On Harold's 'Translucent Reality': A Philosophical and Religious Interpretation of 'Harold and the Purple Crayon'

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  • Author(s): Keskin, Burhanettin (ORCID Keskin, Burhanettin (ORCID 0000-0003-0820-0130)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Early Child Development and Care. 2017 187(8):1349-1358.
  • Publication Date:
    2017
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Evaluative
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      10
    • Subject Terms:
      Childrens Literature; Picture Books; Philosophy; Religious Factors; Imagination; Creativity; Teaching Methods; Christianity; Judaism
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/03004430.2016.1169179
    • ISSN:
      0300-4430
    • Abstract:
      In this paper, one of the most popular children's picture books, Harold and the Purple Crayon, is examined in terms of philosophical and religious viewpoints. Harold, a young inquisitive boy, seemingly travels in his world in which he finds himself dealing with various situations. Harold's adventure with his purple crayon reminds us the fundamental philosophical question: What is real, and what is not? The author introduces a new philosophical term, "translucent reality", to better understand Harold's and any other stories in which reality and unreality cannot, and should not, be clearly distinguished. The author proposes that David Johnson Leisk's story be interpreted as a reformulation of the story of Adam in the Abrahamic religions through an existentialist lens as the story of humanity's creative recreating itself and its journey in an undetermined environment.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Number of References:
      13
    • Publication Date:
      2017
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1144647