1 year ago
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Is Superman Circumcised?, a survey of the superhero’s Jewish influences, has resoundingly won the contention to beryllium named “oddest publication rubric of the year”.
The Diagram prize, which is tally by The Bookseller mag and voted for by the public, pitted six titles against each different this year, from Curves for the Mathematically Curious to Hats: A Very Unnatural History. Despite contention from second-placed The Life Cycle of Russian Things: From Fish Guts to Fabergé, Is Superman Circumcised? took 51% of the nationalist ballot to triumph the award. More than 11,000 radical formed a ballot successful this year’s competition.
The title, which follows successful the footsteps of erstwhile winners including How to Avoid Huge Ships and The Big Book of Lesbian Horse Stories, sees writer Roy Schwartz research the instauration of the “Mensch of Steel” by Jewish immigrants Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Schwartz argues that Superman’s root communicative is based “on Moses, his spot connected Samson, his ngo connected the golem, and his nebbish concealed individuality connected themselves”, and that Krypton’s nine is based connected Jewish culture.
The Bookseller’s managing exertion Tom Tivnan said: “Following connected from 2019’s champ, The Dirt Hole and its Variations, and 2020’s A Dog Pissing astatine the Edge of a Path: Animal Metaphors successful Eastern Indonesian Society we’ve seen erstwhile again that Diagram voters are pulled to titles that are conscionable wee spot naughty.”
“Let maine besides rise a solid to Is Superman Circumcised? steadfast McFarland & Company which gets its archetypal ever triumph connected its inaugural shortlisting. But I person a sneaky feeling that with different sublime titles connected its database similar Mr Sulu Grabbed My Ass and Other Highlights from a Life successful Comics, Novels, Television, Films and Video Games and Gag Reflections: Conquering a Fear of Vomit Through Exposure Therapy this volition not beryllium the past publication by McFarland to the Diagram.”
The inaugural Diagram prize went to Proceedings of the Second International Workshop connected Nude Mice successful 1978. The victor does not person anything, but the nominator of the winning introduction traditionally receives a “passable vessel of claret”.
“The contention was stiff, but I’m gladsome I was capable to emergence to the challenge,” said Schwartz. “I’m sincerely honoured to person this august literate prize. It’s a large reminder that adjacent superior lit is allowed to beryllium fun.”
English (US)