Censorship the act of changing or suppressing speech, writing, art, or music that is considered unacceptable to the common good; the elimination of obscene or offensive language or images from media; the elimination of a complete work based on its unfavorable content.

Is censorship ever appropriate or inappropriate? Why?

Banned/Censored Books Some censored books that may surprise you are listed below. Some were mildly censored while others were completely banned. Why do you think these books would have been censored at all? Do you agree?

Banned for “disrespect” (Max throws a tantrum) and for “cruel and unusual punishment” (Max is sent to bed without dinner).

Banned in various schools Banned in various schools. The Merriam Webster was banned in a California elementary school in January 2010 for its definition of oral sex. "It's just not age appropriate," a district representative said.

This beloved children's book was banned in January 2010 by the Texas Board of Education because the author has the same name as an obscure Marxist theorist, and no one bothered to check if they were actually the same person.

Anne Frank's diary has been banned on multiple occasions Anne Frank's diary has been banned on multiple occasions. The most recent was in January 2010 when the book was pulled from a Virginia school for "sexually explicit" and "homosexual" themes.

The book was challenged in 1990 in the Howard County (Md The book was challenged in 1990 in the Howard County (Md.) School System because it depicts "graphic violence, mysticism and gore."

In 1999, the book was banned from an elementary School in Lufkin Texas because it contains the word "ass." The book was also banned for violence and crude content.

In 1989, the book challenged in the Laytonville (Calif In 1989, the book challenged in the Laytonville (Calif.) Unified School District because it "criminalizes the foresting industry."

Can you think of any other books, movies, images, or songs that have been banned or censored? Harry Potter Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland The Canterbury Tales The Da Vinci Code the Bible Various works by Picasso and Da Vinci Advertisements

Top Banned Books for 2013 Out of 307 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James Reasons: Nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit Looking for Alaska, by John Green Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya Reasons: Occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit Bone (series), by Jeff Smith Reasons: Political viewpoint, racism, violence

Top Banned Books for 2014   The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence., “depictions of bullying” 2)      Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions” 3)      And Tango Makes Three, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “promotes the homosexual agenda” 4)      The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, “contains controversial issues” 5)      It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris Reasons: Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges it child pornography” 6)      Saga, by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples Reasons: Anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age 7)      The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence 8)      The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “date rape and masturbation” 9)      A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group 10)  Drama, by Raina Telgemeier Reasons: sexually explicit

Top Banned Books for 2015 Looking for Alaska, by John Green Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other (“poorly written,” “concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it”). I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Reasons: Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin Reasons: Anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints”). The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon Reasons: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“profanity and atheism”). The Holy Bible Reasons: Religious viewpoint. Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel Reasons: Violence and other (“graphic images”). Habibi, by Craig Thompson Reasons: Nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence. Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan Reasons: Homosexuality and other (“condones public displays of affection”).

Top Banned Books 2000-2009 1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling 2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier 4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell 5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck 6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou 7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz 8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman 9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle 10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky 11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers 12. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris 13. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey 14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain 15. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison 16. Forever, by Judy Blume 17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker 18. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous 19. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger 20. King and King, by Linda de Haan 21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee 22. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar 23. The Giver, by Lois Lowry 24. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak 25. Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan

Censorship Handout: You may work in groups of up to three or you may work individually. Each student needs to turn in a paper regardless. Read the scenarios on your paper. Ask yourself if these scenarios should be censored or banned. Identify each as a) inappropriate for children, b) inappropriate for teenagers, c) inappropriate for everybody, d) can be shown to everybody, or e) inappropriate or appropriate only for certain groups (i.e. boys, girls, conservatives, liberals, religious organizations, etc.) Next, briefly explain your decision. You must be able to support your opinion. If you decide that the scenario is inappropriate or appropriate only for certain groups you must also identify the group. Also, if you choose that the scenario must be censored or banned, identify whether it should be censored or banned.

Example- Torture Scene in Movie Censored. I believe that a torture scene in a movie is inappropriate for children and young teenagers (below age 17) because, depending on the severity of the scene, the contents may be too harsh and disturbing for an adolescent to process emotionally.

Example- Topless Woman Censored. I believe that a topless woman could be inappropriate for certain groups depending on the context. For example, a breast cancer awareness brochure is appropriate for certain groups like adults and women because it is applicable to their overall health.