Censorship
Censorship is a very important and complex issue.
We must balance the right of free expression with not being distasteful or harmful
There are three main angles when
looking at Censorship:
A) Types of Censorship
B) Who is doing the Censoring
C) Restrictions/level of access
plus we should also discuss:
D) When to open up the doors of censorship
E) The issues of Sex and violence in our
society
1. Censoring
for good taste
2. Censoring for privacy and security
3. Censoring of ideas
4. Censoring - borderline issues
B) Who is doing the Censoring
5. Voluntary - by the artist (artists, directors, producers)
6. Voluntary - by the company and selling outlets (Producers, distributors, publishing
houses)
7. Community decision and enforcement (votes, public decisions,
pressure)
8. Market - no censor, but people don't buy it
9. Forced - by the government (at any level)
C) Restrictions/level of access
10. Age restrictions
11. Location restrictions
12. Pandora's
Box - the warnings and dilemmas
D) When to open up the doors of censorship
(If we censor for good reasons above, there are also some times
and places to let it be open - you can be free here)
13. Education and information
14. Dramatic uses - not for shock, but a serious dramatic
treatment
15. Restrictions to access must exist
16. Doing
things for "shock" and "pushing the envelope"
is a dumb reason.
E) The issues of Sex and violence in our
society
17. It is not just the sex, it is the lack of all the other
things in life.
18. Women enjoy sex, enjoy dressing up, and enjoy looking at
males, just as much as men enjoy women.