Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 1.2 - Why Not to be “Hollywood Heroes”

Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship

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In this episode, Jennifer and Dan take us through the rest of Chapter 1 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Kurt Vonnegut introduces his own war reflections, setting the stage for Billy Pilgrim's story. This section offers everything from absurdity to dark revelations—like Vonnegut’s promise to his friend’s wife, Mary O’Hare, to portray war as it truly is, free from Hollywood heroics. Along the way, Jennifer and Dan dive into a few memorable tangents, from Taco Bell’s pneumatic food tubes to Vonnegut’s awkward moments as a young journalist.

Things To Listen For:

• The origins of the book’s subtitle, “The Children’s Crusade.”
• A strange elevator accident that’s pure nightmare fuel (so it goes).
• What it means when Vonnegut’s only way to capture a massacre is with a bird’s simple “poo-tee-weet.”

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Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books, including Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, for the purposes of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment in accordance with fair use guidelines. The material used from Slaughterhouse-Five is shared to spark thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. We do not claim ownership of the original work; all copyrights remain with the original copyright holder. We encourage listeners to purchase a copy to experience the book fully.

This podcast is not endorsed by Kurt Vonnegut, his estate, or the publishers of Slaughterhouse-Five. Any monetization of this podcast is independent and not derived directly from the copyrighted material. Our intent is to foster educational and critical discourse within the framework of fair use.

Topics Covered:
Vonnegut, anti-war, The Children’s Crusade, Mary O’Hare, satire, journalism ethics, Hollywood heroism, Taco Bell tubes, censorship