Book bans remain a prominent issue in modern-day society as Art Spiegelman’s literary work Maus experienced a school censorship attempts in early 2022. Photo by Maro Siranosian/AFP and published in The Week.
By Julia Mertes, Editor-in-Chief ~
When a Tennessee school board banned the heavily taught and acclaimed graphic novel Maus last month — a work that contains critical commentary about the Holocaust by featuring Jewish people as mice who face persecution via Nazi-represented cats — outcry erupted across the United States.
Amid the controversy, the censorship decision baffled Maus’s Pulitzer Prize-winning creator, Art Spiegelman, and ultimately led to a substantial increase of book sales nationwide.
The incident demonstrates that even in modern-day society and within the United States — the land known for freedom of expression — beloved literary classics like Art Spiegelman’s award-winning graphic memoir Maus and Harper Lee’s bildungsroman literary classic To Kill a Mockingbird continue to face censorship within local communities.
Literary works have experienced censorships and bannings in order to prohibit certain ideas and themes from being spread throughout society. Throughout history, bans typically developed due to religious principles, cultural expressions, or political ideologies contained within the literary selections.
Book bans cause many consequences on society and limit the free expression of speech. Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters and published in the Guardian.
So, what is the potential danger entailed with book bans?
Book bans limit the ideas in circulation and the thoughts that can be shared and discussed in everyday discourse. Even if specific ideas contained in books are deemed “wrong” or “immoral” by particular groups, keeping the literary selections in public libraries and forums allow for pedagogical conversations about the topics in question.
Historically significant novels are often suppressed due to a few controversial lines — or singular words — within the text.
For instance, J.K. Rowling’s revolutionary series Harry Potter experienced censorship and restrictions due to the inclusion of witchcraft and magic, which were contrary to acceptable family-oriented values, according to The Washington Post.
When activists attempt to censor content for minuscule ideas or inclusions (i.e. swearing), they not only limit the content they disagree with but the book in its entirety. By banning Mildred D. Taylor’s work Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry from educational curriculums due to racial slurs, educators lost their ability to teach about the 1930s through Taylor’s engaging storyline, according to Teacher Vision.
Book censors typically deem literature works inappropriate for specific age groups when imposing bans. The viewpoint is often based on generalizations — without taking into account diverse, individual experiences.
Jay Asheri’s bestselling Young Adult novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, faced restrictions due to its focus of teen suicide. Some schools argued that their children were not mature enough to encounter storylines containing suicide, drugs, and sexual references, according to the Los Angeles Times.
By restricting people’s access to literature, readers consequently encounter less representation of relatable life experiences because certain perspectives are silenced.
Regardless of the censorship’s justification, banned literary texts still remain unreachable by people in affected areas. This begs the question, who should dictate what literature people consume or are prohibited from viewing?
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- The parents?
- The general community?
- Each Individuals?
Debate continues in academic and legal circles about where the decision falls.
In order to combat book censorship, be proactive in establishing a positive voice around controversial books. Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images and published in the Salon.
What can be done to combat book censorships?
Some ways to be proactive against book bans and censorships include:
- Staying up-to-date with current news.
- Reading banned books, and writing positive reviews online about them. If unsure about where to start or what books to read, visit the American Library Association website, an organization that monitors censorships and fights book bans.
- Being an advocate in your local community to raise awareness.
Many students have favorite banned books that they’ve read for school curriculum or just for fun. Illustration by Jane Mount and published in the PBS American Experience.
Which banned books have left an impact on the Penn State community?
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
- Recommended by Lauren Acquaviva (senior-English)
Acquaviva said Steinbeck’s novel was once banned by churches due to the included “religious allegories” and other controversial references.
However, she said the novel has merit despite previous ban attempts, especially since the writing style holds similarities to well-known American author Herman Melville.
Acquaviva said she “doesn’t like it when someone tells [her], ‘no,'” especially with regards to reading.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald & The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- Recommended by Anna Dow (senior-Kinesiology)
Dow said she enjoyed reading both books in high school English classes and considers them to be “classics” that everyone should read and discuss — rather than censor.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
- Recommended by Grace Miller (senior-English and journalism | BA/MA creative writing program scholar)
“I totally understand why certain places might ban Lolita, especially in terms of high school settings,” Miller said. “However, there’s a lot to learn from the book in the sense that [it] uses uncomfortable topics to make the reader self-reflect.”
Miller said the “controversial” inclusions spark positive classroom discussions.
Which banned books have left an impact on you? Let us know know in the comment section!
Julia Mertes is a sophomore double majoring in English and journalism. At an early age, she developed a passion for reading and writing that has carried into her college career. She is honored to serve as KLIO’s Editor-in-Chief and Co-Blog Editor during the Spring 2022 semester.
Beyond her involvement with KLIO, Julia writes in-depth features and investigative articles for Penn State’s student-run newspaper, The Daily Collegian. She’s also an avid Relay For Life volunteer and actively advocates for blood donations.
Julia dreams of writing and publishing her own novel one day to help others navigate life and the world around them.