Spiegelman on Trial:
A Defense of Maus

by Makayla Barrett, Middle Tennessee State University

The McMinn County school board in Tennessee made headlines with their decision to remove the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel Maus, written by Art Spiegelman, from the eighth-grade curriculum, sparking worldwide debates about what is age appropriate for children. The book, celebrated for its portrayal of the Holocaust through a blend of humor, comic-style illustrations, and real-life anecdotes, faced controversy due to concerns about Spiegelman’s background, sexually explicit content, profanity, and graphic depictions of violence. Many people criticized the school board’s decision, calling for the reinstatement of the book, but the school board held their ground claiming the book was too adult oriented for use in their school system.

The first point of debate was Art Spiegelman’s background as a playboy artist, with some board members claiming that this made his work unsuitable for K-8 schools. However, this argument acts as a diversion away from the core issues at hand and is an attempt to connect Spiegelman's name with a pornographic connotation. There is also an inconsistency in the penalty for an author’s background drawing pornographic images, as Dr. Suess books remain proudly on the shelves of McMinn County libraries—though he illustrated a book displaying nudity, The Seven Lady Godivas: The True Facts Concerning History’s Barest Family. An additional concern for the board was the sexually explicit content, specifically referring to the nudity depicted in the book. However, these rare instances of nudity within the book are necessary for an accurate portrayal of the Holocaust experience and are not intended for arousal, rather to provide a realistic portrayal of history.

Profanity was also cited as a reason for removal, with certain board members professing that it may have a negative impact on student’s education. However, books like New Moon by Stephanie Meyer remain on the shelves despite having at least 30 instances of profanity. Therefore, there is a clear double-standard in the board’s decision-making process, as McMinn County students still have access to books with profanity, and books with more than double the amount of profanity within Maus.

The final reason for removal was the graphic depiction of violence; board members found the imagery of violence and suicide too disturbing for students. However, these images, which are not gory or excessive, are fundamental to understanding the atrocities of the Holocaust and may help prevent future genocides from happening. Violence was a reality for Holocaust victims, and many survivors chose to end their lives based on the trauma they suffered within the camps. The depiction of these matters must be present when accurately portraying the Holocaust.

Many sources, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Common Sense Media, argue that Maus is suitable for eighth-grade students and emphasize the importance of Holocaust education during foundational years of school. During this time of political tension and resurgence of hateful ideologies, an educational tool like Maus underscores the importance of preserving Holocaust education, especially as the 80th anniversary of liberation approaches. The book, known for its approachability and informativeness, plays a crucial role in educating people who may not otherwise engage with Holocaust history. Advocating for the reinstatement of Maus in the curriculum and in the school system is essential to ensure broader awareness and understanding, even among eighth graders in McMinn County, Tennessee.

Works Consulted

Berry, Michael. “Parents' Guide to The Complete Maus.” Common Sense Media, www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-complete-maus. Accessed on 25 April 2023.

Coyne, Sarah, et al. “‘A Helluva Read’: Profanity in Adolescent Literature.” Mass Communication and Society, vol. 15, no. 3, May 2012, pp. 360-383. EBSCOhost, doi-org.ezproxy.mtsu.edu/10.1080/15205436.2011.638431. Accessed on 27 April 2023.

Earle, Harriet. “Art Imitating Life: Traumatic Affect in Art Spiegelman's Maus and Holocaust Cinema.” Artful Breakdowns: The Comics of Art Spiegelman, University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, 2023, pp. 220, Project MUSE, muse.jhu.edu/book/109585. Accessed on 29 April 2023.

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Jeong, Andrew. “Holocaust Graphic Novel 'Maus' Banned in Tennessee County Schools over Nudity and Profanity.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 27 Jan. 2022, www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/27/maus-ban-tennessee-mcminn-county-holocaust/. Accessed on 27 April 2023.

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Spiegelman, Art. “'Maus' Author Art Spiegelman Reacts to Book Being Pulled from Curriculum.” Interview by Brianna Keilar and John Berman. CNN, Cable News Network, 28 Jan. 2022, www.cnn.com/videos/us/2022/01/27/maus-tennessee-school-board-art-spiegelman-newday-vpx.cnn. Accessed on 28 April 2023.

US Holocaust Museum [@HolocaustMuseum]. “1/ Maus has played a vital role in educating about the Holocaust through sharing detailed and personal experiences of victims and survivors. On the eve of International #HolocaustRemembranceDay, it is more important than ever for students to learn this history.” Twitter, 26 January 2022, twitter.com/HolocaustMuseum/status/1486526106203209729. Accessed on 25 April 2023.