Art Spiegelman’s Maus is a creative and sensitive retelling of one man’s experiences during the Holocaust. As a graphic novel, Maus uses comic strips and drawings to help tell its story. The drawing on its cover, however, has been met with controversy in some parts of the world. Featuring a prominent swastika at its center, the cover art has faced objections in places like Russia and Germany. Listen to hear more about how well-intentioned rules around censorship can lead to unintended consequences.
Story Length: 3:54
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04/28/2015
https://app.listenwise.com/students/lessons/345-the-cover-of-graphic-novel-maus
Why did bookstores in Moscow, Russia stop selling the book “Maus”?
Can you explain what Art Spiegelman means when he says that the ban on “Maus” is well-intentioned stupidity? In what way is it well-intentioned, and in what way is it not?
What makes Art Spiegelman worried about the future of literature and other art?
How did the German publisher manage to publish “Maus” despite Germany’s rules about swastikas?
Why do you think Germany, in particular, bans books with swastikas on their covers?
