To Be or Not To Be Censored
Censoring Material is a common occurrence in America. parents are worried what there children are seeing and hearing and how these materials are affecting these young minds. There's is Pros and cons to censoring materials. These pros and cons affect many. Many adults and children don’t know the history of censorship or even what censorship is.
Censorship is a common concern throughout america. A definition of censorship is when a person or group imposes their values upon others by stifling words images or ideas (“Book Censorship” 2). There are many ways a person or a group can impose their values upon others. People and groups can choose to try and get materials they don’t agree with banned or they can choose to
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In the past years a multitude of books have been banned and un banned. Books that have been banned range from books published in the 1800’s to books published in just that past few years. these books are commonly banned for the same reasons and for many of the same misjudgements. One of the first American novels Moby Dick was put on the banned books list at a texas school district because it “conflicted with community values” (“Banned Books That” 5). This books was one of the first novels written by an american back in the 1800’s. Over one hundred years after the scarlet letter was written in 1850 it is still being banned due to it “being sinful” and it conflicting with the values of the community (“Banned Books That” 6). both “The Scarlet Letter” and “Moby Dick” banned for a conflict of values. “Gone With the Wind”wrote in 1936 is a book set in the time of the Civil War was banned by many for the words “nigger” and “darkies” (“Banned Books That” 3). this book was set in the time period where those words were in common use and the normal. now these words are considered wrong to say but it should have no impact on book with historical accuracy in language. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” was banned due to a rape scene and the book was considered “anti-white” (Kelly 3). “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is and autobiography over the life of Maya Angelou. This book is the story of how a Young woman's strength and love for books help her overcome racism and trauma. Huckleberry Finn is one of the most challenged books because of Twain's use of the work “nigger” (“banned Books That” 1). “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was first banned in 1885 (“Banned Books That” 1). “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is the fourth most banned book in schools according to banned in the U.S.A. (Kelly 2). “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games”
Censorship, as defined in the dictionary, is, in the case of a book, to take out things thought to be objectionable. Censorship is far more than that. This mere word prohibits us from all things
Books are banned for many reasons but more times than not it is because of the sensitive information found within the novel that agitates the reader. As long as people have been able to develop their own opinions, others have sought to prevent them from sharing. At some point in time, every idea has ultimately become objectionable to someone. The most frequently challenged and most visible targets of such objection are the very books found in classrooms and public libraries. These controversial novels teach lessons that sometimes can be very sensitive to some but there is much more to challenged books than a controversial topic. What lies within these pages is a wealth of knowledge, such as new perspectives for readers, twisting plots, and expressions that are found nowhere else. For example, To Kill A Mockingbird, contains references to rape, racial content, and profanity that have caused many to challenge the novel in the first place. The book was banned from countless
“Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it” were the famous words of Mark Twain. Since early times censorship has had a critical role in history. Many individuals do not understand the true meaning of censorship because they were either brought up to see it as something different or they misinterpret it from how history looks at it. It has been misconstrued by history to be seen as a negative but in reality it is meant to be positive.
Censorship is a concept with several different meanings. To each individual censorship has its own meaning. Is it a violation of our rights or is it a protection for our well being? Censorship in the generic sense refers to the suppression of information, ideas, or opinions. It occurs in all forms of communication from technological media to print media. Each society, culture, or individual's belief is violated by the codes of censorship that our society instills.
Literature has long been an important part of human life. We express our feelings with ink and paper; we spill out our souls on dried wood pulp. Writing has been form of release and enjoyment since the beginning of written language. You can tell a story, make yourself a hero. You can live out all your fantasies. You can explore all of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and share them with the outside world. But just because you can write, don't think you are uninhibited!
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.
Censorship is becoming more and more common all over the world today. The online Encarta Encyclopedia defines censorship as, "supervision and control of the information and ideas that are circulated among the people within a society. In modern times, censorship refers to the examination of books...for the purpose of altering or suppressing parts thought to be objectionable or offensive." Henry Reichman from the Education World website defines it as, "the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials . . . on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of the standards applied by the censor" (Cromwell). Definitions aside, great literature is being banned by many people for a number of reasons and shouldn't be.
Censorship has many pro?s and con?s to it, many people disagree with it, and many support it. The debate on censorship will go on forever without ever being resolved. In this day of age censorship is more of a choice with programs on TV, Internet, and even Video Games that allow to block ones son or daughter from viewing. Censorship is a controversial word that has been with us far back as we can remember.
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) defines censorship as: “The removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials… of images, ideas, and information…on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of standards applied by the censor” (Miner 1998). In schools there are three types of censorship, one type is a “parent who doesn’t want their child to read a particular book. Another is a parent, teacher, administrator, or school board member who argues that no one in the class, or school should read the book in dispute. Lastly, there is censorship that involves someone who is part of an organized campaign, whether of a local or national group, and who goes in ready for a fight and wants to make a broader political point” (Miner 1998). Although there are many others ways that a piece of literature could get censored, most censored works are asked to be removed from classrooms and school libraries.
But this isn’t something that’s new. This has been going on for a long time, and classical books have been banned. Book like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was banned because it had violent, racial and strong adult language. In 1949 Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare were also targeted because “they tend to engender hatred of the Jew as a person and as a race.” (Rosenberg v. Board of Education of City of New York.) The court ruled against the ban.
From the beginning of modern civilization, books have been an important and revolutionary source of human knowledge. Unfortunately, it has become a growing trend to censor books for a variety of reasons. Several of these reasons, which include protecting children and omitting offensive material, are not only arbitrary but are without merit. This is because sheltering children is not beneficial to the children, and also it is impossible to shelter kids without resorting to isolation. Also, it’s not possible to screen out offensive material in books because all material is potentially offensive. The escalating trend of censoring information in books is not only an impossible task, but it contributes to the declination in the population’s intelligence.
The subject of censorship is a very controversial one, especially the banning of books. Many people believe they must protect themselves and others from the "evils" of many classic books and works of art because they can be deemed "indecent" in one way or another. Many believe that this is absurd and censorship in its current form is a violation of our First Amendment right to free speech. Personally, I align myself with the latter, however I do feel there are occasions where censorship is justifiable.
What is Censorship? Wikipedia defines it as, “the suppression of speech, public communication or other information which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by governments, media outlets, authorities or other groups or institutions.” There are many definitions out there for censorship, but the key word that I almost always see is suppression. I think that alone shows that censoring limits freedom and that it is morally unacceptable. Censorship is should not be permitted, because it goes against the 1st amendment, the government could easily use their new found power and control the public in many negative ways, there is no solid rules stating what is actually considered moral
Censorship is the practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts. Which parts are considered unacceptable, depends entirely on the person viewing them. One person may censor violence, nudity, and certain types of language on television, while another may block the comments section on their social media page. All censorship consists of taking something,
Hence, censorship is essential in society to eliminate discrimination on basis of race and gender, protect children, maintain stability and restore what censor sees as lost moral values. Censorship occurs when expressive materials like books, magazines, movies, videos, music or works of art are restricted to particular audiences based on their age or other characteristics. http://www.ala.org/oif/intellectualfreedeomandcensorship.html) Censorship is not a recent development. It wasn’t imposed properly or there weren’t strict regulations before.