Category: Censorship

Surveillance and Censorship as The Keys to a Successful Totalitarian Government

A government’s success is intrinsically linked to its ability to control its citizens. In the case of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, the central government, Ingsoc, violates freedom of speech and its civilians’ privacy in order to root out dissenting ideas about leadership. Through similar practices, the Chinese government also violates its civilians’ rights in order to maintain its power. These practices involve propaganda about the government, surveillance of their citizens and censorship of expression by the government. These practices are essential to the government’s success and effectiveness. Through propaganda, surveillance and censorship the Chinese government and Ingsoc are able to oppress their civilians and maintain political stability and power.

Through propaganda, a government is able to control and mold its civilians into believing or doing anything they want. It is an extremely effective tool to a government because it can get their desired message or ideology across to its people through visuals and words. This is especially true when examining Ingsoc and its use of the “Two Minutes Hate” where civilians are gathered to watch a propaganda film that reminds them of the sworn enemy of the party and denounces anti-party ideals and actions. The playing of this film to the people is used to reinforce and direct the fear and hate of the people to a distinguishable face that represents revolutionary ideas. Orwell writes, “The self-satisfied sheep-like face on the screen, and the terrifying power of the Eurasian army behind it, were too much to be borne: besides, the sight or even the thought of Goldstein produced fear and anger automatically” (Orwell 17). This fear and hate that the citizens are conditioned to have toward Goldstein, the main enemy of the party, helps Ingsoc in multiple ways. It gives its citizens a visual enemy to unify against through their shared hate and fear. This also fills the people with patriotic love for their government that they believe is protecting them from the threat of Goldstein. This shared love for the government and fear of the enemy ensures that the masses of people will not revolt or become unhappy with the party, giving it stability and power. This way of condemning the enemy to gain the support of its people is similar to communist China’s propaganda. Communist China produced many posters condemning the “Gang of Four” which was a group of four communist leaders in China which were labeled as enemies for having counter revolutionary ideas. The leader of communist China, Mao Zedong, issued a cultural revolution in 1966 which called for the purging of capitalist ideas and “bourgeois thinking” establishing communist ideas as law. During this cultural revolution anything or anyone displaying anti-communist ideas were destroyed. The “Gang of Four” were labeled as fostering these anti-revolutionary ideas against Mau and were condemned on posters. One poster depicting workers and soldiers holding up their arms triumphantly with the caption, “Angrily condemn the crime of the ‘Gang of Four’ anti-Party clique’s plot to usurp Party power!”. This message is used to reaffirm the people in the party’s goal of condemning the actions of the enemy. This allows the party to maintain its power and install its values into its people. Through this propaganda utilized by Ingsoc and communist China they are effectively able to maintain power and support of their citizens.

Surveillance is another extremely effective way that Ingsoc and China maintain control over its people. In the novel, 1984, everyone’s home is equipped with a “telescreen” which can be used by the Party to listen in on the people in the house. The telescreen also can not be turned off, only dimmed so that everything can be seen and heard at all times. This constant monitoring is done by the “Thought Police” which enforced the party’s ability to control its citizens and their actions inside their homes. Orwell writes, “You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard…” (Orwell 5). Due to Ingsoc being able to monitor its citizens through their telescreens allows Ingsoc to have an even tighter grip on what is being said and done even in people’s houses. Giving them no possible opportunity to do something that is against the party’s values. The ability to monitor its citizens’ private lives gives Ingsoc almost complete power and stability over its citizens. Similarly, China has started using an advanced form of surveillance to track its citizens. China’s surveillance combines phone information and facial recognition technology to identify someone and access all their personal information. The New York Times writes, “Once combined and fully operational, the tools can help police grab the identities of people as they walk down the street…” (Mozur). This type of tracking and monitoring allows police to watch everything that is going on and identify anyone. This allows for no privacy at any time to its citizens personal information and business and increases China’s power over its people.

Censorship is the third way that Ingsoc and China are able to control their people and maintain their political control. Censorship of freedom of speech allows governments to silence discussion of ideas that go against or criticize the party’s agenda or ideals. Ingsoc censors its public with the Thought Police which capture people who have committed thought crimes against the Party. If someone commits a thought crime against the Party the Thought Police will come arrest them in the night and they will disappear without a trace as if they never existed. Orwell writes, “Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten…” (Orwell 24). With this threat of being kidnapped as well as being erased from every record and memory looming over people’s heads like a cloud, nobody is likely to speak out against the Party. This is an extreme form of censorship which proved to be effective in instilling fear in its people. Allowing Ingsoc to maintain complete power over its citizens every action, even their thoughts. In a similar but not so extreme vein, China censors what its populous can view and discuss on the internet. China has some of the harshest and most extreme internet restrictions around the globe. The Chinese government is known to monitor the cell phone calls and other internet conversations of its citizens looking out for anything that might be critical of their leadership. If they see something they perceive as a threat they will shut down that person’s internet access and if they find it necessary, will arrest and imprison the person. Leigh Hartman, a writer for ShareAmerica, writes, “The Chinese government censors the internet to block dissent and to maintain its control over its population” (Hartman). Controlling and censoring what Chinese citizens are allowed to talk about and view over the internet is essential to the government’s continued power because of how fast and effectively information can spread on the internet. Through heavy censorship the Chinese government is able to maintain its control over controversial ideas of its people.

In conclusion, in order for a government to be stable and effective, it must have control of its citizens. Through propaganda, surveillance and censorship Ingsoc and the Chinese government share similarities in the way they maintain control over their citizens and their personal lives. By scrutinizing and monitoring what their people are able to discuss, view and express, Ingsoc and the Chinese government are able to maintain their power and influence even in their citizen’s private lives. Without using these tools of controlling the public, neither governments would be able to maintain stability and power.

Censorship: Types and Crimes

Censorship has been around throughout the ages of history. It can be seen in the earliest time from the ancient Romans and Greeks. Censorship is the suppression or prohibition of speech or deletion of communicative material. That includes books, films, and news. Individuals censor things because they feel that it is obscene, politically unacceptable, objectionable, harmful, or a threat to security. There are four main types of censorship. Political, Ethical and Social, Religious, and Military. These are used in different countries and in different societies. Even in libraries and schools.

Political Censorship

Political censorship occurs when the government holds back information from its citizens. They could do this by concealing, falsifying, or distort information that its citizens receive by crowding out political news that the public receives. The government is able to do this because they have access to the army and secret police. They use their power to enforce the compliance of journalists. They spread that stories that the ruling authorities want people to believe. This often includes bribery, imprisonment, defamation and even assasination. Political parties do this to prevent the panic, uproar or possible revolution of citizens. Because of the power the government possesses, Government tv censorship bans political publication through legislation and executive power.

Moral Censorship

Moral censorship is the removal of materials that are regarded to be obscene or otherwise questionable. This type of censoring can be used in homes all around the world. For example if a parent is trying to protect their children from exposure to crude humor, sexual content, drug references, etc. they would censor their devices or limit their privileges. Another example of moral censorship is pornography. It is censored and is only allowed for those 18 years of age or alder. Child pornography is especially censored with the most jurisdiction in the world. “Moral or social censorship’s to be attributed for ethical or social well-fear”.

Religious Censorship

Religious Censorship occurs when any material objectionable to a certain faith or religion is removed. Freedom of expression is controlled using religious authority. This often involves a dominant religion in a country that is forcing limitations on less prevalent ones. This form of censorship has had a long history and have been used in many societies and by many religions. Religious censorship can take form in the destruction of monuments, and text that contradict with the dominating faith. An oppressor can also shun the work of a certain religion because the content to not appropriate to its faith. Religion is a very sensitive matter. A product, book, film, or statue can offend or insult a certain groups beliefs and can be removed.

Military Censorship

Military censorship is the process of keeping military intelligence and tactics confidential. It is used to keep information away from an enemy or threat. Military administration is the highest authority to protect the supreme power of a country. Everything that is published that has to do with the military are all censored for the defense and security of the country. That includes: letters, pamphlets, and reports. Often, the military will try to suppress politically inconvenient information that has no actual intelligence value.

Censorship throughout history

Censorship dates all the way back to the ancient Romans and Greeks and is still used in present day with the advancements of technology. During ancient times emperors tried to subjugate and control everyone around them. They had the perception that they were either sent from God or that they were Gods. An example of ancient censorship occured between 270 and 275 AD. Back then the majority of people could not read or write but there was still a major city on the shores of egypt called Alexandria that had a vast majority of books. The library was repeatedly destroyed. The Saint Theophilus of Alexandria ordered the destruction of all pagan temples and articles. He was trying to block out everything that had to do with a religion that he did not believe in. Destruction was the form of censorship in ancient times.

The censorship of the Romans emperors was widespread throughout their time of power. So widespread that they had an office in the government dedicated to censoring what was going on in the republic. Their purpose was to take a census of citizens in the empire every five years. They would record each citizen’s names, age, and the amount of property they owned. It was their way of keeping track of how many people were under their control and a way to group them for taxation purposes.

Another Censorship incident occurred in 1497 when the followers of an Italian priest, Girolamo Savonarola, burned items such as pornography, pagan books, and other things that were deemed to be sinful including cosmetics. The focus of that destruction was on objects that could tempt someone to sin. Some were things people used or wore everyday such as mirrors, fine dresses, cosmetics, and musical instruments. They also destroyed immoral books, manuscripts of non religious songs and pictures. That act became known as the Bonfire of the Vanities. They wanted to control the things that people were reading and to direct their beliefs towards a certain religion. Censorship did not stop there. It had a heavy influence in the life of Italians under the Fascist regime from 1922 to 1944. To control what the people believed the Government ordered the deletion of any content that could allow opposition, suspicions or doubts of Fascism. There was censorship of public and private communication, press, and military. They tried to control all aspects of life and shift the ideology of the people to agree with Fascism.

The Nazis also had their own way of censoring what people around them saw and the books that they read. Nazi censorship was extreme and strictly enforced by the governing Nazi party. They controlled all forms of mass communication. That included newspapers, music, literature, radio and films. In 1933 the Nazis burned thousands of books that were written by jewish authors or authors that had different ideals because they were “un-German”. They were against anything that had to do with Jewish people. An estimated 100 thousand books were burned. The Nazis produced and spread their own literature that was solely devoted ideas and myths.

In modern times there is still censorship taking place even in a democratic country like the United States. An example of something that still being censored today is the Internet. The internet is the modern source of communication worldwide and a public domain but the government still tries to put limitations on how it is used. Because the internet lets anyone have public access from anywhere they go with instant gratification it is harder for the government to patrol. There are many social networking groups that make keeping track of every single post impossible. Some targeted censored sites are YouTube, Wikipedia, Facebook, Google, and Pornographic sites. Another example of another thing that is censored is the Television industry. The Television industry is more controllable than the internet. Movies and Television show ratings are according to how graphic they are. They do this so people can get weeded out of the group if they are not of age for the content. Companies make great efforts to censor bad words and limit language shown on Television programs so it is suitable for all ages.

Crime and Censorship

Controlling what is viewed on Television is the responsibility of the government. It keeps society safe and respectable. It also gives children a better chance of developing in a healthier way, it lowers crime rates, helps to reform hardened criminals, and preserves moral and social order. When these points are taken into account we can see that censorship is a necessity.

One culprit of criminal behavior is Television violence. It has a negative impact on violence prone individuals and even children going through a vulnerable stage in their development. A typical child watches eight thousand murders and one hundred thousand acts of violence before completing elementary school. When people are often exposed to violence it is only natural for that person to become desensitized to criminal acts. They lose their proper sense of right and wrong after repeatedly seeing horrific things happen in false reality and become immune to the feeling of disgust towards the atrocious deed. Adult violent offenders tend to show the same personality features as those children. One of them being that they tended to have viewed violence on Television.

The evidence that shows that censorship has a positive effect is found in the minds of criminals. Statistics show that eighty-one percent of criminals rate pornography as their highest sexual interest. Psychologist Mary Anne Layden said, in an interview with Abigail Biggs from Josh McDowell Ministry, “I had been doing this work for more than 10 years before I realized that I had not treated one case of sexual violence that did not include pornography”. Criminals take adult pornography and child pornography as a sign of permission to commit those acts themselves. “Adult pornography is Permission-Giving as well: for adult rape, for combining sex with violence, for the message that when women say no they mean yes, for male sexual entitlement to have sex with whomever they want, whenever they want, however they want, for the message that male sexuality is viciously narcissistic, predatory and out of control and that female sexuality is insatiable and indiscriminant”. Adult pornography send the message that there is no need for consent, and that men are dominating and are entitled to sex anywhere and with anyone they choose. It also portrays that sex is not intimate and is supposed to be vicious with a preditor adn prey mentality. Pornography is mis-education about sexuality. Criminals start to believe that this acceptable. Some even believe that their victims actually enjoy it just as much as they do.

It applies to child pornography as well. In the interview Laden said “Child rapists tell me they know that kids like to have sex with adults because they have seen their smiling faces in the child pornography they access on the Internet”. What these people see on the internet shift their morals and what they believe. Censoring what people have access to and what they see could lower crime rates. No one will mimic what they saw in a pornographic video if they do not have access to the video to begin with. Taking away pornography from criminals allows their minds to focus on other things and could prove to be an impotant tool in the reform of hardened criminals. It is no coincidence that when an adult bookstore is shut down the crime rate in the surrounding areas falls significantly.

Freedom of Speech and Media Censorship in Pakistan

Media is the most important element for the development of the freedom of expression. According to Article 19 the constitution of Pakistan states, ‘Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression. This research method is a qualitative research analysis of the relation between Pakistan’s political, military and media. .In this research thesis a historical study conducted about politics, establishment and the media of Pakistan. Modern Democracy establish through fair and free media, without fair and free media modern democracy can’t exist. That’s why media plays the role of fourth pillar of state. Media plays a healthy role for the improvement of government policies thorough criticism. Media represent public opinion. Media represents the strength of the democracy in a state In this thesis a brief and important history discuss about Pakistani Democracy ,Martial law ,Politics and media. Medi va independence is guaranteed if media organizations free from political interference, media owners and the establishment. In this thesis some important history events discuss. Pakistan, unluckily since its formation in 1947, has been continuously victimized by political instability. Even after the death of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, no one political leader could prove him the savior of Pakistan and no one could kick out Pakistan from political and economical problems. From 1947 to 1958, there was continuous political anarchy and unstable governments.

Muslim League considering its birth right to rule the country but forgot the politics of principles taught by the father of the nation during freedom movement and this way supported for the first Martial Law in October 1958,failure of political leadership. Some very important political events discuss in this thesis. General Muhammad Ayub Khan decided to quit in 1969 and powers were transferred to General Yahya Khan, the 2nd Martial Law Administrator. The democracy was restored in 1972 but this restoration led to another Martial Law imposed by General Zia ul Haq in 1977. General Zia died in an air crash on 17th of August 1988 and Benazir Bhutto became the next elected Prime Minister. For the next 11 years, the government rolled like a ball between Pakistan People‟s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and both the parties led to another phase of martial law. These four military regimes were the same as far as the tactics to assume power and efforts to sustain rule were concerned but during that regime media witnessed a change in its policies. When the martial law was imposed on October 12, 1999, media was on the same lines to praise the ruler and criticize his predecessor. But after the elections of 2002, there was a significant change in its behavior. Many new private channels had been opened like geo news and they started a competition to be more informative, up to date and critical. The change in the electronic media policy of government influenced the print media policy. So, here we are going to have a look on the journey of Pakistani media towards freedom of expression.

In this thesis some important aspects and events of electronic media history has discuss like electronic media,print media, radio these kind of media are discussing briefly in this thesis and their history and events as well. Like In October 1998, radio Pakistan started FM transmissions and over the period of 2002-2005 new FM stations were opened at major cities. Now these FM stations are very much familiar in this country. In this thesis Establishment role in PTV and media are also discuss. In fact media was just like a puppet in government‟s hands, it couldn‟t take decisions at its own. Now it is a shocking fact for us that free media initiated taken by also establishment key player Gneneral Pervaiz Musharaf in his Martial Law Regime.In his Regime many private channels were launched and Musharaf fully supported them . In this thesis Researcher claimed that this General Pervaiz Musharaf Era Media Golden time was starting and media and media was become a four pillar of the state with freely way . Now Pakistani media is more liberal and vibrant media in this country. Cable system was also introduced in 2004 in major cities of Pakistan and then it expanded all over the country.

A detail history of print media has also discuss in this thesis. Looking at the history of print media in Pakistan in the perspective of political development, it is unfortunate to note that the history of 70 years is full with successful use of all means to suppress media by Government, whether these governments were political or military. Although, Pakistan was achieved in the name of Islam, where every person would be allowed to follow his religion, customs, culture and traditions yet the media were not given permission to work freely. They were not more than a puppet in governments‟ hands. They were not free to defend the democratic values; instead they were working to praise government policies for just to secure themselves. “National interests”, “the glory of Islam” and “the Ideology of Pakistan”This is talking about the role of print media on that time to this time when electronic media was not started.

When one talks about media and its role in deepening democracy it doesn‟t mean that only democracy depends on media, but media is also dependent on democracy. If a country has strong and free media there would be a suitable atmosphere for democracy, and if a state is a strong and has true democracy its media should be strong and free. So, the week democratic background of Pakistani politics is due to the media also, which has not played its due role in the past. Democracy and Media are closely linked with each other. The deficit of one has its negative implications for the other. It is natural that they reinforce each other. However like democracy whose quality is crucial for sustaining it, the media cannot perform its role effectively without maintaining high professional standards and performing their critical role with responsibility.

Argumentative Essay about Censorship

The media has been proven the main source of violence and aggressive behavior shown by children in modern culture. Censorship programs have been used to determine the effect of children’s exposure to violent films and messages. The following is an argument on the role of the media and television in the social life of an individual irrespective of age, gender, sex, or religion. In order to discuss the validity of cultural censorship in children, two programs were selected. These are the Sesame Street and The Best of Families. The most significant theory used in this discussion is the cognitive theory which describes the behavior of people when exposed to certain situations.

Censorship refers to the suppression of a speech that may be considered harmful, sensitive, or socially incorrect when determined by a media outlet or a government. Governments, private organizations, or individuals who engage in self-censorship conduct censorship programs. Although many countries provide a restriction against censorship, it is important to strike a balance of conflicting rights in order to determine things that can be censored and those that cannot.

This discussion will argue that the media and television play a great role in the social life of an individual irrespective of age, gender, sex, or religion. Censorship programs have been used to determine the effect of children’s exposure to violent films and messages. Censorship programs have the ability to influence children positively or negatively. In order to discuss the validity of cultural censorship in children, two programs were selected. These are the Sesame Street and The Best of Families.

Text 1: This is about the “Sesame Street” children’s censorship program

Introduction

The following discussion focuses on a research-driven children’s censorship program, Sesame Street, with a focus on encouraging children to learn through media. The main issue of the importance of this program in shaping the future lives of children in America. Censorship was done in order to research the validity of cultural censorship in children’s media.

Argument

Point

I totally agree with censorship campaigners on Petley’s text in the fact that such violent cases shown on television have little effect on older people because they bear the capacity to sustain such disturbing images. The Sesame Street program made children aware of all the ill effects associated with some of the messages portrayed in the media and gives suggestions to parents on how to take care of their children. On the other hand, children are at a greater risk of facing the consequences of irresponsible social behavior caused by media ignorance.

Critique

This argument is signified by the fact that cultural censorship in children’s media studies is supposed to provide children and their parents with advice on how to avoid irresponsible social behaviors caused by the nature of advertisements and programs shown in the media. The introduction of children television in America was aimed at providing them with the necessary education knowledge and skills. The Sesame Street program never used violent films to censor children because Petley understood the negative effect of introducing children to horror films. People chose what they want to watch and what they believe in, but the media has neglected this issue. In addition, the level of socialization depicted by an individual and what they pass through influences their actions and eventually, reflects into someone’s mind after getting the consequences.

Example

For example, Barker and Petley argue that the media plays a significant role in conducting campaigns about the need to protect children. The only critical issue is that the same media who are so much concerned about children’s protection needs are the same people who end up airing such violent films and videos (Barker and Petley 1997; 95-99). In this program, it is argued that even if children use media and technology, they are not in a better position to distinguish between evil and good messages. Children require a set of programs that will enable them to ask essential questions about what is acceptable to see, listen to, and read in the media.

Explaining the Sesame Street censorship

The following support this argument. Firstly, every individual must possess conscious awareness and reasoning about the prevailing situations. Horror movies characters are terrifying and violent signifying that a person viewing such a film is carried away psychologically and thinks in the same manner as movie actors. In some instances, a child develops much anger and hurt his friends due to his aggressive nature learned from watching violent films. These reactions emerge from assaults and sufferings a person goes through while thinking of the others suffering in the movie (Nevid 2011). The experience prepares a child for his future tasks related to terrifying and inhuman acts such as warfare, torture, and assassinations. In addition, the behavior portrayed in movies make psychologists term such individuals as mentally challenged. Their physical look totally matches the menacing behavior forcing other children to fear them (Barker and Petley 1997; 113).

The above example supports my point on the importance of introducing the Sesame Street program. Firstly, mass media plays a significant role in shaping people’s lives in modern culture. People irrespective of age and sex are disturbed constantly by messages from media sources including television, magazines, radio, and other media sources. These messages have the capability of promoting not only the product but also introducing some ill effects to viewers (Barker and Petley 1997). Young people, especially those in their teenage stages, are in a critical translation period in relation to civic and political socialization. Children’s participation in various activities such as playing games, watching movies, and listening to certain media programs stimulate their long-term engagement where family and education experience contributes to the social process. The influences received from such media facilities act as a building block of social capital, which includes an individual’s participation in social activities (the University of Maryland Libraries 2001).

In addition, the media houses are to blame because they do not take into consideration the negative effects such films have on children. Cultural censorship discussed in the class indicated that the effect of watching violent and horror films also creates mixed reactions in children who come from backgrounds where they are highly protected. The question of violence in the media and its ill effects on children is the most widely researched area. Studies dating back to the 1970s show that media violence has the capacity of increasing the risk of aggressive behavior in children. Other dangerous effects include desensitization to the pain and suffering of others making them fear the world. Cline, Croft, and Courrier however, contradict with this arguing that desensitization of children takes place when a child is exposed to violent and horror films for a long time (1973; 363).

The Sesame Street program also provides a prove that media has changed the behavior and reactions of children toward their parents, teachers, and colleagues. Children learn a lot from watching films on the television depending on the amount of time they stays watching per day. The study conducted concerning the Ill Effects led to a number of behaviors portrayed by children, which are possibly learned from the media. A medium that is supposed to be teaching children how to behave well in school is the same that exposes them to films that make them disrespect their elders (Barker and Petley 1997).

The perspective given in the cultural censorship program on the ill effect of media claims that all behaviors are learned and there stands a chance of modifying them through a system of reward and punishment. Children in the class expressed certain behaviors that made teachers term them as carefree persons who never minded about their own welfare. On the cultural censorship in children’s media studies, some measures of aggression were used that make it acceptable that media has a stake in the character of children.

Conclusion

As demonstrated in this argument, the validity of cultural censorship in children’s media studies in the classroom depends on the nature and type of censorship program. Sesame Street forms one of the programs that play a role in shaping the behavior of children. Even though media violence introduces children to arrogant behaviors, the ignorance of parents and the society in taming their children by preventing them from accessing films and videos with acts of violence and the responsibility of the media in conveying certain messages that changes the attitude of viewers. From the above discussion, it is clear that a lot of debate comes along with the role of media concerning the violence and aggressive behavior found in children.

Text 2: This is about the “Best of Families” children’s censorship program

Introduction

This discussion will focus on the Best of Families children censorship program and its negative effects on the life of children. The program was thought to have a huge impact on children’s behavior because it portrayed how long-term television viewers end up changing their behavior. The program was chosen in relation to the effect of the amount of time a child spends watching films with violent acts on desensitization. Victor Cline, Roger Croft, and Steven Courier from the University of Utah carried out the research to evaluate the effect of time spent by children on television on their behavior.

Argument

Point

Based on the cognitive perspective on human behavior, it does not matter how many violence-based films a child has watched because the results are the same. The Best of Families program exposes children to many violent acts and does not provide any moral support. The media is to blame because they never care about the negative effects this program brings to children.

Critique

Censorship campaigners argue a lot about who is at great risk when such cases of television violence occur in media facilities. Children suffer the most because what they see might end up changing their behavior toward their peers or family members. The opinions given on this program are not true and worth noting.

Example

The situations shown on this program are a bad expression to children. The program uses a story of divorced parents who ended up portraying violent behaviors to their children making them develop fear and arrogance towards their friends.

Explanation

Irrespective of the type of age group exposed to violence, whether children or adults, media contributes to all these evils. The courts of criminal justice have many debates involving the responsibilities of media ranging from videos, books, and disturbing advertisements. Media has even gone a step ahead to disregard the bible teachings on the effect of disturbing images and actions on the mind of a viewer. The Best of Families censorship program should face a ban or make it more presentable to children.

There have been various domains of influence associated with media content shown on television, which have negative effects on children. These include aggressive behavior, body image, self-esteem, and violence (American Psychological Association 2002). The actions portrayed in films are not generally a representation of an individual’s behavior and the media should educate children on how to avoid such unacceptable behaviors. Television representatives should include a brief history of the film before showing it to restrain children from assuming certain characters. A good example is the World Wide Entertainment (WWE) which always warns viewers from trying anything seen on the screen at home, school, or anywhere else (Cline, Croft, and Courrier 1973).

The Human Centipede 2 film presents an example of the negative effect of social isolation. Social interaction between children provides sensory stimulators that result in short and long-term memories. The type of film used in this film created a sense of fear in viewers. The entire movie coverage takes place in the darkness leading to the curiosity and tension of viewers. If at all adults fear watching this movie, what about children whose level of sustaining certain memories is low? Memories are essential in child development because it gives a child a chance to share with others, a factor that the Best of Families program fails to address. Too much isolation and exposure to violent television programs result in a child having evil minds and having a desire to behave in the same manner as what she saw on television (University of Maryland Libraries 2001).

The research on the desensitization of children to television violence shows the effect children have on exposure to long-term or short-term exposure to violent films. The study outcomes showed that children who are heavy television watchers might end up desensitized to violence. The study used the films The Bank Dick and The Champion which depicted the violent acts of actors. The producers of such movies always dictate the age limit of people supposed to watch the movies, but the ignorance of parents and the media contributes to the exposure of such films to children. In the real world, experience provides a valuable resource that assists in developing an informed citizen. The public affairs media has the power to enable people to work together in building the nation. However, not all media facilities influence people positively. Television is one of the media facilities that have the capacity of inducing negative effects on viewers (Cline, Croft, and Courrier 1973).

There has been a controversy among legislatures, media executives, education officials, parents, and sociologists on the role of media in determining the social behavior of people. Different people have varying opinions depending on the type of level of influence, but the bottom line is that all parties agree that media forms a permanent part of modern culture. Such programs like Best of Families should not be used to censor children because they make them more arrogant and violent.

Conclusion

As this paper has demonstrated, the Best of Families Children censorship program does not deserve to be used to mentor children. This can be seen from the fact that because children demonstrated irresponsible behavior and become more aggressive following the actions shown in the program. In addition, children’s isolation from their peers can be seen as one of the major causes of change in behavior. Secondly, the responsibility of parents towards their parents might affect their behavior. A child could be watching violent movies for a long time but with correct guidance, it creates no effect on their behavior.

Book Censorship: Argumentative Essay

We wanted to shed light regarding on one of the most controversial and sensitive issues in education which is censorship of children’s books. Censorship in schools is a complex issue since there are so many elements that may influence how children learn and how schools educate them. We all know that a school is a place where you are taught, shaped, and prepared to become the person you were born to be. You will be exposed to different experiences and learn about a variety of topics. It’s where you’ll discover and develop your abilities, intelligence, and skills. It’s a place where you may let your imagination run wild. Some people, however, believe that schools should not have too much leeway in terms of what they teach kids. Certain subjects, literature, and instructional materials, they feel, should be restricted. This problem has been in schools for a long time, and there have been numerous instances where specific literary masterpieces or historical materials have been removed because they were deemed too ‘controversial.’ Some parents go to great lengths to shield their children from potentially dangerous information on the internet and on television at home. However, parents aren’t really in charge at school, therefore censorship will highly ensure that the materials and subjects their children study at school don’t include any hazardous content. Also, censorship enables teachers to make better-informed decisions about what to include in a curriculum. As certain books and materials are restricted, educators will have a guide to help them narrow down what they discuss and utilize in their lectures. Censorship enables parents to be more involved in their children’s education. It allows parents to express their concerns about the education their children are receiving. If students think that particular themes or materials in the lesson plan are hurtful, discriminatory, or insulting to their race, culture, religion, or values, they can request that they be withdrawn. This will allow them to plan their curriculum more quickly. In schools, censorship generally takes the form of removing or manipulating resources or learning processes. These materials might vary from teaching issues that some find offensive, such as evolution against creationism, to those that officials and parents have generally determined are unsuitable for our children, such as nudity. The majority of censorship in American schools focuses on social and religious concerns, with many contentious texts being challenged. According to Reichman (1988), it has already been established for millennia as a practice, it is the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational material like images, ideas, and information on the grounds that they are morally or otherwise objectionable. Every justification under the sun has been provided to keep some books out of the hands of pupils, from the protection of youth to moral concerns with the author or the work itself. The reasons for censorship attempts range from differing political ideas to religious and cultural expression, this is according to Ally Bush of Reading Partners. Some books that are banned contain racist remarks that may encourage the readers to have a racial perspective. Not only that, reasons may also be due to religious affiliations which may be related to satanic or witchcraft themes or unpopular religious opinions that may cause confusion to readers. It can also be because of themes that are somehow encouraging damaging lifestyles where characters are depicting life choices that are considered dangerous and are not accepted by many which may cause negative perspective that may encourage the readers to actually do these acts. All of these cultures’ censors appear to believe that children’s minds may be changed by what they read and that children are innocent and should be protected. When a book is censored, the information contained inside it is restricted, and kids are not permitted to read it. When an individual or a group opposes a book, it is considered censorship of children’s literature. When an individual or a group believes that the content of a novel or book is improper for children, it may be disputed. When a book is taken from a booklist, a school, or a library, it is labeled banned.

Scholarly Discussion of the Issue

The notion that all speech is equal is very questionable, some people use certain phrases in an attempt to silence the right of others to speak. Because of the prevalence of hate speech, it took over a century for minorities and women to achieve a semblance of equal rights. It doesn’t matter if it’s dressed up in ideals like religious liberty, state rights, or patriotism; it’s still what it is to others. Censorship allows us to halt the spread of hatred before it ever begins. We are already constrained by education, family, entertainment, commerce, and other factors. As a result of this restricting process, additional chances for equality arise. Most importantly, Censorship has the potential to alleviate societal strife. The purpose of censorship isn’t to prevent people from accessing information that they might find objectionable. If it were the case, we wouldn’t be able to use books and the Internet. We may use this method to restrict access to material that may have a negative influence on the culture of our homes, towns, or countries for our own safety. West (2003) stated that the majority of discussions of the relationship between censorship and children’s literature center on attempts to prohibit contentious children’s books from libraries, although this is only one part of a much bigger story. There are numerous ways to filter a children’s book, a book might be subjected to censorship constraints even before it is published. Before approving the book for publication, a cautious editor may request that potentially contentious portions be removed. Once a book is published, it may be attempted to limit children’s access to it. These measures can include prohibiting it from being used in libraries, but there are also other limits that can be applied. A concerned librarian may refuse to let children check it out without parental consent if a parent organization pressures their local bookstore not to sell it. A school administrator might forbid teachers from utilizing it in the classroom, or a religious organization might prohibit parents from allowing their children to read it. In schools, censorship frequently takes the form of removing or manipulating resources or learning processes. These items could range from teaching subjects that some find objectionable, such as evolution against creationism, to materials that officials and parents have generally concluded are improper for our children, such as nudity. Censorship can protect children from unhealthy content. In today’s society, parents have a lot to do to protect their children from harmful influences on health. There is literature everywhere, including stories that escape parental controls and apps for children that could lead to malicious encounters in the future. Children are less concerned with talking to strangers online than adults, primarily due to the way children view the world. They are more innocent, more curious, and can even be shy and lonely. To the extent that literature is negatively defined, according to Moore (2016), censorship assumed a decisive place in its old constitution. Current scholars emphasize the dynamic interplay between literary expression and types of cultural regulation, recognizing its mockingly efficient potential to generate in addition to suppress that means. at the identical time, accounting for censorship’s position within the history of the arena’s literature means coming to grips with the often-brutal repression, prohibition, and persecution of writing, writers, performance, and cultural manufacturers by way of sovereign strength underwritten by means of violence. In 1988, Sue Curry Jansen described censorship as “the knot that binds power and expertise,” and this binding has remained, loosely or tightly, at the coronary heart of the dynamic between censorship and literature. Censorship has been a factor of social conversation for as long as societies have conceived of the latter as a public accuracy, and in the way that, thru Jansen’s knot, they had been collectively determining, censorship and literature were coeval. Censorship defines the literary by outlawing that which it isn’t allowed to be; literature shapes censorship with the aid of exploring and contesting its limits. As seen in the statistics reports for challenges by reason, initiator, and institution conducted by Butlers University for 1990-1999 and 2000-2009, expose the factors in each challenge. As for the reasons, out of 24 factors including unsuited for age group, offensive language, violence, homosexuality, cultural sensitivity, occult or satanism, anti-ethnic, racism, sexism, anti-family, nudity, other offensive items, abortion, drug alcohol smoking, gambling, gangs, suicide, sex education, political viewpoint, technical errors, and other objections, the highest factor is sexually explicit. The initiators are board members, administrators, teachers, pressure groups, religious organizations, politicians elected officials, government bodies, patrons, clergy, other initiators, other organizations, and its major initiator which is the parents. For the institution, there are 16 factors namely school library, public library, academic library, special library, prison library, museums or galleries, college or university, student group, community group, theater, newspaper publisher, other publisher, government facility, other business, other non-profit business, the highest is the school institution.

SideTake about the Issue

We agree on promoting censorship in Children’s literature. This aids children to grow into well-being and to live in a safer environment. Children’s literature is very significant in a child’s life. Books help him to explore the world he’s living in, yet we cannot deny that some of this literature may cause distraction and can poison children’s minds. Many people believed that children are brought to life as innocents thus they are not yet mentally ready to be exposed to harmful and sensitive information. It is indeed necessary to prohibit children from reading books that contain objectionable, harmful, and offensive words, images, or information. There are many factors that parents should consider in introducing literature to their children. Parents, together with society should protect their innocence. Censorship assists in removing the appearance of sexuality, extreme violence, swearing, and other inappropriate gestures. Literature would be unsuitable for our young readers if parents and society would allow them to read such books. This is one of the ways also that children will not engage in misdeed acts, think inappropriately, and just do everything they want because that is what they have read in a certain book. If books that contain inappropriate information are available in libraries that can be accessed by young readers, they can be exposed to these kinds of books, they might misinterpret some ideas and think of something very irrelevant to what knowledge they already have. Censorship is necessary because even if a certain child doesn’t read a book that needs to be censored, this idea will still not protect him. He is still enclosed to other children who are already vulnerable with these books. We all know there are different issues and genres of books which have themes that are only appropriate for adult readers thus children aren’t ready to experience or encounter. Issues such as LGBTQ, political affairs, sexually explicit, profanity and drug use, and other content for mature readers. Censorship would allow children to avoid reading such books and to get away from negative psychological effects. Again, their intellectual capacity to comprehend and appreciate these themes is not sufficient for them to be exposed to this literature. As we also observed children in this generation, put into action what they have seen on television, the same goes for what they have read in books. This has already a big impact on the part of the children by making them very conscious of their actions, they became aggressive especially if literature is exposed to violence and sensitive content. In censoring children’s literature, this is not just a matter of protecting kids, it is as well a matter of assisting them towards what is right and best.

Scholarly Discussion of Our Critical Stance

Childhood is a crucial time in a person’s growth. Values, principles, and habits formed during this time remain with a person for the rest of their lives. According to Socrates, “It’s at that time that it is most malleable and takes on any pattern one wishes to impress on it.” A child’s moral sense isn’t fully formed, and he or she can’t always tell what’s good from what’s harmful. And as he suggests, ‘Then we must, first of all, it seems, supervise the storytellers. We’ll select their stories whenever they are fine or beautiful and reject them when they aren’t.’ You don’t work with people who have already developed their values and beliefs to rid the world of evil; instead, you engage with children who are still building theirs. Every child would be educated in an environment that encourages justice and goodness, and the world would be a much better place. PABBIS (Parents Against Bad Books in Schools) is one of a number of parent organizations around the country that are questioning the use of children’s and young adult books in classrooms, as well as in school and public libraries. These parents aim to restrict access to certain books for other parents’ children in one of two ways: either by having one or more books removed from library shelves or by having access to the books restricted in some way. Lombardo (2016) stated that censorship limits children’s exposure to violent, sexual, and other harmful subjects. Some parents do their best to protect their children from harmful content on the Internet and on TV at home. However, they are not the ones in control of the school, so moderation helps ensure that the material and topics their children will learn in school are also free from harmful content. It also allows teachers to decide more quickly what to include in a curriculum. Since there are certain books and materials that are censored, teachers will have a guide for narrowing down what to discuss and use in their lessons. This can make their curriculum planning a quicker task. It allows parents to have a more active role in what their kids learn. Censorship gives parents a chance to express their concerns about what their children are being taught. They can request to have certain topics and materials removed from the lesson plan if they believe it can be harmful, discriminating, or offensive to their race, culture, religion, or values. Censoring children’s literature may additionally serve the cause of regulating what a child may be introduced to, however, it additionally diminishes a child’s intellectual, spiritual, and emotional connection to the book or its characters without proper reason. To elaborate, imagine a child who has suffered from a sexual attack and reveals intellectual and emotional solitude while reading one of his or her favorite books. The censorship banning of certain books helps protect children from the sensitive issues and situations of the world that they should only see at an older and more mature age. Books with cruel language and mature thoughts and circumstances should only be read by teens or young adults. As the ages mature, students are more likely to understand the content of the book. Also, students are less likely to be frightened by language and rough text activities than younger children. Young children can be influenced and these types of books can leave behind uncomfortable thoughts and influence children’s behavior today and in the future.

Conclusion

It is definitely a difficult decision to make because the life of the children depends on this doing. In reading books, you are able to explore various parts of life. But some books are just really inappropriate for them to read at a young age. It can affect their perspectives in life which they will bring with them until they grow old. With bad perspectives, they might hurt other people and also hurt themselves. In the scholarly discussion of the issue, it is stated that children’s books are subjected to censorship constraints even before it is published. This is to prevent spreading potentially contentious portions in the books, once these portions are spread it may cause misconceptions and misunderstanding about the important details in the book. The statistics are also shown in this part of the paper which states that censoring books have various challenges such as its reasons, initiators, and institution. All of these aspects are huge challenges that books are facing even before their publication. It was actually surprising for us that the most common reason is sexually explicit which only shows how important it really is to preserve the child’s purity against books that depicts sexual and inappropriate actions or dialogues. As stated in the clear statement of our stance, children’s innocence must be well-protected, as peers, we have the responsibility to assist and guide them away from books that contain violence, inappropriate gestures, harmful, offensive words, and sexual behavior. If they are exposed to these acts at a young age, they will be confused and curious as to what these acts really mean. So, it is much better to keep them away from books that are inappropriate for them. They should stick to books that have good moral lessons which will make them better citizens of our country. As the late Michael Jackson said, ‘In their innocence, very young children know themselves to be light and love. If we will allow them, they can teach us to see ourselves the same way.”

Citations

1. Bush, Ally. “The little-known history of banned books in the United States”. Published under Reading Partners on September 28, 2020, https: reading partners. orgbloghistory-banned-books-week
2. Butler University, “Banned Books: Reasons Books are Challenged” Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License in September 2017, https:libguides.butler.edubannedbooks?p=217686
3. Kennedy, Elizabeth. ‘Kids’ Book Censorship: The Who and Why.’ ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, https:www.thoughtco.comchildrens-book-censorship-overview-626315
4. https: oxford.comliteratureview10.1093acrefore9780190201098.001.0001acrefore-9780190201098-e-71?mediaType=Article
5. https:www.123helpme.comessayAdvantages-And-Disadvantages-Of-Censorship-Of-Childrens-528926

Censorship Thesis Statement

Based on my understanding of the Broadcasting Act 1988, I’ve to disagree with the statement because freedom of expression and censorship policy are both essential to a country’s development and growth. Censorship policy is a necessity for media because content that is published through the media must always be checked and filtered in order to prevent harmful and misleading content to reach the public. Examples are sex-related scenes, violence, and gore scenes, and some to the extent of causing racial controversy among the people. It is true that the contents found in media are not 100% true and authentic; However, if too much truth and info are exposed to the public, then how certain are we that the public is ready to accept all the facts?

Secondly, freedom of expression is essential for a democratic country to grow and develop succeedingly without the abuse of power. Freedom of expression also allow different views and opinions to be voiced out to the public and a country such as Malaysia that has citizens of diverse race, religion, and culture can share their beliefs and be more aware. In addition, freedom of expression has many beneficial effects on society. Freedom of expression also opens opportunities for citizens to take part in decision-making of the country such as the right to vote. Furthermore, citizens can voice out their thoughts and opinion freely without being judged. We refer to freedom of expression rather than freedom of speech because it is more accurately conveyed that it does not have to be words that are said but by the acts that we did.

However, freedom of expression may cause harm to others and if it is not controlled properly, libel and slander might occur and conflict will happen. A good example will be the case of Wee Meng Chee aka Namewee that has caused a racial controversy by putting a video of our national anthem with racial slur in it. So this is why freedom of expression should be controlled even though it is necessary for a democratic society. As we can see, freedom of expression and censorship policy synchronizes together and a democratic country could not grow with just one and without the other.

That boils up to the point, is all this restriction and limitation really necessary and needed? I will say it’s very important to be able to balance both freedom of expression and censorship policy. We need to have strong moral values in order to be able to filter contents that are useful and content that may be harmful and malicious. We the people of the country are actually the cause of all the conflict and controversy that has happened in our nation. As long as we are not educated with proper moral values and ethics, there will always be issues regarding censorship policy and freedom of expression. There is a saying: “With great power, comes great responsibility”. Based on that quote, I believe that both freedom of expression and censorship policy can be a very useful tool if we were to use it wisely but it can also be a very destructive weapon if we do not imply wisdom in using it.

There must be boundaries and limitations concerning freedom of expression because more and more individuals are starting to rise up and make a stand by voicing their opinion. It is a good thing that we are able to listen and share different views and opinions. If freedom of expression is used with the intent of helping others and bringing unity then those kinds of acts and speeches should not be blocked and restricted. A very good example pertaining to the good use of freedom of expression is the issue of Martin Luther King. Quoting his speech, he said that we should face hostility with peace. If the public can have mature and rational thinking like Martin Luther King then freedom of expression can lead to a good thing.

Internet Censorship: Pros and Cons Essay

Is Internet Censorship Justified within a Democracy?

Prompt: Under what circumstances, if any, can censorship of the media be justified in a democracy, and what are the potential dangers? Give examples to illustrate your answer

In any democracy, not all information is made public, as information flows and circulates throughout a society, there is a regulation of information and censorship that is controlled by a government. The governing body of a democracy picks and chooses what is necessary to dispel to the public in order to ensure the safety and protection of society. Control can be established over the press, advertisements, oral communication, and mass media. Though it should be a fundamental right for a democracy to have access to vital information, in some regards, censorship can be justified within a democracy. Censorship can be justified in terms of protecting society from false information that challenges the creditability of the media and limiting extremist views in order to prevent violence and terrorism. Though there is justifiable censorship, particular measures of censorship can spawn potential dangers to a given society.

Censorship has played a role in human history for decades. Within the digital media age, censorship is only going to increase for the next decades to come. Censorship has already become a normal routine surveillance within many countries. Censorship is defined as “the power to suppress parts of books, films, letters, news, etc. on the grounds of obscenity, risk to security” (Oppenheim & Smith, 2004). With this definition of censorship, it alludes to being necessary when there is a risk to society. Censorship is supposed to be an ally to the public by providing inclusion, safety, and accurate information.

One’s view of the world is largely influenced by the media one consumes rather than one’s own personal experience. The media has extreme power over what views people might formulate while digesting such media. In a democracy, freedom and access to information are understood as necessary operations to ensure the development and protection of individual rights. In the digital age, internet media is a hive for society members to post ideas and opinions regarding the particular economic climate of a democracy. Citizens deserve the right to be able to publish and speak their views in order to advance the greater good of society. People need access to unbiased information to form ideas and make necessary opinions on important topics. An issue with retrieving news online is the creditability of said news sources. While online, it can be difficult to see past uncredited sources of information. In the modern world, people have the right to create fraudulent sources of news and information. Along with the creation of fake news, people also have used the internet to promote extremist agendas that unlawfully target particular demographics and nationalities. Views that are extremist, can pose a threat to society. Extremist views can promote terrorist attacks that can put the general public in danger. Misinformation that is distorted and inaccurate has the possibility to derail ones thinking and give one a misperception of the world. Censorship in this instance, can be justified to protect the moral and political principles of a society. No longer is censorship limited to printed media and films, it is extremely relevant in the age of the internet. Censorship can be justified if it is able to protect the greater good of society.

Internet news is abundant and easily available nowadays (Lu and Andrews, 2006). The majority of people turn to the Internet as opposed to other traditional news outlets because of its convenience. It is estimated in a research study conducted by the Pew Research Center that “43% of Americans report often getting news online, just 7 percentage points lower than the 50% who often get news on television” ( Gottfried and Shearer, 2017). Television has long dominated as the main source of news, however, since the rise of the internet, television has been decreasing as the main source. The internet is rapidly taking its place as the new main source of news information. This new-found reliance on internet news “poses a threat to the accuracy of news being distributed. Due to the nature of the internet such as the anonymity of sender location, the role of the sender, and even the identity of the sender, there are few barriers to stop people from publishing on the internet” ( Mehrabi, Hassan, & Sham Shahkat Ali, 2009). With the common person having access to post anything they want online, this poses a threat to the accuracy of the information that circulates online. Many online sources of today are not fact-checked, have no creditable sources, and are filled with false accusations. These particular matters have been linked with concerns of “fabricated or false quotation and other type of information counterfeit”(Fogg, 2003). According to Gorman a professor at the Victoria University of Wellington, he explains “censorship that is directly involved in the regulation of information flows serves as the considerably important measure that can protect society from disinformation” (Gorman, 2007). Censorship can be an ally in limiting the disinformation of certain websites. Another supporter of Internet censorship mentions that along with controlling disinformation, “information over the Internet carries a certain amount of potentially harmful or illegal content that can instigate criminal activities and terrorism” (Cohen, 1997). Along with the inaccuracy of information, this information can spawn more criminal activity and terrorism. Censorship can be used as a tool to prevent misinformation from spreading online. Disinformation is dangerous since it can inaccurately inform viewers of important current events. The internet has no checks and balances of information that is published online which could be a threat to society. With the internet having a wide and diverse audience of viewers who use sites as sources for information, censorship can provide better sources to its given society so they can be more accurately informed. Education is the backbone of society, members of a democracy need to be accurately informed in order to make logical decisions to advance a country. The censorship of inaccurate and non-fact-checked news can be beneficial for those seeking hard and factual news on the internet. Censorship is justifiable because it can prevent and protect citizens from false information.

The government is justified in using censorship to protect the public from terrorism and extremism that can be found on the internet. Extremism is a national security issue that affects everyone in a particular society. Censorship can be used to limit the spread of extremism and to prevent dangerous and racist extremist views from being posted online. For example, Islamic extremism is considered to be a poetically dangerous issue in Kazakhstan (Rywkin, 2005: 441). However, due to the government’s response to controlling extremist media, dangerous and threatening extremist viewpoints do not pose a threat to security any longer. By censoring dangerous media, it has proven to limit the threats that were once a concern to society. This example provides context to how censorship can be beneficial to limiting such dangers.

The blurred lines that come with the term “national security “is where the potential dangers of censorship arise. The problem is that the concept of ‘national security’ is vaguely defined and can be interpreted in a way that the authorities want it to be interpreted (Wolfers, 1952: 481 – 482). The government is left to define what they feel is a threat to national security. Some governments may use this as a way to suppress their democracy. This then allows the government to suppress the freedom of expression, silencing certain racial and ethnic groups, and other human rights by defining it as protection of the state. Along with this, censorship of what is said online poses a huge threat to the right to free speech. The diversity of content online should not be limited if the government is not in favor of the ideas posted. Of course, the government should monitor online speech that is looking to harm and threaten the safety of society members. However, giving the government power to censor what each person posts online can do more harm than good. Giving the government this power to limit speech online it puts free speech in danger. The internet should stay as a breeding ground for new practices and ideas without limitation. The danger of absolute control over the web can weaken and limit a democracies ability to freely think and make educated choices.

The idea and intent of censorship in a society may deem as unjust and a limitation to the freedom of speech and ideas. However, in some cases, censorship could be beneficial in providing accurate news sources and limiting extremism that might be a danger to a given society. More and more, people are turning to the internet to form political ideas and conclusions. The issue with this has to deal with fraudulent news that is broadcasted on the internet. There are no checks and balances on the web that can prevent the spread of fake news. In relation, harmful and hateful speech has a home online without regulation. This form of hate speech can put particular demographics in danger. Though censorship has the possibility to limit dangerous acts of terrorism from spawning, the danger of letting the government control what is deemed as a threat to national security is unsettling. Giving the government the power to limit certain media outlets can halt the progression of society and stop the sharing of ideas. Censorship is still a slippery slope because it is not guaranteed to stop these social issues. In some instances, it has the power to worsen these issues and make them more prevalent in other forms. Censorship is justifiable if it can provide an unbiased and accurate approach to bettering the news that appears on the web. Censorship can also be justifiable for protecting the public from terrorism and extremism that can be found on the internet. More research needs to be done on censorship before any actions take place in the future.

Works Cited

1. Bitso, C., Fourie, I. and Bothma, T. J. (2013). Trends in transition from classical censorship to Internet censorship: selected country overviews. Innovation, 46 (1), 166 – 191.
2. Censorship in libraries – Charles Oppenheim and Victoria Smith Cohen, T. 1997. Censorship and the regulation of speech on the Internet. Johannesburg: Centre for Applied Legal Studies.
3. Fogg, B. J., 2003. persuasive technology: using computers to change what we think and do. San Francisco: Morgan Kaufman Publishers.
4. Gorman, G. (2007). A tale of information ethics and encyclopædias; or, is Wikipedia just another internet scam? Online Information Review, 31(3), 273-276.
5. Gottfried, J., & Shearer, E. (2017, September 7). Internet closes in on TV as a source of news in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/09/07/americans-online-news-use-vs-tv-news-use/.
6. Lu, H., and Andrews, J. E., 2006. College Students’ Perception of the Absolute Media Credibility about SARS-Related News during the SARS Outbreak in Taiwan. China Media Research, 2(2), 85-93.
7. Mehrabi, D. (2009, November 1). News Media Credibility of the Internet and Television. Retrieved January 8, 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Davood_Mehrabi/publication/228679972_News_media_credibility_of_the_internet_and_television/links/5b4c8ac4aca272c60947c2a2/News-media-credibility-of-the-internet-and-television.pdf.
8. O’Malley, T., & Soley, C. (2000). Regulating the press. London: Pluto Press. RYWKIN, M. I. C. H. A. E. L. (n.d.). Stability in Central Asia: Engaging Kazakhstan. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233221083_Stability_in_Central_Asia_Engaging_Kazakhst
9. Feintuck, M., & Varney, M. (2013). Media regulation, public interest, and the law. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. Press.
10. Wolfers, A. (1952). ‘National Security’ as an Ambiguous Symbol. Political Science Quarterly, 67(4), 481-502. doi:10.2307/2145138

Censorship in Schools: Pros and Cons Essay

For my issues paper I chose to write about the pros and cons of censorship in public and public school libraries. As I researched, my understanding of exactly what censorship is changed quite a bit from the rudimentary understanding I had before. As a result, I came to realize just how complicated of an issue it really is and why there hasn’t (in many minds) been a truly universal solution thus far. Librarians of course have principles and codes they have chosen to uphold, however (as most idealistic intentions have in common) humans are not so black and white as we might wish to be. There are also widespread and very reasonable concerns about minors’ access to inappropriate material before they are ready for it. This is what makes for a complicated dilemma as these lawful rights and the perceived potential to harm children conflict with each other. I will delve into this complex quandary, first exploring the cons (and later the pros) of censorship in public schools.

According to Dr. McElrath’s Module 7 PowerPoint presentation, censorship is defined as “examining resources for the purpose of removing, suppressing, banning, prohibiting, labeling, prescribing, restricting, exorcising, or deleting (including due to being deemed objectionable on moral, religious, political, military, or other grounds).” It is in direct opposition to the First Amendment right to free speech as well as the Library Bill of Rights (while not technically an official law, is still a code librarians are expected to operate by – regardless of their own beliefs and values). Contrary to what many likely believe, these rights apply to minors as well. The ALA website states “Library procedures that deny minors equitable access to all library resources available to other users violate the Library Bill of Rights. The ALA opposes all attempts to restrict access based on the age of library users” (“Interpretations”). So censoring materials goes against the very law and core of librarianship, regardless of the library setting or the age of the patrons. This alone is a highly compelling argument against censorship.

Filtering the internet is an exceedingly common practice currently used in public schools (as well as many public libraries). CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) “requires any public or school library that is to receive federal eRate funding to have Internet use policies and to install technology that blocks or filters Internet content that has been deemed harmful to minors” (Childs). However, when steps are taken to censor materials online in this way, it often causes its own fair share of problems. There is often the issue of under or overclocking; either not being efficient enough (some students even being savvy enough to hack through the blocking), or too efficient (blocking school appropriate and/or useful websites) – further impairing student learning. Due to overclocking, students or patrons may have to ask to be unblocked which can lead to a violation of privacy as well as a feeling of suspicion (which may cause patrons to hesitate if they even choose to ask at all).

Rubin (493-494) argues that censorship inhibits the need to educate future generations, stating “Others contend that a comprehensive education involves exposing students to many different points of view and teaching them the critical thinking skills necessary to make well-reasoned decisions.” Anderson discusses how, while librarians are human with their own personal beliefs (political, religious, etc.), it is important that they do not allow themselves to become activists to further their own agenda – “critical that they are objective and unbiased, curating a well-rounded collection that contains a wide array of viewpoints.” If students are only exposed to a narrow set of perspectives, then their intellectual vision will also be narrow (similar to the old saying “small towns breed small minds”). It is also fair to say that these children will grow up one day to be a part of the “real world” (which includes sexuality, violence, profanity, etc.). So to attempt to shield them entirely from that until adulthood is not exactly realistic (naivete after all has its own set of dangers). Kinkaid’s article discusses a helpful set of procedures to follow if ever met with opposition over censorship. These include making sure all staff knows the policies, how to deal with an angry stakeholder, being knowledgeable on the materials in question and prepared to justify their inclusion, and being well versed in the First Amendment and Library Bill of Rights.

Everyone has different perspectives, and in certain areas of the United States, many may share harmful ideals against a marginalized group. If the librarians of such a given area act upon that shared culture, purposefully failing to curate literature including that/those groups, then that will likely make those groups feel unwelcome and perhaps even as if they are walking into a hostile environment (which is the opposite of what libraries are supposed to stand for). This also sets up that area to continue that cycle of narrow viewpoints for generations to come. Peet’s article goes on to discuss the allowance of hate group’s literature in the library as well as their use of the meeting rooms (in this particular instance the KKK). It is questioned whether that is truly still considered a safe place if their presence (due to their violent history, even if they are not being overtly hostile) perpetuates a feeling of the opposite (especially to those marginalized groups their hate is directed towards). James LaRue (Director of the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom) makes the fair point, however, that “as long as they are following the rules of conduct” then to deny them access to express their First Amendment rights sets a dangerous precedent for other groups. He also makes sure to point out that any such group meetings do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the library (and its staff) but that they must uphold the right to free speech To not allow one group would open up the doors for any other group to be disallowed for any incongruence with any given staff member’s personal beliefs.

While intellectual freedom is currently backed by the First Amendment, laws can always change and many continue to fight for censorship (of materials for minors especially). Reasons for censorship include “profanity, sexuality, religion/witchcraft, violence/horror, rebellion, racism/sexism, substance use/abuse, suicide/death, crime, crude behavior, and depressing/ negative tone” (Rickman). In spite of First Amendment rights, it is largely agreed that children should not have free access to all of the media and literature that exists in the world (and there is not much educationally to gain from exposing a 7-year-old to literature or media containing extreme violence and sexuality). There is much that they are simply not capable of fully understanding yet, which can lead to a multitude of negative outcomes. The question is, how is it possible to protect children without infringing on their rights?

Some schools are trying to find ways to compromise and still incorporate books (that may be seen as objectionable) while allowing parents to make the final decision on what their child reads. A Delaware school sends home permission slips so they could be given an alternate (still aligned to the subject matter) book to read if they are opposed to the assigned one (Censorship dateline). This is seen by many as “soft censorship” as it is essentially “poisoning the well” to have to get permission (as there is an implication that the materials contain objectionable or inappropriate material). However, it does give parents some control over what their child is reading while not affecting the learning of other students. Some other districts are using opt-out policies where parents can view the year’s upcoming curriculum/book lists and opt-out of certain books (again having similar, yet more “unoffensive” books substituted). Dana Nahlen makes a good point that “the only way you get to where no one opts out is if you take all diversity of thought out of the literature” (Censorship dateline). Be that as it may, should it not be the parent’s final decision on what their child is exposed to? Even the ALA itself purports a similar message “We affirm the responsibility and the right of all parents and guardians to guide their own children’s use of the library and its resources and services” (“Libraries”).

School libraries are in a unique situation as they also have “loco parentis” responsibilities (meaning they essentially act in place of the parents), and parents thus “expect schools to protect their children from harm, including from ‘unhealthy’ materials” (Rubin 515 ). While the “ALA recognizes the importance of specifically addressing the needs of school library media centers…attempts to restrict use or access should be resisted” (Rubin 515-516). Unfortunately not much was then said on exactly how to address these unique needs (without censorship). It seems there is not much other option than to in some way censor materials – whether that be through filtering, opt-outs/permission slips, and/or choosing books for curriculum that do not contain any or very little “objectionable” material. That being said, as the grade levels go up those types of books are much more difficult to find, and thus by their very nature less likely to provide a well-rounded education/variance in perspectives.

At the same time, choosing age/emotionally-appropriate literature is important and in effect, there has to be some kind of censorship happening. There may be a book out there written to a 2nd grader’s reading level, but if it contains sexual situations and copious profanity (despite possibly having wonderful educational content) it is realistically not going to be chosen for the school reading list. While minors technically have First Amendment rights, there is no doubt some form of censorship happening when most educators are selecting books (especially due to the subjective nature of what is objectionable) and most parents are going to support that. Even public libraries can feel this pressure – “to ensure the survival of the library – those who wish to restrict materials often threaten to campaign against funding for library services, thus threatening the survival of the library itself” – and may partake in subtle self-censoring to keep their stakeholders happy (Rubin 547). This practice is typically done under the radar due to being difficult to prove as there are many reasons certain books may not be selected (such as budget or lack of interest) (R.S.).

In summation, it is clear why this is such a complicated and controversial issue. On the one hand, censorship is a violation of rights, and it is clear what a dangerous precedent it sets (the current state of North Korea is just one example). On the other hand, it is generally agreed that there is a lot of media that children should not be exposed to too early. Admittedly, while writing this paper I had difficulty finding articles in favor of censorship. This is likely due to the fact that the databases used are rooted in a college that offers an MLS degree and of course, colleges in general are against censorship. Any mention of the reasons or desires for censorship was typically met with an opposing viewpoint by the author. However, there are some fair points where children are concerned (especially in this digital age where everything is accessible online). Movies have age restrictions (that can of course be overridden by parents), so why not books? If it would cause more harm than good for children to be exposed to it, then would it not be a reasonable practice?

At the same time restricting items often has the opposite effect, causing the item to become even more desirable. This very thing happened to me recently, when a suicide scene was removed from the popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (based on a book by the same title). Before its removal, I had the show on my watch list but wasn’t in any big rush to get to it. The fact that this scene had now been removed made me very curious and I even admittedly attempted (unsuccessfully) to find the clip online. Two interviewed students expressed the same thoughts in the Isajlovic-Terry article, even listing ways they got around their school’s attempts to restrict what they could check out (including having an older sibling check it out for them, sneak it home and read it without their parent’s knowledge, etc.).

The only real solution I have personally come to is that intellectual freedom must be upheld, but that parental involvement and encouraging age-appropriate reading is also important. As the old saying goes, “raise up a child in the way he should go and he will not turn from it.” If parents hold certain beliefs and values, then it should be a continual discussion in the home and children should have a pretty clear idea of what is expected of them (for a perhaps extreme example – not searching for pornography on the school laptop or checking out “50 Shades of Gray” when they are only in the 3rd Grade). If a parent opposes literature being read in school, they should have the right to request an alternative book. At the end of the day, I believe that libraries should not be censored, but that parents ultimately have the right to decide what is appropriate for their child.

Works Cited

1. Anderson, Judy. “Intellectual Freedom Equals Individual Freedom.” Journal of Information Ethics, vol. 27, no. 2, Fall 2018, pp. 7–12. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=133682175&site=ehost-live.
2. Best, Rickey. “Censorship or Selection? Academic Library Holdings Of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2007.” Education Libraries, vol. 33, no. 2, Winter 2010, pp. 18–35. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=58489279&site=ehost-live.
3. “Censorship Dateline: Schools.” Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, vol. 64, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 7–22. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=102304921&site=ehost-live.
4. Childs, Laura. “To Uphold and Resist: Protecting Intellectual Freedom through Progressive Librarianship.” Serials Librarian, vol. 73, no. 1, Sept. 2017, pp. 58–67. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/0361526X.2016.1270248.
5. “Filters and Filtering.” Advocacy, Legislation & Issues, ALA American Library Association, May 2017, www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/filtering.
6. “Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.” Advocacy, Legislation & Issues, ALA American Library Association, 2018, www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations.
7. Isajlovic-Terry, Natasha, and Lynne (E. F. McKechnie. “An Exploratory Study of Children’s Views of Censorship.” Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, vol. 10, no. 1, Spring 2012, pp. 38–43. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=75044356&site=ehost-live.
8. Kincaid, Courtney, and Brooke King. “Fire Up About CENSORSHIP.” Texas Library Journal, vol. 94, no. 1, Spring 2018, pp. 12–13. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=128726902&site=ehost-live.
9. “Libraries: An American Value.” American Library Association, ALA American Library Association, 3 Feb. 1999, www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/americanvalue.
10. McElrath, Dr. Eileen. “Module 7 Censorship Summer 2019.” PowerPoint presentation. Accessed 17 July 2019.
11. “Minors and Online Activity: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights.” Advocacy, Legislation & Issues, ALA American Library Association, 24 June 2019, www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/minorsonlineactivity.
12. Peet, Lisa, and Kara Yorio. “First Amendment Debate.” School Library Journal, vol. 64, no. 8, Aug. 2018, pp. 12–13. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=131053818&site=ehost-live.
13. Request. “Professional Ethics.” Tools, Publications & Resources, ALA American Library Association, 6 May 2019, www.ala.org/tools/ethics.
14. Rickman, Wendy. “A Study of Self-Censorship by School Librarians.” School Library Media Research, vol. 13, Jan. 2010, pp. 1–21. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=126492386&site=ehost-live.
15. R. S. “Here’s Why It’s Censorship.” Horn Book Magazine, vol. 83, no. 3, May 2007, p. 228. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=24638990&site=ehost-live.
16. Rubin, Richard. Foundations of Library and Information Science, 4th ed. NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2016.
17. Scales, Pat. “Age-Appropriate Reading.” School Library Journal, vol. 63, no. 4, Apr. 2017, p. 24. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=122345155&site=ehost-live.

What Is Censorship in Art: Critical Essay

Writer, academic, and free speech activist Svetlana Mintcheva encapsulates the power of art by acknowledging its inherent duality and emphasizing its vitality to culture as a catalyst for social change. Artistic expression is fundamental to the development of all societies, broadening people’s perspectives on different political, cultural, and social issues. It not only serves as a tool of introspection but also as a means of questioning the world around us. Artistic expression has long been recognized as a fundamental human right. And yet, censorship of art is a prominent contemporary issue restricting the function of the artist, and consequently containing the potential for art to “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable”.

My PIP analyses the role and influence of external censorship (moral, aesthetic, and political) on self-censorship, and the implications this has on artistic expression. I compare how censorship operates within Australian and Chinese cultures to understand if it occurs regardless of the cultural context. My aim is to reveal how external censorship at the macro level is internalized by the individual and influences the individual to self-censor, therefore profoundly inhibiting self-expression.

Both primary and secondary research methods were integral in developing my understanding of censorship culture in relation to artistic expression. My personal reflection was integral to articulate my own experience as an individual engaged with the arts, and how this has influenced the opinions I hold on self-censorship. The questionnaire concerning engagement with social media platforms and the public’s understanding of censorship served as an effective tool to deduce the importance placed on self-expression and the ability to express oneself through digital media platforms in Australian culture. Both content analyses aided in analyzing common themes and subject matter between various censored works by Chinese and Australian artists, which gave me an indication of themes that are censored irrespective of the culture in which they are created. In addition to this, extensive secondary research provided me with a variety of perspectives that have expanded my understanding of censorship culture and how it functions in the art world.

The introduction of new media as an aspect of modernization is a central change that I identify as fundamental to understanding the various guises modern censorship operates under, and the influence it has had on the interpretation of modern art. I also focus on the repression of artistic expression through moral, political, and aesthetic censorship as a universal continuity that has sustained itself across cultures.

My cross-cultural component focuses on the change in censorship according to cultural context. I look at the existing differences between censorship in China compared to Australia and the extent to which they impact artistic expression. By comparing two seemingly opposing cultures, I am able to infer the extent to which culture influences self-censorship.

This project has allowed me to not only reflect on the presence of censorship in wider society, but it has also raised my awareness of its influence on the individual. I have developed a passion for understanding the power dynamics involved in censorship, and in particular, how the agents of censorship (moral, political, and aesthetic) interact with the individual to create an ideal situation where the licensee becomes the censor.