https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3 A movement to inspire intellectual freedom en-us 2018-03-07 12:50:17 UTC 2025-10-29 18:00:42 UTC hello@padlet.com lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239107704 Meet Argentinian conceptual artist Marta Minujin. Minujin was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1943. 

]]> 2018-03-07 12:51:41 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239107704 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239108255 The first Parthenon of Banned Books was  built in 1983 in Argentina, after the collapse of the US supported, ruling civilian-military dictatorship in 1983, and the return of democracy, in a celebration of newfound intellectual and democratic freedom. (Smithsonian.com, 2016) .]]> 2018-03-07 12:53:12 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239108255 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239108972 2018-03-07 12:55:07 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239108972 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239109744 It is a passive aggressive way to draw attention to censorship and persecution as well as resistance to political oppression. The installation will be up for 100 days before being torn down and the banned books will be handed out to visitors. Minujin's idea was to build a Parthenon out of the books to inspire a movement to create freedom of speech and intellectual freedom, to show what can happen when we try to remove creativity and freedom of speech.  it is being called “a symbol of opposition to the banning of writings and the persecution of their authors,” a kind of celebration of the written word and its threat to those in power. (Atlas Obscura)]]> 2018-03-07 12:57:29 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239109744 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239110480 2018-03-07 12:59:30 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239110480 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239110623 2018-03-07 12:59:52 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239110623 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239110748 2018-03-07 13:00:14 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239110748 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239111223 The Parthenon of Banned Books was erected in Friedrichsplatz Park, the former book burning location of the Nazis in Germany 1933.
This impacts the installation because more than 50 years ago this location was the symbolization of silencing the cultural and intellectual freedoms of a nation. ]]> 2018-03-07 13:01:33 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239111223 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239111891 The Parthenon of Ancient Greece was built in the wake of the defeat of the Persians in 479 BC. Tt's main purpose was to serve as a symbol of protection for the "Greek World"  and as the years progressed became known for more. (Visit Ancient Greece, 2018) It is most commonly known for its symbolization of democratic freedom and its systematic declaration of human and cultural rights. Thus why Minujin decided to use this as the portrayal of her installation- a juxtaposition between the oppression of intellectual freedom of banned books and the symbolization of democratic freedom of the Parthenon. ]]> 2018-03-07 13:03:29 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239111891 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239130305 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Man 
Animal Farm 
Brave New World 
Catch 22
the Da Vinci Code 
Frankenstein
The Jungle 
The Handmaids Tale 
Their Eyes Were Watching God ]]> 2018-03-07 13:46:00 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239130305 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239130978 Banned books symbolize the political and intellectual oppression that happens in everyday life. Often people don't realize the different types of oppression that is allowed in democratic and open countries. Banned books influence ideas that are often forbidden or restricted. The books are banned because it causes you to think and to question your world view, something some countries don't like. ]]> 2018-03-07 13:47:25 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239130978 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239131865 Sakoulas, T. (n.d.). The Parthenon. Retrieved March 16, 2018, from:  http://ancient-greece.org/architecture/parthenon2.html 
Blakemore, E. (2016, November 02). An Artist Is Building a Parthenon of Banned Books. Retrieved March 16, 2018, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/artist-building-parthenon-banned-books-180960923/ 
(n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2018, from https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=greece parthenon symbolism&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiNk6DipuXZAhUFL6wKHXApAHgQBQg5KAA&biw=1188&bih=566&dpr=1.15#imgrc=RoZK0D1uem9KVM: 
'Parthenon of Books'. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2018, from http://www.young-germany.de/topic/live/parthenon-of-books 
T. (n.d.). 'The Parthenon of Books', Marta Minujín, 1983. Retrieved March 16, 2018, from http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/minujin-the-parthenon-of-books-t14343 
(n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2018, from http://www.marta-minujin.com/biography.html
Artist Plans Massive Installation Made Out Of Banned Books. (2016, November 07). Retrieved March 16, 2018, from https://www.amreading.com/2016/11/06/artist-plans-massive-installation-made-out-of-banned-books/
Waters, M. (2017, July 19). A Parthenon of Banned Books, Built at a Former Book-Burning Site. Retrieved March 16, 2018, from https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/a-parthenon-of-banned-books-built-at-a-former-book-burning-site]]> 2018-03-07 13:49:15 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239131865 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239145888 2018-03-07 14:14:31 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239145888 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239146241 2018-03-07 14:15:09 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239146241 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239148608 2018-03-07 14:19:14 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239148608 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239392637 2018-03-07 20:26:11 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/239392637 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/240461540 2018-03-10 15:39:48 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/240461540 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/240641801 2018-03-11 22:22:34 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/240641801 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/241154683 2018-03-12 23:35:40 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/241154683 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/241869570 Kite Runner 
The Grapes of Wrath 
The Lottery 
Uncle Tom's Cabin 
Catcher in the Rye 
Ulysses 
Lord of the Flies
American Psycho
Moby Dick 
Of Mice and Men 
 ]]> 2018-03-14 13:42:31 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/241869570 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/242966067 2018-03-16 18:26:25 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/242966067 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/242973487 2018-03-16 18:43:27 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/242973487 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243249480 2018-03-18 20:29:32 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243249480 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243249791 2018-03-18 20:31:39 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243249791 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243250095 2018-03-18 20:33:31 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243250095 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243250489 2018-03-18 20:36:03 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243250489 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243280065 In 2016, she called for the donation of books both currently and formerly banned with the end goal of collecting 100,000. 
As quoted by the artist herself "Democracy without books is not democracy." ]]> 2018-03-19 00:06:37 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243280065 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243280757 After the first installment was torn down and every book was given to the citizens of Argentina, Minujin waited nearly 4 decades to bring back another installment. Minujin couldn't have brought it back at a better time, either. A time where freedom of speech and intellectual and creative freedom are being stifled, it is an amazing way to bring about change to such a controversial problem]]> 2018-03-19 00:12:37 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243280757 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243282939 The books that are banned are technically being held in plastic pouches- which is ironic because the installation argues freedom while the installation technically is promoting banned books being held away from the public. ]]> 2018-03-19 00:27:15 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243282939 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243283590 The installation was only up for 100 days- it should have been up for longer to bring more attention to censorship and oppression. ]]> 2018-03-19 00:31:58 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243283590 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243284548 2018-03-19 00:38:33 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243284548 lauryn_oconnor https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243286049 Overall, I believe that the complete idea of the installation is an amazing way to bring awareness to the idea of creative and intellectual oppression that we don't really see on a daily basis because of how under the radar it is. It is an idea that somehow doesn't exist in a lot of places even though it is a very large issue at hand. I believe that this installation is moderately effective, as it is bringing awareness but it isn't really doing a lot to initiate change - it is more of the first steps into creating a new way of thinking. The installation has a long way to go before it is at the place where it is fully creating an environment of change. ]]> 2018-03-19 00:47:53 UTC https://padlet.com/lauryn_oconnor/gxnv9u403gf3/wish/243286049