system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is it that you need a permission slip to watch R-rated movies in high school, but can be assigned to read books like A Thousand Acres in English class without anyone batting an eye?

I noticed back when I was in high school that parents and the administration were much more hesitant to show movies or play music that contained swear words or sexuality, but endorsed literature with the exact same themes.

We were once required to read *V for Vendetta * and *1984* for a 21^st century lit class [don't ask me why *1984* was "21^st century," I couldn't tell you] and then write an essay comparing Orwell's and Moore's dystopias. That essay was the final assignment for seniors before they left, and after that we didn't have much else to do other that watch the movies, both of which required permission slips unless you wanted to do an extra assignment while everyone else watched the movie.

I don't get it. Why does literature get a pass from censorship? Not that I'm for censorship of anything at all, but what makes books less scandalous to adults?
gpt
Because an official ratings systems for movies exists but it doesn't for books. This makes it easier for adults to get their panties in a twist over 16 year-olds seeing R-rated movies than it does when the same kids are reading books.

See also: literature vs. pop culture.