Recently i tried to refer a book written in french the problem i encounter is there is almost no book from Quebec that are translated. Personnaly i think this is a big problem since the number of canadian who are fully bilingual is rather limited in the general population.
suggestion to moderators: change the thread title to "Too few Quebec books are translated from French to English."
I wonder how we got to this-- we do support culture but seem to have no idea of how important it is to read each other.
I think the Conservatives probably have a very good idea of the possible influence of Quebec culture on the RoC and want nothing to do with it. They're probably not the only ones like that, mind you.
Cutbacks in available translation services a factor?
I was just thinking that the regressive Conservatives are unlikely to promote a region of the country (to other regions of the county) that is characterized by, among other things, an electoral thrashing administered to the Cons so recently.
This problem is a lot older than that-- English Canadians will read foreign novels in translation but not Quebec novels.
There has never been a concerted effort by government to fix this -- shocking in the light of how much has been spent in the name of unity.
Having read some Quebec novels what is most striking is the similarity in themes between English Canadian and French Canadian writing. Some like Saul say that is a result of Aboriginal influence, some say it is common challenges and the land, some say French colonial influence is greater than acknowledged in English language Canadian literature but the fact remains they are more alike than Quebec literature is to French or English Canadian is to American or British.
Not because of government, it seems, but in spite of it, we actually have a great deal in common. It would be better if we all knew that but we are prevented by language and shitty government cultural policy.
Obviously I am a big booster of both bilingualism and translation of literary works.
As well, if English Canadians truly appreciated how rich Quebec culture actually is that alone would benefit mutual understanding.
It might also shift politics in RoC to the left. My own radicalization truly began, long ago, when I read An Option for Quebec.
This conversations somehow reminds me of Two Solitudes.
I think the problem is not with Harper but more with the editor that doute the rentability of such move. I think like quebec cinema we need much more incitative to start the movement.
"White Niggers of America" was one of books I read in the early '70's. I found it far more compelling than Rene's, "An Option for Quebec." In the same time period I discovered and was moved by the "Tin Flute" and then read other Roy novels.
The problem is as the new thread title suggests. I am sure there are great novels that I would enjoy reading that are currently being published in Quebec but not many are translated into English. It is all about capitalist supply and demand. The English Canadian market is too small to spend much money translating and promoting Quebec books. It is a shame because I agree with Sean that I find Quebec literature speaks to my existence better than most American books. That is also the case with Quebec cinema. Not enough films are dubbed into English and promoted outside of Quebec
The Quebec movies I've seen have been terrific: The Barbarian Invasions, Decline of the American Empire, Black Robe, any number of others. Please, though, no dubbing--it's awful to see French Canadians speaking English with Toronto accents. Subtitles, please. On the other hand, it's tough to think of many Canadian films made in English about Canada that are any good (as opposed to Hollywood films simply shot here that have no relevance to Canada). I suppose it's the American influence. I envy French Canadians the strength of their culture....
It is the influence that Hollywood has over our screens. Canadian films fail to even make it to the big screen because the Hollywood juggernaut only promotes what it produces. In Quebec the language laws ensure that their films have screens in all major cinemas to present the works of their artists.
It is surprising given how much there is in subsidies in the publishing industry that the support and efforts to market books are not there. Putting the publishers on a form of welfare where they produce and warehouse without market support is nuts -- and adding horrible shipping rates worse than other countries to the mix... It is almost criminal when you consider that authors do not get paid by books produced but by royalties on what is sold.
The Quebec movies I've seen have been terrific: The Barbarian Invasions, Decline of the American Empire, Black Robe, any number of others. Please, though, no dubbing--it's awful to see French Canadians speaking English with Toronto accents. Subtitles, please. On the other hand, it's tough to think of many Canadian films made in English about Canada that are any good (as opposed to Hollywood films simply shot here that have no relevance to Canada). I suppose it's the American influence. I envy French Canadians the strength of their culture....
I would hardly consider Black Robe a Quebec film. It was an Australian-Canadian co-production, All the decisions affecting the film were made in Sydney and Toronto (not Montreal). While the lead actor was very much part of the Quebec film scene, with the exception of Billy Two Rivers, none of the other primary actors even reside in Quebec. The union representation was STCVQ, but at least half of the crew governed by the contract were from out of province (primarily Australia) and had only permissionaire status. Not to mention the budget totally dwarfed anything seen by local film production in Quebec... Black Robe was kind of an anglophone invasion of the Quebec film scene...
@bagkitty...thanks for that about Black Robe...I didn't know that
