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Media censorship in terms of movies
Essays on hollywood censorship in the 1950s
Media censorship in terms of movies
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The History of Early Hollywood Censorship Cinema was born during the industrial revolution while social progressivism was well underway. This movement fought to bring about social change through many mediums, a notable one being cinema. By regulating what is and is not acceptable to be shown in any form of medium, it becomes much easier to create and enforce both new and current cultural and social norms. Because of how large and influential the film industry has become, we can now truly see how heavily its censorship affects our beliefs, our values, and our society as a whole.
The first censorship law was passed in 1897 by Maine regarding the sport of boxing only three days after the boxing match was first filmed and distributed. This was
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This was because there were so many scandals of celebrities at the time and there was building pressure for censorship in hopes that it could help Hollywood become morally upstanding again. There were over 100 bills submitted to congress in 1921 in regards to censorship and “protecting the common good” (FilmmakerIQ). The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America was Hollywood’s answer to the threats of censorship. They attempted to come together and pay $150,000 a year in order to lessen the stress between Hollywood and Washington by lobbying for the advantage of the …show more content…
Free expression in films was allowed and highly encouraged. Because of how heavily the censorship was in the past, sex and violence in films were much more effective and drew large crowds. It wasn’t long after in 1968 that Jack Valenti, a chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America created the first version of the film rating system that we still use today. Films are no longer censored, rather they are put into different categories depending on what audiences are deemed to be the appropriate viewers. Luckily for the industry, free expression
In the 1930s and 1940s many Hollywood writers, actors, producers, and directors were suspected for communist affiliations. During this time, communism was a popular political movement in the United States, especially among young liberals. There was a growing fear of communism invading American society. By the end of World War Two an event known as the Red Scare resulted in communism become increasingly feared and hated by many in the United States. The Hollywood blacklist caused the Hollywood industry a lot of harm in its business and reputation.
The idea of Hollywood, before it was Hollywood as we know it seems foreign. However, it did exist and was known as "Pre-code." Pre-code Hollywood refers to the era in the American film industry between the introduction of sound in the late 1920's and the enforcement of the Hays Code censorship guidelines, which went into effect on June 13, 1934 (Association of Motion Picture Producers 1934). Durin...
First up and possibly the most prominent example of censorship in 1950s America is the House un-American Activities Committee. Basically, it was a massive effort to censor Communist Activities that stemmed from the Red Scare in America. After World War II, Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin struck fear into the hearts of Americans by claiming that 205 Communists had infiltrated the United States Government (Simkin). As he went around accusing many people of being communist, fear and hysteria reined America....
The change in the U.S. can be said to be a social revolution. People were growing sick of the same old movies, they wanted a change and Hollywood needed to deliver or else they would lose their audience to the TV. In the early 60's, the studios were still afraid of the blacklisting so the films were still very safe. An example of this is the film Sound of Music (1965). This was a film about a musical family that needed to escape the Nazi presence. Although the movie is based on a true story, they still follow the same old idea of a nice family, who must escape from the clutches of evil. Basically, the movie is saying good guys win and bad guys always lose. Sure this how most films are made but there is no sense of change, no differences in the style or way it was made. Since there was no change, the public was not interested. The TV was much more convenient and kept the publics interested.
Many Americans love films, the meanings behind those films and the impact some films have on people’s lives. Ever since films were created there have been people and organizations that have tried to censor and block what the public can and cannot see. Even to this day there are certain things that if put on film because of censorship, would never make it to the public. This is very sad. Film is one of this country’s great expressive outlets. Many filmmakers and the people who enjoy what these filmmakers put out are effected by the horrible concept of censorship. When a film is put out to the public it is first reviewed by a movie rating board who then assigns the film a rating to tell people what age groups the film is suitable for and what the film contains. Movie selection for minors should solely be the responsibility of that child’s parent, not some critic that watches films and then makes decisions for other people about who can watch it and who can’t. People just need to start to understand the real meaning of free speech and expression in this country. Too many people are taking it for granted. People who are for the censorship of films may argue that it’s for the good of our children, shielding them from violence and sex, and not exposing them to something that they claim may be mentally harm...
... middle of paper ... ... Larry Ceplair and Englund stated in the book The Inquisition in Hollywood, “The destruction of the motion picture Left not only transformed the political atmosphere in Hollywood, but also adversely affected the kind of product which the studios turned out. “ In the early 20th century Hollywood reframed from producing politically controversial films in fear of becoming a target of McCarthy or the HUAC.
Censorship is explained for many reasons, and has existed for a long time as people have been writing books. "In ancient times, when hand-scribed books existed in only one or few copies, destroying them guaranteed that no one would ever read them". The invention of the printing press, however,
Censorship has been a big part of the world’s history and especially America’s history. One of the most quoted amendments to the United States constitution is the first amendment; “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ...” This amendment guaranteeing free speech, press, and religion is still heavily debated and contested today. Censorship, as a challenge to free speech and press has been allowed many times and has been heavily debated itself. Many people censor for many different reasons and in many different forms. Censorship itself is not always a bad thing and has in some cases been used for protection of the general population.
- This image might have inspired Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451 since in the image they show university students burning books that have 'unGerman' ideas. I personally think that for them, 'unGerman' apparently means; ideas that don't please their leader. In the website provided, there is a statement said by a German-Jewish poet; "Where books are burned, human beings are destined to be burned too." This specific quote personally leaves me thinking that if they didn't hesitate in burning the books that contained information that didn't please their leader, they certainly wouldn't hesitate in killing a human being that went against their beliefs/ideas or government.
One could easily dismiss movies as superficial, unnecessarily violent spectacles, although such a viewpoint is distressingly pessimistic and myopic. In a given year, several films are released which have long-lasting effects on large numbers of individuals. These pictures speak
Society tends to associate propaganda films with issues such as Nazi Germany and their film messages for their country; however, it is also possible for small independent companies, groups of like-minded people and individuals to use the media of film to incorporate messages for our society (The Independent, 2010). These messages are often in relation to changes that individuals should make in order to improve the standards by which they live their lives and changes to everyday habits that will benefit the individual, the individual’s family, a group of individuals or even a single person (Barnhisel and Turner, 2010).
Censorship is the act of strictly examining books, movies, and other media and suppressing unacceptable parts. But this implores the question, who attains the right to decide what is acceptable and what is not? Kenneth Donelson, author of “A Few Safe Assumptions about Censorship and the Censor,” bluntly declares that any book, idea, teaching method, etc. could be censored by anyone, anywhere, anytime, for any reason (1973). This idea that anybody and everybody can censor anything and everything for whatever reason puts any and every book, movie, etc. in danger. Many sources of media are censored for what seem like illogical or even
America needs the MPAA to censor itself, without it, the government can step in and excise whatever they deem inappropriate. At the start of the MPAA, 1922, United States Postmaster General Will H. Hays was appoin...
With the popularity of film culture experiencing a drastic increase, a large amount of what happens on screen is mirrored in our society. Movies can evoke thoughts and emotions that shape the average man’s ideals, sometimes even stirring up propaganda that pressures governments to create new laws.
The word censorship dates back to the sixth century B.C. in the Roman Empire. Roman officials titled censors would assess citizen’s property, and they would proclaim its value. The wealthier a citizen was the more rights that citizen received. Censorship is defined presently as the suppression of all or part of a publication, play, or film considered offensive or a treat. Unfortunately due to current political and social circumstances, or just very wealthy right winged conservatives; the oppression of censorship has been stretched over the very head of the first amendment like the lower lip of a man stretched over his head. Countless times in our society we find cases of over censoring, causing many to question whether or not censorship has a rightful place anymore?