Uncovering It All

    Maus,  the comic book series written by Art Spiegelman, is a rollercoaster of emotions. From laughter to horror, the series deep dives into the truly terrifying story of Spiegelman's father, Vladek. The story doesn't spare any details, instead showing the world what really happened behind the gates of Auschwitz. The books contain small details that showcase Spiegelman's intelligence, and overall, is an educational and engaging book that deserves to be shared with the world. So, imagine my surprise when I find out via my English teacher that the book is banned in some parts of the U.S. and Russia. The reason why the books are banned in Russia is because of the swastika on the cover page and how it violates a law against Nazi propaganda. In the United States, the book is banned in a Tennessee school district and in schools in Florida. The reasons behind this action? Nudity, violence and profanity. Let's go over these reasons one by one, shall we?     The first reason

       You know the saying, "the eyes are the windows to the soul?” Well, it seems that Art Spiegelman, author of Maus, did, and he used it to convey all of what words could not.      The artist's graphic novel portrays his father's life, who lived through and survived World War II. Drawn in black and white, the comic uses a cat-and-mouse concept to share all of the horrors of what was faced by Jews during the Holocaust. His father, Vladek, spares no details in the recount of his life, and Spiegelman uses this to his advantage when he shades the pages darker and darker as you move through the fast-paced novel. Throughout it all, there are many multiple depictions shown, but the one that stands out the most is the eyes. The eyes of mice—who are used to represent Jews— are apparent in the story, with the lack of emotion and the endless suffering portrayed perfectly despite the eyes just being two little dots, while cats, who represent Nazis, lack pictures of drawn eyes. Not