In this episode, we talk to Muncie Central High School English teacher Katey O'Connor about teaching V FOR VENDETTA and how her students practiced civil disobedience when their class projects, which drew parallels between the book and real-life issues, were censored. We also discuss the wave of book banning and the hysteria over race, gender, and sexuality that's sweeping schools across the U.S.
NOTE: In our opinion, there are no spoilers for 'V for Vendetta' in this episode. But out of an abundance of caution, here are 3 time marks where something is mentioned that *might* be perceived as micro-spoilers:
- 9:56 - 10:06
- 10:21 - 10:30
- 10:50 - 10:56
Even if you have only seen the 2005 film, there are absolutely no new spoilers for the book (or vice versa).
LINKS: "School removes student project about fascism after cops complain"
"Police in schools continue to target Black, Brown, and Indigenous students with disabilities. The Trump administration has data that's likely to prove it."
"Conservatives are just openly endorsing book burning now"
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/11/virginia-school-board-book-burning
"Texas House committee to investigate school districts' books on race and sexuality"
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/26/texas-school-books-race-sexuality/
"Let's talk about Muncie Central High and V for Vendetta..." by Beau of the Fifth Column (YouTube video mentioned by Katey O'Connor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrHxTU-k47M&t=229s
Leah Moore's tweet about Alan Moore's statement
https://twitter.com/leahmoore/status/1462425010816040963
Student Voices (Muncie Central High School student activism page) https://www.facebook.com/MuncieStudentVoices/
Muncie students' BLM t-shirt fundraiser on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1617898138587004&id=100011005005621
Muncie students' BLM t-shirt fundraiser on Twitter
https://twitter.com/MrsBoudreau/status/1462645762404323329
(Or make a donation to Elayna Justice on Venmo at @elaynajustice )
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
"I understood the assignment" TikTok compilation (mentioned by Katey O'Connor) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Gy6yA1bvI
Katey O'Connor on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/katey.oconnor.3
Katey O'Connor on Twitter https://twitter.com/OConno
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