Max's Room

Where the Wild Things Are, the 1963 children's book, was written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, telling the story of Max and his journey through his imagination to where the wild things are. It was banned shortly after its publication due to its dark themes and problematic representation, sparking conversation on literary censorship in children's books. Max's depiction is expanded on in Spike Jonze's 2009 adaptation, however, flipping the story's problematic past on its head to instead explore children's use of escapism and imagination as a coping mechanism for managing emotions that seem to feel larger than life. Where the Wild Things Are made light of the negative emotions that were often excluded in children's books, leaving audiences with a story that was more real yet just as fantastical, shining light on our children's big emotions behind closed doors. The tantrums, fits, and tears shed within the confines of their bedrooms.