppression harbors depression, self loathing and rage amongst children who are presented with a concept foreign to them, racism. Identity being attached to beauty is stripped from Pecola because of the color of her skin which is a vile disposition that many African Americans are blindsided by especially in the southern states. Until the guilty can be reprimanded and the wicked expunged will the innocent regain their freedom. Sean.Robi733 (talk 5:51, 3 May 2021 (UTC)

References

Check Secondary Source in "White Lifestyle Standards" Section

In the second paragraph of that section, it says "the novel takes place in a time of post-World War II sentiments." That is inaccurate. After the "Dick and Jane" primer quotation, the first sentence of the novel reveals that it takes place in 1941. Or rather that that the story will end in 1941, and that it tracks the year leading up to the fall of 1941.

The article cites Debra Werrlein's essay when saying it takes place in a time of post-World War II sentiments. I do not have access to this essay to verify whether Werrlein is the source for this error or if the error comes from the contributor to the Wikipedia article. Jayreed2 (talk) 15:31, 29 June 2023 (UTC)