Why Oppressive Fictional Societies Suppress Reading–and How They Mirror Our Current Culture

Over the past few years, conservative groups have proposed laws that would ban certain books from libraries or punish librarians. These bills portray books on LGBTQIA+ people as inappropriate for children and claim to learn about white children in systematic racist scapegoats. People often justify censorship by claiming to protect children. Of course, some of the materials are not for children, but librarians have already taken that into consideration.

Many people say that these attempts to censor and erasure of history could come straight from dystopian novels. These comments make sense, but they are often the opposite. Speculative fiction, dystopian or not, is often influenced by historical oppression. For example, Celeste NG’s 2022 novel “Our Missing Hearts,” The Pact -A Jingoistic Movement, targets Asian Americans. The historical influences of the novel include the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the rise in racist conspiracy theories and hate crimes targeting Asians since 2020.

In speculative fiction, societies of totalitarian government often suppress reading, books, or libraries. Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 bans and burns all books. Bradbury’s premise was influenced by the Nazi book Burnings, which targeted Jewish and LGBTQIA+ authors. Sound of Stars, a 2020 novel by Alechia Dow, an extraterrestrial named Ilori colonizes the Earth and colonizes the outlaw library as part of the restraint of human culture.

When reading speculative fiction on this topic, asking questions is relevant: is all reading prohibited, or is it only a specific form of critical thinking or knowledge? Who is prohibited from reading and why?

Continue reading for an excerpt discussing why it is worth pursuing “excess” in your reading life!

In books with all human characters, it is common for oppressed classes to be prohibited from reading or writing, while only privileged people have high literacy rates. This deepens inequality and leads to propaganda dominating. Prohibiting books and reading by marginalized people, both in fiction and real life, is part of the dehumanization of that group. As Moira Marquis wrote in Litobu in 2023, this is also off the page. For example, many US prisons ban books on fantasy and magic.

Focusing on speculative fictional oppression has potential problems. in Handmade tale Margaret Atwood allows men to read and write, but almost all women are prohibited from reading or writing. As Clarkisha Kent and other writers pointed out, the novel imagines rape and enslavement that took place in black women for centuries, primarily in white women.

In many fictional dystopias, material that is not state propaganda is suppressed, even if the character can read. The gift of Lois Raleigh is a middle-grade dystopian novel set in a world where all art is prohibited. Emotions are medically and socially oppressed. When Jonas is chosen as the recipient of the next memory, he becomes the only person with cultural knowledge from previous society. People in his society can read, but only for practical reasons, such as academics. His community sought to eliminate diversity and empathy. For this reason, its rulers banned fiction and historical knowledge.

Another intermediate dystopian novel, Donabarba Higuera’s final Quentista, takes place primarily in interstellar flights. The characters have been stagnant for centuries as they move into their new solar system. The main character Petra can be read, but she can also download information to her unconscious brain while she is stagnant. Her society underestimates art, reading and diversity. When she chooses to download the mythology course for a trip, the leader removes it.

Prohibiting libraries and reading in general is suppressed by effective and horrifying methods in dystopian literature. Destroying books about marginalized people is the erasure of their history and denial of their civil rights. Most characters in a dystopian environment do not have a sense of historical perspective, as their rulers control access to all information.

In fiction, librarians and libraries are often important to movements of resistance. In the Library Wars, local soldiers, a light novel and cartoon series by Alikawa Island and Sumo Adabana, defend the library from the totalitarian federal government. The aforementioned Our Missing Heartthe librarian hides the message in the book and helps the child reunite with his parents after they leave.

Fiction, especially speculative fiction, often warns readers about the future, commenting on the past and present. Censorship is a characteristic of many real-world totalitarian governments. Merriam-Webster even mentions censorship as an example of government control in the definition of totalitarianism. Restricting reading is an insidious way to suppress and control people, whether it means limiting what people have read or limiting their reading in full.

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This week we are highlighting a post discussing why it is worth pursuing “excess” in your reading life. Try to consider a scaled back approach to book-like life in this age where you accumulate special deluxe and deluxe editions and crowded shelves for talk. Read the excerpt and become an All Access member to unlock the full post.

One of the things that has provided me with some comfort amidst my recent fears is the lack of intake at Tiktok. Whether it’s a project pan or something, accordinglyThe Fashion Transparency Index currently has enough clothing on the planet to wear the next six generations. It’s a welcome break from being told what I should buy. As a kid, I loved watching clean sweeps on TLC. As an adult, I think I could probably stand to frequently put all my possessions on tarp on the grass. Tiktok is the engine of consumerism, but somehow it managed to plant seeds in my brain.

why What’s unnatural is the belief that we don’t need everything we have. It is also a good way to build a breathing practice before chasing dopamine buying new things and finding joy in what you create for yourself. I have been shown that many of my hobbies have not led to even ideas not creating new things.

Of course, for us, insufficient intake is an economic necessity. Most of us don’t reflect the life we ​​see in our different feeds. The reality is that things are more likely to be more expensive, as they are not a massive tariff will on many products coming from other countries. This “trend” just shows you how to make the most of what you actually have. Many books on US shelves are printed in China, but are now exempt from customs duties.

Why am I ruining pure and good things for you in these times? I’m trying not to. I’m just here to offer suggestions that I’ll have a hard time following myself. We strive for progress, not perfect. I’m sure now that if I delete the Libby app, if I forbid Heaven, there will be enough unread books in my house throughout the calendar year.

Sign up and become an All Access member for $6 a month And click here to read the unlocked article in full. Level up your reading life with all your access membership and explore the complete library of exclusive bonus content, including must-sees, deep diving, and reading challenge recommendations.