|
09
Jun|08
|
|
In all facets of life there are certain forms of censorship present. When you turn on your television there is a rating system in place that is meant to help people filter what they want their children watching. Television companies and Cable companies have also jumped on this with v-chips that allow parents to block out certain channels at certain times. The Motion Picture Association of America has a rating system of NC-17, R, PG-13, PG and G in place for parents to be able to justify what their children should be able to see. Two years ago, any movie featuring the smoking of cigarettes, animated or otherwise, was placed into the PG-13 category.
Art has forms of censorship present as well. When I was ten years old I remember there being a painting of Jesus Christ’s mother, the virgin Mary covered in feces that created such a panic that it was promptly taken down due to protests at the museum that it was being shown at. You can’t just take a painting of a naked person or a “foul word” anywhere. In the south these things are also often protested.
The topic that I know most about is literature, which constantly comes under fire for censorship. My favorite book, “Catcher in the Rye”, a coming of age story about a boy’s journey to New York City and eventual landing in a mental institution was put on the banned book list in certain states in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s because it has what is deemed as foul language and a depiction of scene with a prostitute. Other notable books on the list are “The Diary of Anne Frank” for a scene of “lesbianism”, “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” for being morbid, and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” for a scene of felatio and multiple scenes of vampiric violence.
Some of the books that you might know that are recent on this list are: “The Giver”, “Harry Potter” for its frank depictions of witchcraft and violence to children, “Crank” for its consistent references to drugs, “Speak” for its scene and depiction of a rape, multiple if not all Stephen King books, “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” for their depictions of Wizardy and violence.
Graphic novels and comic books also carry ratings but are not strictly enforced at all. And they are just spelled out “This is suggested for mature readers.”
I was recently in Europe, a place that operates without as much censorship on television, novels, art, movies or even the news which I didn’t mention. They seem to get along alright. Why in the United States, where we came to live in freedom does it seem like we really aren’t?
Last edited: Feb 19, 2009 @ 10:28 PM, 394 days ago |
|
advertisement
Comment
|
