It’s Thursday already, and though its time to write this blog again, I can’t believe that this week has nearly slipped by and only now did I realize that it was BANNED BOOK WEEK.
This week unfortunately slips under the radar most years. It hardly gets any mention on the news programs, unless they need filler for the last minute of the program and there’s no cat stuck up a tree.
Back when I was in college (all those years ago), the campus library had a window display each year to show the books that some people didn’t want them to have available to the students. I was pleased to see the Library was supporting the week.
Check out the American Library Association’s website for lists of books that have been banned this year.
One year, when BBW came around and working on the college newspaper, I got the opportunity to write an Opinion piece for the Op-Ed page. I wrote it about Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and did an illustration to go with it.
Am certain I don’t need to remind any of you the story is about a not so distant future where a Fireman’s job is to burn, to burn books, to burn thought. Anything that might offend or up set someone, not just the state, or someone’s religion, or race, or corporate employer. Why have something that could cause conflict between two people. Get rid of it all, burn it.
Sounds frighteningly familiar to something that nearly happened recently, doesn’t it?
As a Christian I am horrified that anyone would think of doing such a thing was the Will of God, or want to do it for any other reason.
No need to run that in to a rant, everyone has his or her own opinion, just don’t let it be forgotten.
Here are a few books that are on this year’s list that one or more people found offensive:
Anne Frank, the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
The Cartoonns That Shook the World by Jytte Klausen
ttyl by Lauren Myracle
Twilight by Stephenie H. Meyer
Dragon Ball: The Monkey King by Akira Toriyama
The rest of the list can be found at the link above. It is, unfortunately, much longer than this.
Here’s another list to check out: Because my first creative passion is comic books, check out this link on Huffington Post of the Top Ten Graphic Novels that have ended up on the Banned Book list.
There are a lot of books I don’t like, a lot of TV shows, a lot of Movies. Some I’ve seen and read, others I have chosen not to. I may not like them, but the writer deserves to have his creation exist and to be read. Heck, he deserves to have it liked or disliked, because that’s what makes it alive. People reading it, and discussing it.
Oh, and to my brother and sister fundamentalist Christians; the book that we believe to be the greatest book in the world… The Holy Bible. It ends up the BANNED BOOK list each year as well.
I don’t intent to make this blog political, and I don’t think censorship is political. It simply prevents us to speak, to write, to read, to learn.
If you’ve found my blog, you’re probably a writer, artist, or someone in related entertainment industry, or plan to be. We all don’t want our work blocked, but even if people don’t like it I remind you to make it the best art and story you can make.
Thank you for reading.
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
Four Names of Professional Creativity
2 comments:
Would love to read more about your Fundamentalist religious views and how they impact your writing and life.
Great post Kevin! Those links are awesome, too!
I love that paragraph where you said, "...I may not like them, but the writer deserves to have his creation exist and to be read. Heck, he deserves to have it liked or disliked, because that's what makes it alive. People reading it and discussing it."
So true. Banned books have always baffled me. It all comes down to fear and control. I say, if you don't like it, don't look at it, read it, or watch it. Simple. And you can never control what people are going to think, so why bother? Anyways, banning something just makes it more desirable, doesn't it? And people will go to great lengths to obtain the taboo. Remember Prohibition?
Want to know what book was banned in my house when I was a kid? Anything written by Judy Blume. And let me tell you, most of what I learned about being a girl is thanks to Judy Blume! :D
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