Censorship and Banned Censorship and Banned BooksBooks

In “Terms” of ImportanceIn “Terms” of Importance

Censorship - Censorship - an official who examines an official who examines books, plays, news reports, motion books, plays, news reports, motion pictures, radio and television programs, pictures, radio and television programs, letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose of suppressing parts deemed of suppressing parts deemed objectionable on moral, political, military, objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds. or other grounds.

Terms continued…Terms continued…

To ban (To ban (as in book-banning)as in book-banning)

A challengeA challenge

A banA ban

Facts Concerning CensorshipFacts Concerning CensorshipPlaces where censorship can occur: the Places where censorship can occur: the

classroom, the library, school, home…classroom, the library, school, home…

Literary censorship can include any text.Literary censorship can include any text.

Why Censor?Why Censor?

Who Censors?Who Censors? Legislators (local, state, federal)Legislators (local, state, federal) Members of review boards of any kind (school Members of review boards of any kind (school

boards)boards) Clergy (priests, ministers, etc.)Clergy (priests, ministers, etc.) School administratorsSchool administrators TeachersTeachers LibrariansLibrarians ParentsParents TheatersTheaters Book storesBook stores Television StudiosTelevision Studios

Censorship on the RiseCensorship on the Rise Between the years of 1979 and 1984 (5 years), Between the years of 1979 and 1984 (5 years),

the number of reported challenges went from the number of reported challenges went from 300 to 1,000.300 to 1,000.

Such works as:Such works as: Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet HamletHamlet Judy Blume books: Judy Blume books: Then Again; Maybe I Won’t; Then Again; Maybe I Won’t;

Deenie and BlubberDeenie and Blubber The Diary of Anne FrankThe Diary of Anne Frank Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn An issue of An issue of Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated*Some copies of these particular books showed up in *Some copies of these particular books showed up in

libraries torn to shreds.libraries torn to shreds.

Censorship on the RiseCensorship on the Rise

Between the years of 1990-2000, 6,364 Between the years of 1990-2000, 6,364 texts were challenged.texts were challenged.1,607 – sexually explicit material1,607 – sexually explicit material1,427 – inappropriate language1,427 – inappropriate language842 – occult theme; promoting occult or 842 – occult theme; promoting occult or

SatanismSatanism737 – Violent material737 – Violent material515 – homosexual reference515 – homosexual reference419 – religious themes419 – religious themes

The First AmendmentThe First Amendment ……the basic right to freedom of expression.the basic right to freedom of expression.

Congress Shall Make No Law…Congress Shall Make No Law…

“ “Congress shall make no law respecting an Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assembly, and to petition the peaceably to assembly, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”Government for a redress of grievances.”

Upon formation of the Bill of RightsUpon formation of the Bill of Rights

Thomas Jefferson states,Thomas Jefferson states,““The basis of our governments being the opinion The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, newspapers or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. latter. But I should mean that every man But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.”of reading them.”

Interpreting the First AmendmentInterpreting the First Amendment

Supreme Court holds responsibility of Supreme Court holds responsibility of interpreting the First Amendment.interpreting the First Amendment.

1791 – Court heard cases of freedom of 1791 – Court heard cases of freedom of speech, freedom of press, and issues of speech, freedom of press, and issues of libel and slander, national security, and libel and slander, national security, and obscenity.obscenity.

Censorship in History – Ancient Censorship in History – Ancient GreeceGreece

55thth Century BC Century BCPhilosophers, poets, other writers (orators)Philosophers, poets, other writers (orators)Banned for straying from political and Banned for straying from political and

religious culture.religious culture.Socrates – Socrates – Think for yourself!Think for yourself!

Censorship in History – Middle Censorship in History – Middle AgesAges

400 AD – 1400s400 AD – 1400s

The Church controlled books that were The Church controlled books that were preserved.preserved.

Objectionable authors and books burned Objectionable authors and books burned at stake.at stake.

Censorship in History – The Censorship in History – The American ColoniesAmerican Colonies

1717thth – 18 – 18thth Century Century

Adopted restrictions from EnglandAdopted restrictions from England

Puritan, Methodist, Baptist, Quaker of Puritan, Methodist, Baptist, Quaker of Massachusetts – Massachusetts – Blasphemy!Blasphemy!

The Freedom to ReadThe Freedom to Read

Different than the freedom to write.Different than the freedom to write. Intellectual freedom.Intellectual freedom. ““Banned Books Week” – 1985Banned Books Week” – 1985American Library Association, American American Library Association, American

Booksellers Association, Association of Booksellers Association, Association of American Publishers.American Publishers.

Board of Education v. Pico 1982.Board of Education v. Pico 1982.

Why not to Censor…Why not to Censor…

If all books were banned, or even destroyed If all books were banned, or even destroyed for their content, what information or for their content, what information or

culture would be lost for future culture would be lost for future generations?generations?

Ray Bradbury, Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451.. ““It was a pleasure to burn” (3).It was a pleasure to burn” (3).Bradbury: “You don’t have to burn books Bradbury: “You don’t have to burn books

to destroy a culture. Just get them to stop to destroy a culture. Just get them to stop reading.”reading.”

Knowledge is power.Knowledge is power.

““Through the Looking Glass”Through the Looking Glass”--A chapter from A chapter from BookBanning in AmericaBookBanning in America, by William Noble, by William Noble

““What’s confusing to some, of course, What’s confusing to some, of course, doesn’t have to be confusing to others” doesn’t have to be confusing to others” (209).(209).

Banned: “Huckleberry Finn”Banned: “Huckleberry Finn”

The novel has often been criticized for The novel has often been criticized for its language and characterizations and its language and characterizations and it is reported to be the fourth most it is reported to be the fourth most banned book in US schools.banned book in US schools.

ControversyControversy

For Twain's critics, the novel is racist For Twain's critics, the novel is racist on the face of it, and for the most on the face of it, and for the most obvious reason: many characters use obvious reason: many characters use the “N” word throughout. But since the the “N” word throughout. But since the action of the book takes place in the action of the book takes place in the south twenty years before the Civil south twenty years before the Civil War, it would be amazing if they didn't War, it would be amazing if they didn't use that word. use that word.

The NAACP charged that HUCK FINN The NAACP charged that HUCK FINN contained "racial slurs" and "belittling contained "racial slurs" and "belittling racial designations.“racial designations.“

Twain used the N-word 219 times.Twain used the N-word 219 times.Huck Finn logged in at #5 in the Top Huck Finn logged in at #5 in the Top

100 Most Frequently challenged books 100 Most Frequently challenged books from 1990 to 1999 and #14 in 2000 to from 1990 to 1999 and #14 in 2000 to 2009.2009.

African Americans and others, led by African Americans and others, led by the NAACP, begin to challenge the the NAACP, begin to challenge the book in the 1950s, appalled by the book in the 1950s, appalled by the novel's portrayal of the slave Jim and novel's portrayal of the slave Jim and its repeated use of the “N” word.its repeated use of the “N” word.

But anyone who imagines that Mark But anyone who imagines that Mark Twain meant this literally is missing the Twain meant this literally is missing the point. point.