Time and time again art has been criticized for being too vulgar and expressive, Mark Twain was one of these individuals who participated in art, he was raised in the generation where slavery was common and racial slurs were frequently used. So to criticized and censor his work for writing what he grew up knowing would be like punishing Huck Finn for stealing things from others when he was told it was borrowing all his life by his pa “Pap always said it warn’t no harm to borrow things if you was meaning to pay them back some time; but the widow said it warn’t anything but a soft name for stealing, and no decent body would do it” (Chp. 12 Pg, 49). I strongly disagree with the fact that people want to ‘update and improve’ the classic “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” because it uses a term that is found offensive frequently in todays generation. My problem with this posse that wants to change the wording of the book is that, their biggest concern to why they want to change the word “nigger” to “slave” is that they’re doing for the children, trying to make it more comfortable for them to read and protecting the youth from frowned upon terms. If this is their concern then why are they singling out books and classics from decades ago, why not focus on the books being published now with the terms “whore” “slut” or “trailer trash” in it? To me those are equally offensive terms. John Foley once said that he thinks “To Kill a Mockingbird” Harper Lee’s classic about racial inequality in the Deep South, and John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”(Source A) should be removed from the curriculum for similar reasons” all because they show the reader the time gap between the setting of the writing and the present of today even though in the beginning of all books they tell you what time frame the story is held in “SCENE: The Mississippi Valley; TIME: Forty to Fifty Years Ago” (Page 0).…
A trashy and racist book wouldn't be allowed in classrooms. The novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, is receiving negative attention. The dominant problem that students, parents, teachers, and even professors, face , is the usage of the n-word. After reading this adventurous story, it is hard to find the problem that is upsetting many people. Therefore, this incredible novel should continue to be in the high school curriculum because it offers students a realistic historical background, it receives numerous positive reactions, and the meaning of the word nigger, (referred to as the n-word) is changing over time.…
Gallo, Don. “Teens Need Bold Books.” English Journal 97.3 (2008). Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 10 Nov. 2011.…
Every one hundred years dialects change and what is considered “politically correct”, or socially acceptable, changes. “David Bradley argues that ‘if we'd eradicated the problem of racism in our society, Huckleberry Finn would be the easiest book in the world to teach’” (Zwick, Jim. “Should Huckleberry Finn Be Banned?”). If we, as a nation, make it a point to rule out all books that could possibly offend students, then every hundred years or so our library of American Literature will be completely different. Even today, modern day authors use vulgar language, lurid sexual content, and racial slurs to get their point across. If The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is taken off of required reading lists across the country, then that could create a never-ending cycle of books being taken off of school shelves every time words and ideas become unacceptable. If this is the way that American society is turning then something must be done, and the Superintendents, Deans, and Principals of every High School around the country must take it upon themselves to do it because the students will not.…
Is it fair to deprive students from historical realities in a piece of classic literature, simply because some content is inappropriate? The question of whether or not the novel “Huck Finn,” by Mark Twain should be banned in schools strikes a lot of controversy. I believe the answer to this question is no, it should not be banned. One of the most controversial elements in this novel is Twain’s use of derogatory terms directed towards slaves. Some people feel that the use of the “N” word is offensive, and that students should not be exposed to this. However, Mark Twain’s word choice comes from terms used in a historical time period, and it should not be denied or forgotten. What is important, is that this time period is long over, thus, students should be able to keep this in mind and read “Huck Finn” for its moral purposes. Although some ideas involving race are considered controversial, I believe these can be easily look passed, due to the educational benefit of the novel. “Huck Finn,” By Mark Twain, should be continued to be taught in schools due to its important moral lessons, the way it teaches kids to form perspective, and its educational purpose of teaching kids about a historical time period that they can learn and progress from. It should be taught in schools to be used as a classic piece of literature that students can truly learn from.…
Have you ever read something in a book or an article and found yourself wondering about how much that could affect readers? For some reason, whether due to a personal disagreement with the message, or academic dissatisfaction with content, or something else entirely, you ask yourself ‘How is this allowed to exist, to be circulated and available for our posterity?’ In some form, that sentiment, and the censorship of information which results from it, have both been around for as long as information itself has existed. Whether it be the Church’s rejection of the spread of heresy, or the Third Reich’s manipulation of propaganda, information has always been controlled and taken advantage of. And yet, it may still surprise some to find that information…
Many people read and enjoy R.L. Stine books such as the goosebumps series and the fear street series. Even though many people love to read R.L. Stine books some of his books are still banned. Many parents have agreed that these books are not appropriate for children of certain age levels. When it comes down to it, it is the parents’ choice on what their child reads, but that doesn’t mean the book should be banned so that no child can read it without going to a place where the book isn’t banned. This is why I think banning these books is bad.…
Second-wave feminism. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. The base of evolutionary biology. All of these major changes in the world were products of books. People that read these influential pieces of literature went on to change the world and make history. Often, banned books lead the standings of contributors, as many of them become world renowned names such as To Kill A Mockingbird. Without these books, this world simply would not stand where it does today. People ban books because of the explicit content they hold and the negative impact they leave the reader with. Books should not be banned as they trail-blaze the path towards changing the world.…
It seems we are fast losing our freedoms as American citizens. Personal phone lines are tapped, religious freedoms are no longer allowed to be exercised in public schools, and never before has there been such a threat to America's very existence. Our manufacturing jobs have been leaving the country at a steady rate since the 1980's, health care is nearly impossible to afford, employers offer fewer benefits, social Security has been run into the ground, and our nation is in massive debt for trillions of dollars. And since books were hand written, our literature has been censored. In this modern era many would not think banning books, a hindrance on one’s freedom of choice, would be the situation, especially a great American novel such as The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This book is a classic, depicting the American dream of the self made man, and it should not have been banned.…
Table of Contents Censorship in American Public Schools; Two Examples: The Catcher in the Rye and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I. II. Purpose Introduction a. A Brief History of Censorship b. First occurrence of censorship in America III. Censors a. Teachers as Censors b. Parents as Censors c. Librarians as Censors d. Effects of Censorship on Students IV. Censorship a. Reasons Books are Censored b. First Amendment and Free Speech V. VI. Censoring Two Classics Censorship of The Catcher in the Rye a. Language b. Sexuality c. Reasons to Teach VII. Censorship of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a. Language 1 1 2 3 3 5 7 8 9 12 13 13 15 17 18 20 22 23 25…
Books all over America are in danger. Books, objects that allow imagination and the expansion of the mind and the world around one, are often times subject to criticism and even bannings when any one person does not like the content. Books bannings should not be done whatsoever, let alone become a semi-common practice. Of course, bannings only occur after careful consideration. Or do they? Censorship is a growing problem in America, as parents and other authority figures ban various types of books in their community when content is too “edgy” or “age inappropriate”, and these are often gone through without the book so much as being opened. However, in all reality, what might be “wrong” for one child may be just right for another. Are book…
The Catcher in the Rye. The Scarlet Letter. Huckleberry Finn. Harry Potter. The Diary of Anne Frank. Animal Farm. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Da Vinci Code. The Grapes of Wrath. These literary classics have been vital to the education of many, especially children and adolescents (Banned Books). These great novels both teach important values and educate children about world affairs and classic themes. Unfortunately, each of these novels has been banned at one point in time. In a country where freedom is so adamantly advocated, it is a wonder that an issue like censorship would even come up, that such a controversy would sink its claws into the minds of states’ boards of education across the nation. Censorship is a needless restriction placed on developing minds that need the morals and values that banned books can give.…
Book banning is a current issue in the United States. Many books have been removed from libraries due to “inappropriate content”. Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger has been banned due to profanity, sexual references, and racism.…
Books have a numerous amount of ways to get banned. Book banning can cause the books not to be presented in certain places. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, was banned and challenged due to inappropriate language, rape, sexually explicit, racism, and not appropriate for certain age groups.…
Throughout the years, books from classics to young adult novels have been banned.. Books are an essential part of education. They have always been there to teach children, but all over the country, books are being prohibited. Certain books are not only banned in schools but they are also banned in libraries, and bookstores, limiting public access to specific pieces of literature. These books are banned for because they include profanity, or sometimes having different opinions than the majority of the population. However, Books should not be banned in schools because banning certain books prevents freedom of speech, keeps readers away from reality, and limits learning tools.…