What is censorship and how does it affect us?

I need to do a report on censorship (mainly in the u.s although other countries would be good too) and how how it affects us and what the pros and cons are. Yes, I know that most think it is solely evil, but this needs to be unbiased. What kinds of things could I talk about? How does it work?

 

Talk about censorship in films

 

it was really hard to not edit your post just for the lulz

 

what is wrong with it?

 

What level is this report aimed at?

The thing is that censorship can be overt or covert, subtle or unsubtle.

For example ‘Fox News’ declares itself ‘fair and balanced’, is it? For the censor the best type of censorship is the one that isn’t noticed but their audience.

A communist locked in a room full of aggressive tea party supporters may think twice about giving a lecture about the virtues of Marxism.

But if you are in a society in which some political views are deem taboo is that censorship?

I have an American friend who grew up in 1950’s Midwest - that being curious about communism bought the ‘Communist Manifesto’ by Marx and Engels – when her fellow students at her high school found out she was spat on and ostracised, they knew ‘communism’ was wrong they didn’t need to find out about it. She wasn’t a communist and didn’t become a communist but just the fact she wanted to find out about it was enough to bring about that reaction.

 

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Did you see the Freida Kahlo Movie ? it stars Salma Hayeck.

In the movie Freida's Companion/husband: Diego Rivera who is a noted Mexican artist receives a commision to paint a mural on a wall in New York City.

The person who hires Diego Rivera is John Rockefeler the mural was to be painted in the brand new Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. This is in the late 1930's

Rivera wins approval for his proposal and begins his work. He later adds a representation of Karl Marx to the mural which Rockefeler objects to resulting in a stand-off between the two.

The flick is set in the background of the intelectualy turbulent 1930's and has a cameo by Leon Trotsky.

 

Censorship by omission is just as reprehensible. Remember the black lady that mentioned in a speech that she didn't feel like she wanted to help a white farmer in her postion as a government functionary. Then she went on to say that she learned a valuable lesson about people and prejudice from him and was glad to help him? Only the first part was published or spoken about by Faux and their ilk,and really got some people stirred up--until the record was set straight. She got he usual treatment by the dirty tricks folks.

 

censorship.

 

Censorship?... here? never lulz

 

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To the above two examples, I might add the vice of Self-censorship.

Many of those who view Faux, read The WSJ or News of The World or some other Murdoch vehicle will not venture to seek an opposing viewpoint.

Even newspaper coverage have becomee so polarized that it is a must to seek the other side in order to aquire an informed opinion.

One might read of the same issue in say the N.Y. Times and the WSJ and hardly know that you are reading about the same thing.

It is unconfortable to see oposing viewpoints un-welcome within a press organ. This allows the public to tailor news consumption to fit thier particular view-point.

 

Censorship is the opinion of others who think they know better, telling no, instructing the people of what we can do, what we can do, where we can do it, when we can do things etc
The controlling of freedom of choice - meThinks

 

Come on, It's got to be worse than that. We can in this way hide our thoughts instead, and in due course fight the system. Thus there is this way of dealing with propaganda, and have an appropriate way of life in democracy after all.

Freedom maybe should be against thought control.:2thumbsup: