Gus,

Sorry if I was imprecise in what I was saying.  Of course,
literature has been used throughout history to "effect social
change".  I guess it's just that the word "relevant" sets my
teeth on edge when it is applied to art.  The question, of
course, is: relevant to what?  Usually, it is to some sort of
ideology that is fashionable at the time, and the criterion of
relevance consigns the "irrelevant" stuff to the trash heap... or
a bonfire.  Dr. Frye went so far as to call the word "neo-nazi"
when used to evaluate literature, or art in general for that
matter.  I know nobody on this list meant the word in that way,
so I apologize for the flame.  But perhaps my reaction is
understandable, given the ongoing efforts to get the book banned?

Regards,

Leslie Kinton
Royal Conservatory of Music,
Toronto, Ontario.