The definition of “pornography” is “printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.” That is quite literally what some of these so-called “banned books” are. They are pornography. And no, they’re not “banned” because you can easily obtain them from any number of places like Amazon, any major book retailer, and even public libraries, and not a single thing or person is stopping you from doing so. They are simply not being shelved in some places where they are deemed inappropriate, like elementary and middle school classrooms and libraries. If you’re wondering why they might be deemed inappropriate for certain spaces, listen to Senator Kennedy read explicit pornographic excerpts from just two of these controversial books.
This whole issue is a prime example of how narrative really is the most important aspect of almost any current issue. Using the word “banned books” evokes particular feelings that make people want to oppose the side supposedly doing the “banning.” And rightly so. But it doesn’t matter that these books aren’t really banned. All that matters is that people think or feel like they are “banned.”
On top of that, the crafters of the narratives have to consider how people feel about the books themselves. Most people won’t have read the books in question, and therefore will be relying on descriptions of them to determine how they feel about them, even if only subconsciously. So when conservatives correctly call them “pornography,” most reasonable people will be inclined to agree that graphic, explicit pornography is probably not appropriate for certain spaces, including child-specific spaces. But what if you “reframe” the conversation to eliminate the descriptor “pornography” and replace it with “diverse materials?” Well, now, that sounds much less disturbing and far more appropriate, doesn’t it? Again, it doesn’t matter if it’s true, only that people think or feel like it’s true.
Here’s the legal counsel for the American Library Association talking about how they need to get people to stop describing these pornographic books as pornographic books and instead reframe the narrative to call them “diverse materials” in order to trick the public into being fine with pornographic materials being openly available and even suggested to your children.
Now, consider that the Barbara Bush Foundation is set to give an award to the American Library Association in October. Says a heck of a lot about our socio-political establishment figures and organizations, doesn’t it?
