Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Censorship

Book BanningA banning is the

actual removal of materials from school curriculum library, community or even nation--thereby restricting the access of others.

Book ChallengingA challenge is an

attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.

“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.”

The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights

Who Challenges Books?Throughout history,

many people for a variety of reasons, attempted—and continue to attempt—to suppress literature and other forms of expression that conflict with their own beliefs.

Book Burning

Book Burning

Harry Potter Book Burning in New Mexico

Nazi Book Burning

The Mechanical Hound in F451

Symbolizes oppression from the totalitarian state– similar to Hitler– able to track down anyone with books.

Important Statements“The ultimate expression of free speech lies not in

the ideas with which we agree, but in those ideas that offend and irritate us.” - Chuck Stone

“The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.”- Oscar Wilde

“Books and ideas are the most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance.” - Lyndon B. Johnson

“Fear of corrupting the mind of the younger generation is the loftiest form of cowardice.” - Holbrook Jackson

“I don’t like books, don’t read books, and don’t care if books are challenged. So who cares?”

Answer: If first books are challenged and successfully banned, it won’t be long before the government controls all music, ideas, and other forms of media produced.

People’s opinions or ideas will no longer matter.

Our democracy will end.We will no longer be able to think or act for

ourselves.

Who Cares?

In a moment, you will have the opportunity to decide why you believe the following fairly recent books have been challenged or even banned.

Do not say anything to the class until after the activity, even if you have read the following books.

Activity

R. Promotes wizardry, the occult, and witchcraft

L. language, racial themes

Q. nudity (bare breast)

P. obscene words

M. offensive to Native Americans

D. sexually explicit, occult themes, violence, suicide

S. violence, language, disobedience to adults

K. Unfair portrayal of those in logging industry

T. too critical of the U.S.S.R. and of communist leaders

O. Drugs

H. Satanic In 2001, The Lord of

the Rings was burned in New Mexico because some churches considered it “satanic”.

G. sexually offensive; too depressing

J. Profanity; smoking and drinking; anti-religious

B. undermines parental, school, and religious authority; sexual references

A. Animals acting on the same level as humans

Banned in China in 1931.

Governor of Hunan Province said that "animals should not use human language" and that it was "disastrous to put animals and human beings on the same level."

E. sexuality; religious conflict

N. Unsuited to age group; encourages children to disobey authority

I. Excessive violence

C. misuse of alcohol

In 1989 some California schools banned Grimm’s Fairy Tales because Little Red Riding Hood’s basket for her grandmother contained red wine.

F. Challenges religious beliefs; references to witches and crystal balls

U. Multiple uses of the “n” word.

In 2011, a publishing company replaced the 219 uses of the “n” word with the word “slave.”

V. obscene language, sexuality, and interaction with a prostitute

Top 10 Banned Books of 2010 on next slide

1. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series) by Lauren Myracle Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs 2. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin

Richardson Reasons: Homosexuality 3. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen

Chbosky Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family,

Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age

Group

Top 10 Challenged Books of 2010

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie MeyerReasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious

Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group6. The Catcher in the Rye by JD SalingerReasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive

Language, Unsuited to Age Group7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi PicoultReasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually

Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence

Top 10 Challenged Books of 2010

8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

9. The Color Purple by Alice WalkerReasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive

Language, Unsuited to Age Group10. The Chocolate War by Robert CormierReasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive

Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Top 10 Challenged Books of 2010