Rated M for Mature (Media Class Blog)
So, I had this blog planned out - something about the music industry today, as music is one of my biggest interests. But, I've since forgotten about that blog; R.I.P. blog that never-was/never-will-be. With Banned Books Week last week, and being a writer, I feel a sense of obligation and desire to shout from my proverbial soapbox. The following views are mine as an American in America (or maybe just as a human in the world) and if you disagree, that's your right. Viewer discretion is advised.
Freedom of Speech
Cue the foggy transition to a flashback: 1787, a buncha dudes in powdery wigs sign the US Constitution. Less than five years later, the First Amendment was ratified. Let's have a refresher on what exactly that is, shall we?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
That's a lot of ground being covered, but what's important here is the freedom of speech (or of the press). Now, I'm not exactly a lawyer or anything, so I'm not going to get too heavy into past cases and how this has evolved. The point is: this is a country of -freedom-. You've the right to express your opinion. Others have the right to express theirs. There are many things I believe against, being the flaming liberal that I am, but I don't wish to squelch the voices of those whose opinions I find to be crazy. Case in point: Fred Phelps. Even fanatics have a right to be heard.
There is an oft-quoted sentiment that states something along the lines of, "I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Think about that, dying to protect free speech. Even of those whose opinions you oppose. That's hardcore. It brings to mind the story in the news lately about Mexican journalists fleeing to the US, some being murdered, for expressing their opinions and facts about the drug cartel wars in their country. Think that's crazy? Check it out:
I think one of the men in that video said something rather important that we all need to remember: the denial of information is the denial of the right to make decisions.
Book Censorship and Banning
So, you can see why this is an important topic. Luckily, there's no actual federal ban on any book in the United States, but that doesn't stop people from pushing for it. Many books are currently banned in many libraries, schools, and other institutions. There are groups that advocate the banning of books for various reasons... from silly to serious.
Usually, the banned books that are frequently addressed are "classics": Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Huckleberry Finn, etc. Usually with reasons such as profane language (teenagers cussing? people in the south using racial slurs? ohnoes, forget realism! That's OBSCENE!) or "intellectually dangerous to the public" (i.e. They make you think). But, bannings and censorship doesn't end there. There are a lot more contemporary examples. This article from Yahoo! news lists 10 books many people would be surprised about being banned (but are in one place or another in the USA). Let's go over the list in the article:
10. Captain Underpants - I've only seen these books, not read (the first one came out when I was 13 and they're aimed at grade-schoolers). The protagonist wears his whitey-tighties proudly for all to see. Apparently there's some sexually explicit content?? Some offensive language? And they're anti-family. I have to wonder what children get out of these books. If they're that bad, why does Scholastic keep publishing them? I guess I can't form a decent opinion without reading them... so, onto the next.
9. The Lord of the Rings - Why? Because there's Satanic imagery. Apparently it has been burned by several churches. Perhaps it has been overlooked that J.R.R. Tolkien was a devout Catholic? That the Trilogy is a very Christian story? Where's the Satanic Imagery? In the depictions of Sauron and Mount Doom? He's the evil antagonist, guys. Is it the magic? It's a story. I don't quite understand the hangup with sorcery. There are plenty of magical moments in the bible... But, that's another discussion...
8. The Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary - Let me just say: rofl. But the hilarity doesn't end there; why was one of the most popular dictionaries banned? "Oral sex" Heavens no! What's their definition? "n. oral stimulation of the genitals". Wow, steamy! AFK for a cold shower. All joking aside, I wish I could say I was surprised.
7. Fahrenheit 451 - Does the Mississippi School District not see the irony in banning this? This is the classic sci-fi story about censorship, books being burned and an underground resistance movement where people memorize books to keep them alive. Don't give people IDEAS! We have to dope the masses down, keep them complacent.
6. The Harry Potter series - Again, back to sorcery as a Satanic symbol. Not only that, but apparently a celebration of occultism, violence, and anti-family sentiments. The series has topped the American Library Association's most challenged book list for ten years. Personally, I see good messages in these books. I see a strong family message. But, I don't think many of the Christian Right can get past the usage of sorcery. Like I said before... it's a story. I don't see anywhere in Harry Potter telling kids to go practice magic. And, what kid doesn't believe in magic anyways? Do you want to kill that? Kids grow up too fast as it is. Keep the magic alive, people. If you have a soul, you'll yearn for those days of innocence one day. You'll dream of what it was once like to believe that anything is possible. Me? I'll always cling to my inner child. Anything is possible and if you tell me otherwise, I'll turn you into a newt.
That's the sort of thing I imagine when people go on these crusades to ban books. I don't think I'm too far off...
Anyways, moving on!
5. The Grapes of Wrath - This one's based on obscenity. Apparently it was "originally banned in California due to obscenity, but the catalyst behind the banning was based more in embarrassment: The people in the region did not like how their area and the workers' situation was portrayed in the novel." Again with the silencing of history... You know the old adage about forgetting history? Yeah...
4. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - Never read this one, but it was apparently banned because the Texas Board of Education mistakenly thought it was penned by an author who wrote a book on Ethical Marxism. Senator McCarthy, is that you?
3. James and the Giant Peach - I loved Roald Dahl books as a kid. I will never forget reading the BFG in 3rd grade. Dahl often puts racy things in his stories - witches, bodily functions, violence. What did James do? He was disobedient at times. The horror!
2. The American Heritage Dictionary (1969) - Anoooother dictionary?! This one was banned in Missouri in the 70's for 39 objectionable words. One of them? Balls (the slang word, obviously). Well... balls.
1. Grimm's Fairy Tales - Fairy tales have a penchant for dark subjects. There has been some controversy over violence and sex in many of these stories. The objection in this case? Little Red Riding Hood had some wine. ...I just... ...wow.
And, Those are just a few examples of the absurdity of book bannings. However silly a lot of it may seem, it's a serious matter. We're not living in some oppressive police state (however much it may feel like it sometimes), we're living in the United States. When much of the civilised world thinks of freedom, we come to mind. How can we keep that image alive if we all run and scream with pitchforks whilst lynching the ideas of people?
On Censorship
"It's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness." That's what Lenny Bruce said about censorship. What does that mean exactly? Allow me to be blunt: The reason "fuck" is such a powerful word is because we've suppressed it. It's taboo. This just in: it's a word. Words are... nothing. They're arrangements of letters (symbols) to express ideas. It's not that "fuck" is bad, because words can't be either bad or good. It's the ideas we've attached to the words as a society. Why do racial slurs turn heads, incite riots, and hurt so much? It's the hatred behind the words. The history of oppression. But, they too are just words. They've been given power, and will continue to be powerful for as long as they are taboo. And, much like words, suppressing books only makes them that much more popular. Tell a population not to do something, be sure that they will do it and they will be loud and proud about it. The biggest favour you can do a writer is to ban his or her work. You know the saying: "No such thing as bad publicity." As a writer, I can only dream of getting banned from some library... of making the ALA's list of frequently banned/challenged books.
I don't support racism, sexism, homophobia, or most other forms of discrimination. But, those ideas can't be supressed. Sure, I dream of the world where we all get along, the world where those ideas are just part of studies of inequality in history, the world where all people have chosen to be good to one another... but we have a long way to go.
On Sex
Many books have been banned due to sexual content - Catcher in the Rye, Ulysses, Candide, etc. What exactly is the problem? I've noticed one thing in regards to media - In the US, violence is prominent (and glorified) and sex is taboo; In Europe (and other places), violence isn't quite as graphic, sex is natural and common. You know, I think it's a bit silly to ban books or other forms of media based on sexual content. I mean, do we want our children to all be Eunuchs? Shouldn't we be trying to encourage future procreation? Sex is good. It's at the very base of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which means it's as much of a necessity to life as breathing, food, and sleep. But, what's the message that much of American media sends out? Sex is bad. In America, billboards get protested if they show too much cleavage. Hell, if there's a woman in her skivvies. Last year in France I came across public billboards depicting topless women. One I recall was for a skin cream and was very tasteful. About half of the world has breasts... why have they become so incredibly taboo in America? That's only fueling the objectification of women, yeah? But, still we're sexually repressed. That's cool, it worked out great for the Victorians, right?
A Few More Bannings
Other examples of book bannings (with commentary by yours truly):
-And Tango makes Three: A children's book (based on a true story) about two male penguins who raise a baby penguin. This book is seen as harmful to family values because of the implications of homosexual parents. I've known plenty of homosexual couples who would make better parents than most. And forget about teaching acceptance!
-The Joy of Sex - Sex is to remain a joyless and horrible necessity used only to further the human race. Never to be talked about. Right?
-It's Perfectly Normal - A book teaching children about puberty. We can't let children read about these things. Will we tell them ourselves? Doubtful. The book is banned and challenged due to pornography. So, how do our children learn about these things? That's not our problem, I guess. These days, I imagine many children in households like that learn from the internet. After all, the internet is for porn:
Well, enough of my diatribe on censorship in books (and beyond). Let's teach our children to think for themselves, to trust in our own parenting enough that they will make the right decisions or at least make informed decisions that might not entirely agree with our parenting. Let's not deny anyone the right to make decisions. In closing, I'd just like to say:
Fuck c*ns*rsh*p.
Freedom of Speech
Cue the foggy transition to a flashback: 1787, a buncha dudes in powdery wigs sign the US Constitution. Less than five years later, the First Amendment was ratified. Let's have a refresher on what exactly that is, shall we?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
That's a lot of ground being covered, but what's important here is the freedom of speech (or of the press). Now, I'm not exactly a lawyer or anything, so I'm not going to get too heavy into past cases and how this has evolved. The point is: this is a country of -freedom-. You've the right to express your opinion. Others have the right to express theirs. There are many things I believe against, being the flaming liberal that I am, but I don't wish to squelch the voices of those whose opinions I find to be crazy. Case in point: Fred Phelps. Even fanatics have a right to be heard.
There is an oft-quoted sentiment that states something along the lines of, "I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Think about that, dying to protect free speech. Even of those whose opinions you oppose. That's hardcore. It brings to mind the story in the news lately about Mexican journalists fleeing to the US, some being murdered, for expressing their opinions and facts about the drug cartel wars in their country. Think that's crazy? Check it out:
Click to viewI think one of the men in that video said something rather important that we all need to remember: the denial of information is the denial of the right to make decisions.
Book Censorship and Banning
So, you can see why this is an important topic. Luckily, there's no actual federal ban on any book in the United States, but that doesn't stop people from pushing for it. Many books are currently banned in many libraries, schools, and other institutions. There are groups that advocate the banning of books for various reasons... from silly to serious.
Usually, the banned books that are frequently addressed are "classics": Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Huckleberry Finn, etc. Usually with reasons such as profane language (teenagers cussing? people in the south using racial slurs? ohnoes, forget realism! That's OBSCENE!) or "intellectually dangerous to the public" (i.e. They make you think). But, bannings and censorship doesn't end there. There are a lot more contemporary examples. This article from Yahoo! news lists 10 books many people would be surprised about being banned (but are in one place or another in the USA). Let's go over the list in the article:
10. Captain Underpants - I've only seen these books, not read (the first one came out when I was 13 and they're aimed at grade-schoolers). The protagonist wears his whitey-tighties proudly for all to see. Apparently there's some sexually explicit content?? Some offensive language? And they're anti-family. I have to wonder what children get out of these books. If they're that bad, why does Scholastic keep publishing them? I guess I can't form a decent opinion without reading them... so, onto the next.
9. The Lord of the Rings - Why? Because there's Satanic imagery. Apparently it has been burned by several churches. Perhaps it has been overlooked that J.R.R. Tolkien was a devout Catholic? That the Trilogy is a very Christian story? Where's the Satanic Imagery? In the depictions of Sauron and Mount Doom? He's the evil antagonist, guys. Is it the magic? It's a story. I don't quite understand the hangup with sorcery. There are plenty of magical moments in the bible... But, that's another discussion...
8. The Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary - Let me just say: rofl. But the hilarity doesn't end there; why was one of the most popular dictionaries banned? "Oral sex" Heavens no! What's their definition? "n. oral stimulation of the genitals". Wow, steamy! AFK for a cold shower. All joking aside, I wish I could say I was surprised.
7. Fahrenheit 451 - Does the Mississippi School District not see the irony in banning this? This is the classic sci-fi story about censorship, books being burned and an underground resistance movement where people memorize books to keep them alive. Don't give people IDEAS! We have to dope the masses down, keep them complacent.
6. The Harry Potter series - Again, back to sorcery as a Satanic symbol. Not only that, but apparently a celebration of occultism, violence, and anti-family sentiments. The series has topped the American Library Association's most challenged book list for ten years. Personally, I see good messages in these books. I see a strong family message. But, I don't think many of the Christian Right can get past the usage of sorcery. Like I said before... it's a story. I don't see anywhere in Harry Potter telling kids to go practice magic. And, what kid doesn't believe in magic anyways? Do you want to kill that? Kids grow up too fast as it is. Keep the magic alive, people. If you have a soul, you'll yearn for those days of innocence one day. You'll dream of what it was once like to believe that anything is possible. Me? I'll always cling to my inner child. Anything is possible and if you tell me otherwise, I'll turn you into a newt.
That's the sort of thing I imagine when people go on these crusades to ban books. I don't think I'm too far off...
Anyways, moving on!
5. The Grapes of Wrath - This one's based on obscenity. Apparently it was "originally banned in California due to obscenity, but the catalyst behind the banning was based more in embarrassment: The people in the region did not like how their area and the workers' situation was portrayed in the novel." Again with the silencing of history... You know the old adage about forgetting history? Yeah...
4. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - Never read this one, but it was apparently banned because the Texas Board of Education mistakenly thought it was penned by an author who wrote a book on Ethical Marxism. Senator McCarthy, is that you?
3. James and the Giant Peach - I loved Roald Dahl books as a kid. I will never forget reading the BFG in 3rd grade. Dahl often puts racy things in his stories - witches, bodily functions, violence. What did James do? He was disobedient at times. The horror!
2. The American Heritage Dictionary (1969) - Anoooother dictionary?! This one was banned in Missouri in the 70's for 39 objectionable words. One of them? Balls (the slang word, obviously). Well... balls.
1. Grimm's Fairy Tales - Fairy tales have a penchant for dark subjects. There has been some controversy over violence and sex in many of these stories. The objection in this case? Little Red Riding Hood had some wine. ...I just... ...wow.
And, Those are just a few examples of the absurdity of book bannings. However silly a lot of it may seem, it's a serious matter. We're not living in some oppressive police state (however much it may feel like it sometimes), we're living in the United States. When much of the civilised world thinks of freedom, we come to mind. How can we keep that image alive if we all run and scream with pitchforks whilst lynching the ideas of people?
On Censorship
"It's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness." That's what Lenny Bruce said about censorship. What does that mean exactly? Allow me to be blunt: The reason "fuck" is such a powerful word is because we've suppressed it. It's taboo. This just in: it's a word. Words are... nothing. They're arrangements of letters (symbols) to express ideas. It's not that "fuck" is bad, because words can't be either bad or good. It's the ideas we've attached to the words as a society. Why do racial slurs turn heads, incite riots, and hurt so much? It's the hatred behind the words. The history of oppression. But, they too are just words. They've been given power, and will continue to be powerful for as long as they are taboo. And, much like words, suppressing books only makes them that much more popular. Tell a population not to do something, be sure that they will do it and they will be loud and proud about it. The biggest favour you can do a writer is to ban his or her work. You know the saying: "No such thing as bad publicity." As a writer, I can only dream of getting banned from some library... of making the ALA's list of frequently banned/challenged books.
I don't support racism, sexism, homophobia, or most other forms of discrimination. But, those ideas can't be supressed. Sure, I dream of the world where we all get along, the world where those ideas are just part of studies of inequality in history, the world where all people have chosen to be good to one another... but we have a long way to go.
On Sex
Many books have been banned due to sexual content - Catcher in the Rye, Ulysses, Candide, etc. What exactly is the problem? I've noticed one thing in regards to media - In the US, violence is prominent (and glorified) and sex is taboo; In Europe (and other places), violence isn't quite as graphic, sex is natural and common. You know, I think it's a bit silly to ban books or other forms of media based on sexual content. I mean, do we want our children to all be Eunuchs? Shouldn't we be trying to encourage future procreation? Sex is good. It's at the very base of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which means it's as much of a necessity to life as breathing, food, and sleep. But, what's the message that much of American media sends out? Sex is bad. In America, billboards get protested if they show too much cleavage. Hell, if there's a woman in her skivvies. Last year in France I came across public billboards depicting topless women. One I recall was for a skin cream and was very tasteful. About half of the world has breasts... why have they become so incredibly taboo in America? That's only fueling the objectification of women, yeah? But, still we're sexually repressed. That's cool, it worked out great for the Victorians, right?
A Few More Bannings
Other examples of book bannings (with commentary by yours truly):
-And Tango makes Three: A children's book (based on a true story) about two male penguins who raise a baby penguin. This book is seen as harmful to family values because of the implications of homosexual parents. I've known plenty of homosexual couples who would make better parents than most. And forget about teaching acceptance!
-The Joy of Sex - Sex is to remain a joyless and horrible necessity used only to further the human race. Never to be talked about. Right?
-It's Perfectly Normal - A book teaching children about puberty. We can't let children read about these things. Will we tell them ourselves? Doubtful. The book is banned and challenged due to pornography. So, how do our children learn about these things? That's not our problem, I guess. These days, I imagine many children in households like that learn from the internet. After all, the internet is for porn:
Well, enough of my diatribe on censorship in books (and beyond). Let's teach our children to think for themselves, to trust in our own parenting enough that they will make the right decisions or at least make informed decisions that might not entirely agree with our parenting. Let's not deny anyone the right to make decisions. In closing, I'd just like to say:
Fuck c*ns*rsh*p.