1. Fahrenheit 451 Introductory Notes

2. Censorship What is it? What is it?

3. Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. This can be carried out by the government or private groups. This can be carried out by the government or private groups.

4. What motivates book burning? What motivates book burning? Today, book burning is usually ceremonial. Today, book burning is usually ceremonial. Book burners aren’t trying to destroy every copy of a book, rather they are expressing their objections to the material in a ritualized manner. Book burners aren’t trying to destroy every copy of a book, rather they are expressing their objections to the material in a ritualized manner.

5. Books that are burned usually go against a belief system. Books that are burned usually go against a belief system. –Incorrect versions of books, holy texts of another religion, books that are immoral or inappropriate –Books are burned by conquerors, governments or heads of state, religious leaders/ the Church, revolutionary leaders, or anyone who adheres strongly to a certain idea or belief system.

6. They were burned because they challenged ‘appropriate’ beliefs, threatened people in power, promoted ‘undesirable’ ideas, etc. They were burned because they challenged ‘appropriate’ beliefs, threatened people in power, promoted ‘undesirable’ ideas, etc.

7. Censorship Hot Topics As a group, come up with as many arguments as you can for and against the following statements: Books with swearing and sexuality should not be taught in schools. Books with swearing and sexuality should not be taught in schools. It should be illegal for any person under the age of sixteen to purchase or play violent video games like “Grand Theft Auto”. It should be illegal for any person under the age of sixteen to purchase or play violent video games like “Grand Theft Auto”. Songs with profane lyrics should be censored on the radio. Songs with profane lyrics should be censored on the radio. We should not read older books that contain racist attitudes, even if they are considered classics. We should not read older books that contain racist attitudes, even if they are considered classics.

8. Specific History On May 10, 1933 in Berlin, Nazis burned almost 20,000 books. On May 10, 1933 in Berlin, Nazis burned almost 20,000 books. The goal of this event was to rid Germany of any book that contained “unGerman ideas” and, therefore, was unfit to read. The goal of this event was to rid Germany of any book that contained “unGerman ideas” and, therefore, was unfit to read. They burned texts by Thomas Mann, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, and Jack London. They burned texts by Thomas Mann, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, and Jack London.

9. There were protests all over America because of the mass burning of books. There were protests all over America because of the mass burning of books. Some news media called it a ‘bibliocaust’- a holocaust of books. Some news media called it a ‘bibliocaust’- a holocaust of books.

10. History Behind Fahrenheit 451 This book was published in 1953. Several important things happened in history around this time. 1) The Invention of Television- Regular network broadcasting began in the United States in 1946. 2) Television became common in American homes by the mid 1950s.

11. 1946: 7,000 TV sets existed in the U.S. 1946: 7,000 TV sets existed in the U.S. 1948: 148,000 sets 1948: 148,000 sets 1950: 4.4 million sets 1950: 4.4 million sets TV sitcoms from the 1950s upheld the very values and morals that were being stretched and strained in real life. TV sitcoms from the 1950s upheld the very values and morals that were being stretched and strained in real life. Domestic comedies were popular and emphasized the nuclear suburban family. Domestic comedies were popular and emphasized the nuclear suburban family.

12. TV even changed architecture: Large sitting rooms became necessary for TV viewing. TV even changed architecture: Large sitting rooms became necessary for TV viewing.

13. 2) The Cold War 2) The Cold War –After World War II, the Cold War began as a result of disagreements over postwar Europe. –Each superpower (United States, Britain, France, and Russia) had their own idea of how postwar Europe should be rebuilt. –Rivalry between superpowers lead to…  Military coalitions (temporary alliances of distinct parties)  Espionage (systematic use of spies to obtain secret information)  Military, industrial and technological developments  Immense spending on defense

14. During this time, America lived under the threat of communist world domination and total nuclear destruction. During this time, America lived under the threat of communist world domination and total nuclear destruction. Home fallout shelters were built. Home fallout shelters were built. Gas masks were sold door-to-door. Gas masks were sold door-to-door. Nuclear anxiety deeply penetrated American culture. Nuclear anxiety deeply penetrated American culture.

15. 3) Senator Joseph McCarthy 3) Senator Joseph McCarthy Republican U.S. Senator from 1947-1957 Republican U.S. Senator from 1947-1957 He became notorious for unsubstantiated claims that there were communist and Soviet spies throughout America and even in the U.S. government. He became notorious for unsubstantiated claims that there were communist and Soviet spies throughout America and even in the U.S. government.

16. Communist beliefs were never illegal, but it was the popular belief that support of communism equated to treason. Communist beliefs were never illegal, but it was the popular belief that support of communism equated to treason. The message became crystal clear to the average American: Don’t criticize the United States. Don’t be different. Just conform. The message became crystal clear to the average American: Don’t criticize the United States. Don’t be different. Just conform.

17. Ray Bradbury Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 22, 1920. Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 22, 1920. Growing up he often visited his grandparents’ vast library to read stories like Alice in Wonderland, The Grimm Fairy Tales, and The Wizard of Oz. Growing up he often visited his grandparents’ vast library to read stories like Alice in Wonderland, The Grimm Fairy Tales, and The Wizard of Oz. His mother often took him to the movies, where he was engrossed in such movies as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Lost World. His mother often took him to the movies, where he was engrossed in such movies as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Lost World.

18. When Bradbury was 12, a carnival came to town and a magician, Mr. Electrico, was the talk of the town. When Bradbury was 12, a carnival came to town and a magician, Mr. Electrico, was the talk of the town. At this point in his life, Bradbury wanted to a magician and he insisted on going to the carnival. At this point in his life, Bradbury wanted to a magician and he insisted on going to the carnival. Bradbury visited Mr. Electrico and he told Ray that he was the soul of a long lost friend and he told Bradbury to “live forever”. Bradbury visited Mr. Electrico and he told Ray that he was the soul of a long lost friend and he told Bradbury to “live forever”.

19. That gave Bradbury something to live for. That gave Bradbury something to live for. A few days later, he began to write seriously, and has written everyday of his life since then. A few days later, he began to write seriously, and has written everyday of his life since then. He later said about the incident: He later said about the incident: “I could teach everyone to.. Get out of bed someday and look, as I looked when I was 12, on the fuzz on the back of my hand, and I said, I’m alive! Why didn’t someone tell me? So I would tell every person to really know you’re alive, as a gift.. That would really be the most important thing.. In my life or anyone else’s.”

20. In 1934, the Bradbury family moved to Los Angeles, CA. In 1934, the Bradbury family moved to Los Angeles, CA. He was active in the drama club in high school. He was active in the drama club in high school. His teachers saw his writing ability and encouraged him to become a writer. His teachers saw his writing ability and encouraged him to become a writer. He began to write for magazines, joined the local Science Fiction league, and his high school’s poetry club. He began to write for magazines, joined the local Science Fiction league, and his high school’s poetry club.

21. After high school, Bradbury sold newspapers and continued to write. After high school, Bradbury sold newspapers and continued to write. By 1943, he began writing full-time. By 1943, he began writing full-time. In 1947, Bradbury married Marguerite “Maggie” McClure. In 1947, Bradbury married Marguerite “Maggie” McClure. Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953 in Galaxy Fiction Magazine as the short story “The Fireman.” Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953 in Galaxy Fiction Magazine as the short story “The Fireman.”

22. According to Bradbury, the inspiration for the book came from an incident in Los Angeles in 1949 when he and a friend were stopped and questioned by police for no reason. According to Bradbury, the inspiration for the book came from an incident in Los Angeles in 1949 when he and a friend were stopped and questioned by police for no reason. In all, Bradbury has written over 500 short stories, plays, screenplays, novels, and essays. In all, Bradbury has written over 500 short stories, plays, screenplays, novels, and essays.

23. Bradbury worked as an idea consultant for the World’s Fair in 1964, helped to design Spaceship Earth for Disney World, and later contributed to the conception of the Obirtron space ride at Euro-Disney in France. Bradbury worked as an idea consultant for the World’s Fair in 1964, helped to design Spaceship Earth for Disney World, and later contributed to the conception of the Obirtron space ride at Euro-Disney in France. In November 1999, Bradbury suffered a stroke which hospitalized him. Even though after this Bradbury was confined to a wheelchair, he still continued to write everyday. In November 1999, Bradbury suffered a stroke which hospitalized him. Even though after this Bradbury was confined to a wheelchair, he still continued to write everyday. Bradbury died on June 5, 2012 after a lengthy illness. Bradbury died on June 5, 2012 after a lengthy illness.

24. Dystopia As illustrated in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 Dystopia- an imaginary wretched place, the opposite of utopia Dystopia- an imaginary wretched place, the opposite of utopia Utopia- a place or state of ideal perfection, the opposite of dystopia Utopia- a place or state of ideal perfection, the opposite of dystopia A Dystopian society’s essential features: A Dystopian society’s essential features: –Undesirable or even horrifying –Usually futuristic and fictional –Can be regarded as warnings

25. –Is about both today and tomorrow –Comments on our own society

26. Dystopia depictions are always imaginary. Dystopia depictions are always imaginary. Dystopias are often set in war-ridden cities which convey a sense of hopelessness through dark architecture and rain-slicked streets. Dystopias are often set in war-ridden cities which convey a sense of hopelessness through dark architecture and rain-slicked streets.

27. Themes in Dystopias The theme of dystopias have always been oppression and rebellion. The theme of dystopias have always been oppression and rebellion. The oppressors are almost always much more powerful than the rebels. The oppressors are almost always much more powerful than the rebels. Oftentimes the rebels most battle to: Oftentimes the rebels most battle to: –Stay alive –Remain human –Remain an individual with one’s own thoughts

28. Citizens in dystopian societies live in fear and they become paranoid. Citizens in dystopian societies live in fear and they become paranoid.