Lavallee 1 Kaitlyn Lavallee Turcotte Sociology 27December 2011 Censorship Between books, movies, television, and the internet,

every nation has dealt with censorship at one point or another. Censorship is described as restrictions decided by the government or public, on material that is considered offensive or harmful to the general people of a nation. Regarding censorship of books, there is a wide range of reasons for the bans, and punishments, if such bands are broken. Frankly, censorship causes many more problems than it solves, and the on-going problem could be easily solved. Books hold an undeniably vital place currently, and historically, but thousands of books have restricted access, and thousands more have been challenged. When banning books, offensive language, sexual contents, violence, and abuse of drugs, are taken into account (Zoeller). This raises a whole new debate, considering people have different morals and standards. What one person takes seriously and distasteful, another finds entertaining. When talking about censorship of books, there is a variation in every culture. In some cultures, like China, it can mean the complete confiscation and destruction of a certain book, but in other cultures, like America, it relates to books that have been banned or challenged (Goldberg). Banned books are those that have been eradicated from shelves of libraries or reading lists due to complaints from a

Lavallee 2 member of the public. Challenged books include the books that have been complained about, but not actually removed. Another factor that can differentiate the censorship in various nations is the punishment against those who are found in possession of censored books. In some past and extreme cases, a book considered extremely offensive would be burned, and anyone in possession of a copy would have faced charges of treason as well as death or prison time (Harman). Situations such as this are even rarer in the present-day. In the most severe conditions, and in an austere society, it is possible for similar treatment, but confiscation of the banned book would be more probable. In a majority of societies, like the United States, its completely legal to read a banned book; its just harder to get. No book is completely banned in the U.S., considering any citizen can buy any book in a bookstore or over the internet (Goldberg). The fact that a book is restricted in any way is what concerns many people. Censorship has been extremely present in nearly every society at one point or another in history. Although not very publicized, every state in the United States receives challenges, every year (Philadelphia Inquirer). The reasoning for these challenges range from matters of race and religion to violence and sex. Statistically, the average amount of bans and challenges throughout a year in the United States is between four-hundred and five-hundred (Goldberg). Although this may appear to be a small number, the number of censored books builds up after a few years. It has also been estimated that seventy to eighty percent of challenges are never reported (Peterson). This is due to the compromise of

Lavallee 3 librarian and teachers jobs, as well as errs in an administrator not taking a challenge of a book in a serious manner. Of course this number isnt even including all of the books which are banned and challenged worldwide. Censorship affects everybody in one way or another with the limitation of availability of books, and is an important issue. Although some claim censorship is not a problem at all, many debate this, claiming its a vital issue. Conservatives argue that its the governments job to put up restrictions to guard the public from material deemed offensive (Zoeller). The problem with this is that its impossible to dictate what is offensive and what is not. Morals change with time and different people have different thoughts. Ethics are a grey area when dealing with different ages, genders, and races, because there will always be an array of opinions. There can never be one designated mindset or set of beliefs to cover an entire population, so it would be impossible to build one set of rules over what books are insulting and what ones arent. For instance, there have been books censored in the United States, merely because they involved homosexuality. Some people find the discussion of sexual orientation as offensive, but to others, its a lifestyle that shouldnt cause a book to be banned. Similarly would be that the Bible is banned in many Muslim countries (Introduction to Book Banning). Many would see these books as important and valuable, while others see them as hurtful and seek to get them banned. On the other side, is those that believe that any restrictions made is a violation of free speech. Many fear that censorship stems from political

Lavallee 4 oppression and the push for societal conformism (Wall). This is historically very true. Many governments have forbid documents and books to the general public for political gain. For instance, Thailands first book of laws was not available for the general public for fear of disturbing the peace (Harman). Matters like this are also present today, but in the United States, the censorship of books is placed less on the government and religious groups, and more on general citizens. Thus, depending on which nation one is referring to, the amount of oppression by the government can be limited. The statement regarding the pressures to conform to society is much more plausible. It is expected of authors to not push the boundaries too much, and please as many people as one can. This presents challenges though when considering the variation of opinions across generations. For instance, classical books, like To Kill a Mockingbird, were banned because they had qualities in them that were considered offensive. Those books that were once questions are now celebrated and are held in high regard. If one were to conform to the ideas of this period, it may not transfer well into future minds, and will be lost in time. Both sides regarding censorship (those for and against it), include individuals that think in extreme reasoning, but there can be some truth in the radical. To not have any restrictions on books has been argued to be a cause for chaos in society (Zoeller). If exposed to books with a large amount of violence and drug abuse, could this cause people to become violent drug addicts? The idea may seem far-fetched, but its the major component in the argument for censorship. On the opposite end, free-speech advocates push the idea that

Lavallee 5 books are merely expressions and reflections on society, and to limit the ideas is just an attempt to ignore reality (Harman). In addition, individuals read books by their own will so the ideas within the books are not forced unwillingly on readers. For instance, the popular book The Diary of Anne Frank was banned, and its availability to the public was limited to an extent. The book is a primary source on a girls experience in the Holocaust, and when it was censored, it was thought to be an attempt to ignore the tragedy of the time. This concept can also be perceived as an extreme example, but its once again, a widely debated issue. A majority of people are in the middle of the two extremes, claiming that there should be government restrictions, but only to the blatantly offensive works (Introduction to Book Banning). This means that highly debatable topics, such as religious works (like the Bible), wouldnt be banned but those with extreme racism or excessive sexual content could be put under question. Censorship also causes problems for those involved in the literary industry. Writers feel pressure to conform their writing into non-offensive works that will cause minimal debate ("Book Destruction..). Books are works of art, and if authors fear the reactions to their own ideas and thoughts, the world is being limited. Writing is a major form of expression, and when authors are constantly being over-analyzed and censored, the true expression is lost. Those who write attempt to portray a message, and many messages involve controversial content. If authors fear to add in this content, their message and ideas can be lost, and thus, the world can miss out on a book that could have changed the viewpoints and thought-process of all who would have read it. The

Lavallee 6 excessive examination of literature has grown into a fear in writers to not offend readers, and face the consequences of censorship, as well as to not have their overall message received. Its impossible to pinpoint how many authors have taken out content in anxiety that it wouldnt be well-received, but it certainly has happened. Censorship has arguably robbed many authors of their creativity and effectiveness in their writing. Authors are not the only ones that experience the effects of censorship. Publishers are forced to take into account the possibility of censorship and how much of a book could be considered offensive, even to the most conservative mind (Goldberg). If everybody is scared of a reaction, its harder to create a book thats as good of quality as it could possibly be. Librarians and teachers are put in a difficult position as well. Although they attempt to enrich the minds of other readers, they are forced to take in account of complaints and ethics. Of course there are complaints everywhere about content and intent of books, but the administrators of the books need to deal with the validity of the criticisms, which is a difficult position to be in. Parents also are looked down upon by some if they attempt to challenge books in school systems or libraries. While there are plenty of people that dont believe in the process of banning books, it can be relatively unfair to be angry at the ones that initiate the system. The citizens involved are clearly concerned in one way or another about what children are exposed to. Its also not rational to believe that every request of the removal will be revered. If every book that was ever complained about was removed from every shelf, there would be no books left.

Lavallee 7 In the attempt to raise awareness and promote change against censorship, there have been several organizations, programs, and events coordinated. In particular, the annual Banned Book Week, organized by the American Civil Liberties Union, endeavors to bring attention to the matter (Gajewski). The United States event attempts to celebrate the freedom of expression as well as the freedom to read all material. Although the program is clearly supporting the absence of book banning, it doesnt condemn those in favor of book censorship. As a yearly event, libraries, book stores, and schools honor books that have been banned, through readings, assignments, and discussion. Its not uncommon to see posters and signs designating when Banned Books Week comes around each year. Many organizations contribute to this effort, such as the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Library Association, which have grown in the last few years, and have further expanded the efforts against censorship (Peterson). These programs and events has been important in the movement against censorship, because they aide in the spreading of knowledge on banned books, and they help in increasing efforts to end it. Across the world, there have been protests that have not proven so effective. Some international groups have attempted to strike against all books and burn books to show their discontent with the bans (Philadelphia Inquirer). This may seem incredibly counter-productive, and it was. The governments of such nations changed no policies in reaction to the efforts, and less people were able to enjoy the books caught in the cross-fire. Although, there were plenty of

Lavallee 8 successful organizations similar to the United States, that may not have drastically helped end censorship, but the word was spread, and efforts were expanded. The issues involved with the censorship of books have been sufficiently expanded across nations in the recent years, but not much has been done to end it. Now that there is an adequate amount of supporters in the efforts to limit censorship, action and policies need to be established and utilized. Consistent contact of political figures, with the push to end censorship could assist in the establishment of more government policies of prevention. With the case that the First Amendment is breeched in the act of censorship, there could potentially be a complete end to the practice. There needs to be less debating and more action taken by those against censorship. The limitation of a book not only effects one person or family, but an entire community. Decisions on what books should be read is a personal decision, not one made by an individual for others. Censorship is unnecessary, especially in a democratic nation like the United States, and its a wonder that so many books are being banned every year.

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Works Cited "Book Destruction Controls Ideology." Book Banning. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. Gajewski, Karen Ann. "Banned Books Week. (Worth Noting)." The Humanist Nov.-Dec. 2002: 45. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. Goldberg, Jonah. "Banned Books Week: What a bunch of hype." USA Today6 Sept. 2011: 11A. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. Harman, Teri. "Book Matters: How many banned books have you read?."Utah News. KSL, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 26 Dec. 2011 "Introduction to Book Banning: At Issue." Book Banning. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. Peterson, Chris. "Mapping Censorship." Banned Books Week. National Coalition Against Censorship , 2011. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia, PA] 29 Sept. 2008. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. Wall, Alan. "Safe for the kiddies." Spectator 8 Sept. 2007: 47+.Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011.

Lavallee 10 Zoeller, Lindsay B. "music censorship." In Schultz, David. Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 27 Dec. 2011.