the disturbing trends of YA cover girls

By: Stephanie Campisi

 

Wandering the young adult literature shelves these days is a Warholian experience: selecting a handful of books within the same subgenre and placing them side by side can yield results not unlike Andy's multi-coloured Campbell's Soup print.

At first glance, the plethora of similar covers speaks merely of a combination of slashed design budgets and a “me-too” mindset. But further analysis shows that these covers are not simply perpetuating the overuse of iStock photo images, but also a number of highly problematic messages.

The first of these is the headless heroine, which though perfectly suitable for a retelling of Sleepy Hollow is less so for other types of fiction. This approach to cover design involves photographic covers depicting women whose heads have been either partially or wholly cropped. Ostensibly this is to allow the reader to “imagine” the character, but in reality the result is objectification and dehumanisation—and often with lashings of frothy bubblegum pink.

Fortunately, these types of designs have been subject to a high degree of scrutiny and criticism, and is slowly waning as the stylistic choice du jour. But that's not to say that the subsequent trends are any more positive.

Currently rife throughout the paranormal subgenre is the “sicky lass in pretty gown” cover trend. These covers--and owing to the overall popularity of this genre there are a disturbing number of them--typically comprise a pale-skinned girl dressed in a formal gown and being positioned in such a way that she seems utterly without agency. It's not unusual for these covers to depict girls swooning, lying helplessly on the ground, or leaping—one presumes—to oblivion. Indeed, Rachel Stark (assistant marketing manager of Bloomsbury and Walker Books for young readers) describes these covers as as representative of our “obsession with an elegant death”.

Such covers go beyond the issues raised by the headless heroine trend in that not only do they objectify the subject, but they seem to be normalising violence, and particularly romantic violence—which in this genre is all too often depicted as an “all-consuming” relationship to the detriment of (most usually) the heroine.

However, while some elements are overrepresented in young adult cover design, others are underrepresented, one of which being the use of people of colour in cover design. Admittedly, there are proportionally too few POC in young adult fiction generally, but even taking this into account the representation of such characters on book covers has been one that has invited much discussion and debate. Anecdotally, it seems that covers featuring POC main characters are less likely to receive a photographic cover. In addition, cases of “white washing” aren't unheard of: Justine Larbalestier's Liar Liar, which was originally released (in the US) with a white cover model despite having a POC main character is one case that received a good deal of attention.

But not all publishers are getting it wrong. In the past year there have been a number of evocative covers that don't rely on any of the above in their appeal to their audience. Take, for example, the stunning The Sky is Everywhere, which is elegant and evocative, Cath Crowley's eye-catching Graffiti Moon (which won an APA book design award) or Lia Weston's The Fortunes of Ruby White, or the two examples below of Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains. These, of course, are just a few of the many excellent designs out there—and with luck publishers will consider the issues raised by their cover designs and ensure that covers like these prevail.

 

Stephanie is a reviewer for 'Read in a Single Sitting'

By: Danielle Binks

Christmas is looming and the year is almost over. Bibliophiles (the easiest people to buy for!) are probably salivating at the prospect of all those paperbacks, hardbacks and eBook readers they put on their wish lists. And in preparation for all those worded treats, quite a few people will start to look at their bulging bookshelves and think it’s time for a bookish spring-clean.

There will be double-up titles. Heavyweight paperbacks that you now have in eBook format (because you don’t want to haul a 900+ page book on the train with you!). Some gifted books from well-meaning friends that you never intend to read. Other books that you did read but never intend to re-read ever, ever again. And so on and so forth …

You might be thinking a few titles can be passed on to friends and family. Or put up in an online book-swap for something worth your while. Or maybe you’re even thinking of gifting them to the Salvo’s (who seem to have an over-abundance of ‘Twilight’ books these days).

Well those are all good ideas and fine homes for your dear old books. But let me offer one more suggestion – The Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library.

Founded in 2003, the non-profit charity looks to give reading resources to homeless and marginalised people. It all started when soup kitchen volunteer, Sarah Garnett, saw a man reading a book while he waited for the food van to arrive. She started bringing him a few books every week, and thus the Footpath Library was born. The library is currently based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and will be opening in Perth early in 2012.

The Library has a few stipulations about what sorts of books they’ll accept, and it goes without saying that they should be in excellent condition.

Book Donation Guidelines
The Footpath Library accepts high-quality books in the following genres:

• Women’s, men’s and children’s fiction


• Non-fiction, including dictionaries, simple cookbooks, parenting, and self help


• National Geographic, Australian Geographic, motorcycle and car magazines.

Please note, out of respect for our customers we do not accept:

• True crime


• Travel/wine/restaurant guides


• Get-rich-quick/investment/ financial guides


• Coffee table books


• Home decorating, gardening, sewing, craft, fashion


• Sport (unless biographies)


• Any books with suicide, depression, or drug themes


• Computer manuals


• Text books of any description


• Magazines, except National Geographic, Australian Geographic, motorbike and car


• Encyclopaedias


• Street directories


• Religious material


• Used crossword/puzzle books.

I love this organization – they’re a group of book-loving volunteers who are challenging misconceptions about the city’s homeless population. This is a really wonderful charity for Australian bibliophiles to get behind this Christmas. And it’s not just books they accept – the Library also appreciates donations of bookcases, knitted goods and monetary offerings.



A few books that Spinifex is donating to the Footpath Library

By: Natalie Kon-yu

This is a particularly sore subject for me today, as I’ve come back from holiday and there’s no coffee in the house.  Coffee is a ritual for me, a kind for reward for waking up and getting down to work.  It’s something I especially need if I’m writing, not only the sharp hit of it; but making a cup of coffee also gives me an opportunity to step away from the page, to think about what I’ve written , to mull it over in my mind.

There seems to be a natural affinity between coffee and writers; we have a special relationship to the coffee shop or cafe. As part of a mentorship program, I meet with Susan on a fortnightly basis in Brunetti’s in Carlton.  We often order our coffee before we have found seats, and we sip as we talk about writing, about words that have inspired us, as well as the frustrations we encounter. I’m a drinker of espresso – a perilous coffee if you don’t trust the quality of the café – and Brunetti’s being so very Italian, is a good place for this little cup. The frustrating thing about espresso drinking is that it inly lasts a few seconds, I have nothing to wrap my hands around, no warm mug to hold onto or coast on as we continue our chat.  Sometimes I wish I drank lattes so that I could keep the experience of drinking coffee go just that bit longer, but I can’t forego the espresso.

In many ways coffee is just the precursor, the bit that gives us an excuse (and a place) to meet.  What we’re really interested in is the conversation; cafés are a great place to talk about writing.  Look around any café and you’ll see people talking more animatedly than they do in a bar or a restaurant (is it the caffeine?).  A lot of my writer friends meet up in cafes, and a lot of bookshops pop in near cafés.  We’re especially lucky to have a Readings bookshop right near the Brunetti’s where we meet, and many times after we’ve finished our chat, we walk over to peruse the shelves of this fantastic bookshop, high on caffeine and conversation.  This habit of readerly and writerly people meeting up in cafés has been acknowledged by organisations such as Poetry Australia who run a Café Poets Program, which gives writers a place to work (as well as providing them with coffee and tea) in exchange for the writer bringing the café into the writing community in a meaningful way. There was a small, locally owned bookstore in Perth where I used to live, that merged the café and bookshop, and the place was, as you can imagine teeming with writers.  As we move ever forward into cyber realities (or non realities, depending on your perspective) , I’m confident that we will never lose the humble café – we all have far too much to talk about.

Natalie Kon-yu lives in Melbourne and teaches Creative Writing at university.  She is currently working on her first novel 'the list of missing things', with Susan Hawthorne.

Don’t buy into the sexualisation of women

by: Spinifex intern, Imogen Kandel

In response to a question posed on the Collective Shout website asking for positive examples of where to shop this Christmas, we put out heads together and came up with a list of sexploitation-free gifting options (and a few food-on-the-run options, too).
 
We specifically looked at whether or not the company had used any sexist or sexually exploitative advertising, and gave our tick of approval to those who steered clear of using inappropriate images of women and children to push their message. Wherever possible, we also opted for Australian-made and owned, as well as eco and ethically friendly.
 
In our list you’ll find a mix of specific brands as well as retail outlets. To avoid buying from retailers that use sexploitation, go straight to the source and purchase directly online.
 
If you’d like to add your sexploitation-free shopping ideas, please use the comments section below.
 
Happy Holidays!


KIDS’ CLOTHES, TOYS & OTHER GIFT IDEAS
Every Little Girl - some great unisex clothing & organic tees!
Eternal Creation
The Singing Whale
Windmill Educational
New Moon Girls (magazine)

BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Aesop
Jurlique
Mukti Botanicals
Perfect Potion

BOOKS
Readings Bookshop
Books for Cooks
Mary Ryan's Books, Music & Coffee
Avid Reader
Gleebooks
Fullers Bookshop
Spinifex Press

CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES
People Tree
Blue Caravan
Ishka
Seed Heritage
Jennifer Loiselle on Etsy
A Skulk of Foxes
TOMS shoes - we love this site: for every pair of shoes you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need.

FAST FOOD & CAFES (when you need a break from shopping!)
Boost Juice
Grill'd
Lord of the Fries
Brunetti
Plum Café
 
UNDERWEAR
Berlei
Jockey Australia
 
BEDDING, LINEN & HOMEWARES
Albatross
HolySheet!
Bird Textile
Biome

ALTERNATIVE GIVING
Rainforest Rescue
Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund

My condolences to the People of Australia

My warnings to the women of Australia, especially northern Australia

Today’s visit of US President Barack Obama’s to your country and his announcements to your government to deploy 2,500 US Marines to northern Australia put the people of Australia, especially women in northern Australia, in grave danger.  While I understand that Australia has its own military, allow me to suggest that no state military approximates the danger of the US military in the world today.

First of all allow me to point out that because the US invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan are war crimes and violate both the Geneva Conventions and the United Nations Charter, it has been necessary for the US military to train its soldiers and marines in preventive killing (i.e. murder). As you can imagine, young recruits many of whom are unemployed and others who are seeking to gain access to a college education do not sign up for such barbaric fighting. Therefore to train its recruits to kill without remorse while convincing them that they are defending their county, the USA, brainwashing techniques are employed by the US military as I document in Unmaking War, Remaking Men. 

In their training, US soldiers and Marines trained to believe that are superior to ordinary (American) civilians. This is part of their training for remorseless killing as believing in their own superiority aids young recruits in justifying their behavior in combat which ranges from remorseless to preventive killing.  Now think about it Australians – if US Marines understand that they are superior to American civilians, what do you expect of them while they are in Australia.

I ask you urgently to consult with your Pacific neighbors, especially in the Philippines, and the decades it took them to free their soil of US troops.  The Coalitions Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific would be a good place to start in Manila. Learn how Philippine women were reduced to prostitution for US soldiers and Marines.  When the Marines finally shipped out, they were trafficked to countries like your own for prostitution.   

Before it is too late, please consider the risks of your country and especially your women to having US military deployed on your land.


Respectfully,

Kathleen Barry, Ph.D.

Professor Emerita of Pennsylvania State University

Author: Unmaking War, Remaking Men (Australia: Spinifex 2010)