Doderer discusses the events at the Fourth Asian World Children's Literature Convention. The children's book scene in Asia is endowed with rich potential.
Research Work about Children’s Literature in Western Germany. In Western Germany research work about children’s literature increased in the last twenty years. Compared with other nations there is now ...a high levelled scientific standard in this field. Doderer shows that the themes, aspects and tendencies differ considerably from one theoretical work to the other. He points out three positions. The first position he calls «Kulturgut-Position». It is based on the idea that children’s literature is a high valuated subject for itself. Consequently these researches ask for better connection between literature and young readers in detecting new methods of teaching. Representatives of the second position — the so-called «ideologiekritische Position» — want to come to a new point of view of children’s books in looking for a hidden or open ideology in them. They have to criticize and analyse the contents. The third position — following the theories of communication by languages and textes — understands children’s literature as a medium and instrument to transport informations and bases on the opinion that literature can influence human beings in a direct way. Doderer shows the three trends, and he exposes a rather critical opinion especially towards position one and three.
There are no classic children's books, if by classics we mean books that will last forever. Instead, it is a matter of constant reevaluation. At most, we have older works that are still valuable ...today because they touch upon the human and artistic problems of our time. (Author/SJ)
