I'm going to have to look this up, just 'cause it's set in Detroit :) I've lived in Boston for 17 years now but I'm a Detroiter born and bred, just transplanted to New England...
When I took Ancient Art in college, I was informed that the uses of B.C. and A.D. were not socially acceptable, because it assumes all cultures organized their periods around the birth and death of Christ, and obviously, not all cultures are Christian ones. I can't remember what A.D. was (probably A.C.E.) but I firmly remember that B.C. became B.C.E. = Before Common Era.
As I understand it, "C.E." (Common Era) and "B.C.E." (Before Common Era) are now the standard not just in art discussion but everywhere. Seems to me like this is an authorial slip, although granted if you grew up using B.C. and A.D. it can be hard to remember sometimes.
I think that if you don't learn the new way growing up, and if you're not in that field, you just don't know any better. I know when my Ancient Art professor told us how to referring to the dates, I half thought it was her own thing, because I'd never heard of it before, you know?
Comments 10
Reply
And since you're in Boston, have you read Margaret Roland's UF? It's a trilogy that starts with SPIRAL HUNT.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
As I understand it, "C.E." (Common Era) and "B.C.E." (Before Common Era) are now the standard not just in art discussion but everywhere. Seems to me like this is an authorial slip, although granted if you grew up using B.C. and A.D. it can be hard to remember sometimes.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment