Combating Censorship Through Literature and Artistry
- Oct 24, 2025
- 5 min read
Literature is one of the most powerful art forms that the world has known: from ancient texts and documents, to narratives that tell the story of a minority’s struggle. Our interpretation of literature varies from person to person, and multiple viewpoints essentially allow others to create opinions that they can be vocal about. Our understanding of a book is how we connect, communicate, and share ideas. These ideas are fundamental for human connection and understanding of one another. Now, what if particular genres of literature were banned solely because authoritative figures were not pleased with the content? How will people connect through literature then?
Censorship dates back to 443 B.C.E. It has become frequent in not just literature, but in various forms of modern-day media. An infamous example would be the Nazi book burnings that took place in Germany in 1933. According to PBS News, they affirm that,
"…university students in 34 university towns across Germany burned over 25,000 books. The works of Jewish authors like Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud went up in flames alongside blacklisted American authors such as Ernest Hemingway and Helen Keller, while students gave the Nazi salute."
This is just one of many examples of censorship in literature. There has also been a recognizable pattern in the kinds of books that are being censored, challenged, and/or banned, particularly in minority voices. Genres/themes such as LGBTQ+, race/racism, sexually explicit themes, violence, suicide, drugs/alcohol, etc. are some major examples that are actively being challenged or banned. All of these genres feature non-fiction stories that are based on real-life experiences, and there is nothing like reading a book that holds a special connection to someone because of their relation to it. However, conflict arises when representational books are banned. Silencing marginalized groups or censoring “controversial” topics can result in government pressure, protests, and political movements. Censorship causes negative impact amongst individuals, which could further lead to more conflict on a nationwide scale. Conservative states in the U.S. are more susceptible to book bans because the majority population hold traditionalist values. Out of all 50 states, Tennessee is third on the list of states with the most banned books as of 2024 and 2025. PEN America collected data from this year and last year’s numbers of banned books. Here are their findings:
In the 2024-2025 school year, PEN America recorded 6,870 instances of book bans affecting nearly 4,000 unique titles. For the third straight year, Florida was the No. 1 state for book bans, with 2,304 instances of bans, followed by Texas with 1,781 bans and Tennessee with 1,622.
Consequently, it is essential to hear the voices that were (and still are) actively being oppressed by higher authorities.
Parents who do not have a diverse way of thinking and advocate for the banning of books can make it tricky for school libraries as well. In some cases, restrictions can absolutely be necessary, such as children easily accessing books that are solely for mature audiences. In other cases, it can be a grey area depending on the parent who is the spokesperson for their child. Monitorization is not necessarily an issue, but it can become one when children do not understand the diverse world they live in, or the dangers in the world that they could potentially face when their parental figure disagrees or is unsupportive of a book’s theme(s). Ultimately, an author should not be undermined or silenced because a person disagrees with what is being said in their book.
Despite all the discourse in banning books, there is an effective way to honor the many books that have been challenged and/or banned in the U.S. Banned book week is an annual week dedicated to honoring and recognizing the many books that were challenged, censored, or banned from libraries across the country. Banned book week started in 1982 in response to the number of books that were challenged that year. Since then, banned book week has become an annual event. The American Library Association (ALA) has announced that this year’s theme is “Censorship is So 1984. Read For Your Rights.” Banned book week this year was on October 5th through the 11th.
Michaela Schnetzer, a Visual Arts teacher at Nashville School of the Arts (NSA), began a project with her advanced sculpture class regarding the topic of censorship. The project started in August and lasted several weeks. This project was in collaboration with the Unbannable Library: a team of artists and writers in Nashville, TN that creates large-scale books to combat the current issues regarding censorship in literature. Paul Collins, an artist and painting professor at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, founded the Unbannable Library. Collins creates comically large books that visually show the importance of censorship. He expresses, “I’m very proud of these book forms. I’ve been refining the book forms for low cost, ease of use and light weight for the last decade.” He uses stryrofoam, canvas, bamboo fencing, thread and acrylic house paint to create these books.
Schnetzer’s advanced sculpture class were given a large-scale book and used a variety of materials such as paint, collaging paper, yarn, rhinestones, and more onto their book pages. Additionally, a few students from another sculpture class worked on a smaller book as well. Schnetzer expresses, “We made 2 books - one explored censorship, and the other explored themes of communication and connection.” The class had to consider the following questions:
Why would a government, system, or authority want to ban books?
What content is most often censored? Whose voices are most often silenced?
What books are banned in TN and why?
Does censorship work?
From there, the students began to sketch out their ideas and did some research regarding banned books, and how censorship affects one’s day-to-day life. The large-scale book was on display at NSA’s library but was also displayed at the Southern Festival of Books from October 18th to 19th. This collaboration was a great way to see various perspectives from visual artists in the school. Schnetzer says, “This was an engaging and challenging project for our students. Working together, especially in a creative group where everyone has a strong opinion, forces students to be flexible, compromise, and possibly leave their comfort zone. Their finished products are a complete manifestation of their voices, and I am so proud!”
In the end, an artist’s voice will always matter. Words and imagery can derive from experiences. Without experiences, stories cannot be told or passed down. An individual having the bravery and courage to share an experience that will change the trajectory of their life is always worth hearing if that means that others can learn from it. Censorship can come in many different forms, and it is still up for debate on whether it can be justifiable or not. Ultimately, art is a form of self-expression and individualism. When that is taken away, it hinders the exploration of new ideas, the freedom to write or create, and experiences of artists and authors.
Works Cited
American Experience. “Book Burnings in Germany, 1933.” Pbs.org, American Experience, Apr. 2019, www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goebbels-burnings/?scrlybrkr. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
American Library Association. “Banned Books Week | Banned Books.” Www.ala.org, 11 Dec. 2012, www.ala.org/bbooks/banned.
Anastaplo, George. “Censorship.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/censorship.
Tolin, Lisa. “Banned Books List 2025.” PEN America, 4 Feb. 2025, pen.org/banned-books- list-2025/.
