arts/entertainment PAGE 6 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT COLUMN
Banned books spark controversy BY MADELINE MARTIN Staff Writter
Banned Books Week is a national event celebrating the freedom to read without censorship. This year it took place from Sep. 27-Oct. 3. Sponsored by the American Library Association, or ALA, many school libraries across the nation participate in Banned Books Week by hosting events or discussions. This week highlights historical and current attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. Banned Books Week draws national attention to the dangers of censorship in literature and supports the freedom to explore different ideas. Banned Books Week began in the 1980s after a series of attempts by schools to ban books in their libraries. This culminated in Island Trees School District v. Pico, a 1982 Supreme Court case which ruled that school officials cannot ban books based on their content. This case led to exhibits and conversations over banned books, and the American Booksellers Association invited ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Director Judith Krug to join a new initiative called “Banned Books Week.” It was a success, and Krug spearheaded the event until her death in 2009. According to Professor Jennifer Pittman, Director of the Speer Writing Center, writing program administrator and language & literature lecturer, Ouachita began celebrating this event about three years ago with an outdoor reading. “We had volunteers that would read from banned books,” Pittman said. “This included readings from the Bible, which has been banned.” Ouachita’s library and writing program usually team up to host events. However, the pandemic
kept the timing from working out to do something more specific this year. The Banned Book List is comprised of books that have been challenged or banned frequently throughout history. This includes books that still face scrutiny today. Many books find themselves at risk of being banned due to their content. Common reasons for banning books include: racism, sexual situations, violence, witchcraft, encouragement of “damaging” lifestyles and political bias. The list includes many well-known books: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Catcher in the Rye,” “The Great Gatsby,” “The Kite Runner,” “Of Mice and Men” and the Harry Potter series. Typically, a book gains an unfavorable label due to misjudgment or misunderstanding about its themes and message. This leads to opposition of the material being taught in a classroom. A book can be challenged or banned and still end up in libraries. Just because one school bans a book, it does not mean that book is now banned everywhere. As an avid reader and lover of literature, I was surprised to see that several of the books I have read are on the Banned Books List. As I write this, I am looking at a banned book sitting on my desk— “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey. Based on the harsh realities of mental asylums of the 1960s, Kesey questions the truth of insanity in his novel. The book faced bans in the 1970s for supposedly glorifying criminal activity and violence. In my opinion, a book being banned or challenged means that there is something in it that you need to know about. This novel and others on the list
force readers to see the darker sides of society. The purpose of these books is to bring attention to the “controversial” ideas they cover. Books about racism, politics, war and other sensitive topics serve as tools for education. Banning them from being read in schools contradicts their purpose. Literature serves as a source of entertainment and education, and it is the key to expanding our worldviews. It is important to learn about ideas that differ from our own. By censoring what students can and cannot read, schools narrow the worldview of students and limit the spread of important ideas. Pittman agrees that avoiding literature with problematic or disturbing subject matter gives people tunnel vision. “Just because we don’t agree with something doesn’t mean we can’t engage with it,” Pittman said. “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury frequently faces bans. The novel features a dystopian society in which books are banned. In the story, firemen are sent to burn any books that are found. The book explores the curse of knowledge, showing a world where most people live in ignorant bliss. The characters in the novel discuss how books are feared and despised because “they show the pores in the face of life” while people would rather be comfortable with “poreless” faces. This is true of our society. People fear ideas that differ from their own, and the truth and power of books make people uncomfortable. They would rather be comfortable and blind than face reality. “You’re learning about humanity when you’re reading fiction,” Pittman said. “It’s inconceivable that someone would want to limit that or to censor that.”
Revisiting ‘42: The Jackie Robinson Story’ in 2020 BY WYATT ASHLOCK Staff Writer
In the aftermath of World War II, soldiers of color who had fought fascism overseas found themselves fighting against racism in their own country. Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, decided not to stand for racism anymore. Rickey signed the first African American baseball player to a Major League Baseball team. Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) donned the number 42 and forever changed the world of baseball—one home run at a time. “42” tells a vivid story that brings the audience into 1946 and shows the world through a Black man’s eyes. The racism Jackie endured from the spectators, the referees, the opposing teams and even his own team tugs on the audience’s heartstrings. The film’s writers worked closely with Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow, to tell a story that shows everything that Jackie went through. Rachel had final approval on the script and worked closely with Boseman on his performance to ensure that the story on screen accurately portrayed Jackie’s life. However, there is one scene that Rachel said never happened. Boseman defended the scene, though. “At some point he [Jackie] had to break,” Boseman said, “and the fact that Rachel Robinson didn’t fight us to take [the scene] out [of the film], to me proves that it is true.” Boseman’s performance as Jackie Robinson is powerful. His range of emotion and expression allows the audience to instantly connect with the character. Boseman and Ford’s chemistry is undeniable. Ford shows how dedicated Rickey
was to bringing everyone together for America’s favorite pastime. Rickey constantly battles Ben Chapman (Alex Tudyk), who is portrayed as the most bigoted man in baseball. Tudyk’s performance makes the audience’s skin crawl, and it shows the harsh reality of how the league used to be. But it also shows how baseball changed because of Jackie. “42” highlights the fact that many people put a target on Jackie’s back. They tried to get him to make just one mistake, something that would give them an excuse to end his career. However, many people were on Jackie’s side and fought with him to show that everyone should be able to play baseball. Writer and director Brian Helgeland brought his A-game in developing this film. The cinematography and score are exemplary, and both work to bring emotion to the screen. These elements allow the story to flow seamlessly, but without distracting from the narrative. This film is spectacular. It’s a masterpiece that brings a new light to Jackie’s story and puts it on the big screen for everyone to see. “42” was Boseman’s first starring role— which is shocking because of how amazing his performance is. Throughout the film Helgeland stayed true to the fact that both Jackie and Rickey were Christians, and he even showed how faith influenced both characters throughout the story. “42” is one of the best sports movies that has been made to date, and it does a good job of showing Jackie’s personal life and his career. I highly recommend this film to anyone ages 13 and up (due to harsh language). Because of the historical accuracy, amazing acting and overall excellence, I give this film five out of five tiger paws.
