Alberta has introduced new regulations for books in schools, targeting materials with explicit sexual content. This move echoes past instances of banning graphic content to safeguard children. In 1954, the Advisory Board on Objectionable Publications was established in response to concerns about “crime comics” influencing children negatively.
Recently, the Alberta government issued a directive for school staff to remove library materials depicting sexual acts, leading to the removal of 226 books from Edmonton Public Schools. Notable works like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Color Purple,” and “The Godfather” were among those taken off shelves.
Following public backlash, the ministerial order was revised to include the removal of visual depictions alongside written passages. While the contexts of these book bans differ across the decades, there are similarities, as noted by Carleton University historian Amie Wright, who studies comic censorship.
Wright explains that comic censorship falls under the concept of “moral panic,” where exaggerated fears about societal threats lead to restrictions. Past instances, like the post-World War II era, saw heightened anxiety due to various societal changes, similar to the current climate post-COVID-19.
The concerns around comic books peaked in 1948 when two boys in Dawson Creek, B.C., fatally shot a driver after imitating comic book characters. This incident sparked widespread criticism of comic books, influencing the work of critics like Fredric Wertham.
The article highlights the history of comic censorship in Canada, focusing on the role of the Advisory Board on Objectionable Publications in Alberta. The board, active from 1954 to the early 1970s, removed numerous publications deemed objectionable, including comics and adult periodicals.
Despite initial support, public sentiment towards the board diminished by the early 1970s, leading to its dissolution in 1976. Wright emphasizes that historical pushback against censorship in Alberta continues today, with ongoing debates over governmental oversight in children’s reading material.
