CENSORSHIP for Media
“Censorship is the supervision and control of the information and ideas
are circulated among the people within a society. In modern times,
censorship refers to the examination of books, periodicals, plays, films,
television and radio programs, news reports, and other communication media for
the purpose of altering or suppressing parts thought to be objectionable or
offensive. The objectionable material may be considered immoral or obscene,
heretical or blasphemous, seditious or treasonable, or injurious to the national
security.” The rationale for censorship is that it is necessary for the
protection of three basic social institutions: the family, the church, and the
state.
Censorship and the ideology supporting it go back to ancient times. Every
society has had customs, taboos, or laws by which speech, play, dress, religious
observance, and sexual expression were regulated. Now today, we still have laws and acts let us know how far we can go, and the consequenses if broken. As our world has progressed, we have to as well, with ourself, our ideas, and feelings toward one another. You could say were very expressive and open, and were not afraid to show it.
I am a bit more liberal when the question arrised about censorship. Should we have it? No, we really only need to be regulated.
It’s true, we’re a society who craves to be entertained, and the media will go that far to do so. However, Outrageous T.V shows and movies are all directed towards audiences, these audiences are aware, and they have warnings on every showing. We have channels in groupings for a reason, we all know what type of television we will see if we’re watching Disney Channel, Lifetime, HBO afterhours, CNN, or even TV-X “The fantasy channel”. The audience has been informed on levels of context and material. Not only can you now put passwords on these channels you find so obscene, you also have the ability to read into brief summarys before you watch them. If all of these options available doesn’t seem like enough to inform us, it’s just as easily to simply turn off the TV and find a different form of entertainment.
I’ve nannied all my life, and I know every once in awhile you’ll result to the TV or a movie to keep them occupied. I’ve never had to actually regulate the TV choices they pick, kids want to be entertained, and the raw, true life material adults enjoy just doesn’t cut it. The Nick TV series of “Sponge Bob Square Pants” had an episode that caused controversy
towards parents. SpongeBob and Patrick saw a naughty word written on the back on the garbage can where they work. They said it, and it came out bleeped, but of course the parents realized this was ment to be a dirty word. The soul purpose of this episode was the two boys learning whats appropriate
and cursing was not. Most episodes kids see with violence tends to have a purpose and lesson to learn from. Another example is the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” Parents argue the fact they fight and are looked as bad role models that will only encourage fights and further violence. However, you can get much more out of this TV show than purely violence. They see the unity of friends coming
together for a good cause, they learn bad guys never win and good overcomes evil. They see moves and games that lead to play and imagination. They see the concepts of not talking to strangers, stealing is wrong, and friends should always stick together. These are only few of the many lessons learned from childrens’ TV series. These are all everyday concepts parents try to embead in our childrens head. Somtimes having a role model or favorite charector show these good traits, its positive reinforcment our children are sure to follow. On the other hand, violence leading to violence, our children are sure to mimick the bad they see as well. As parents, it’s our job to monitor and restrict the things that are not age approptiate. We can’t blame anyone or expect others to restrict what our kids see. Ratings show people enojoy the shows, and if they were in an issue of losing money and business, they would surely change.
The “Filth” and entertainment centered around a culture gloryfying promiscuity and drug use is getting over done and over simplified. Personally, the thought of the FCC and EPT billing these people for obcenity is a joke. These series are not only showed in late hours of the night, but turning the channel, or the TV off is just as easy done as said. FCC can impose to up to $500,000 for every airing of “obscene, indecent or profane material.” The bill also would increase, from $11,000 to $500,000, the maximum fine on individual performers who “willfully or intentionally” violate decency standards during a television or radio broadcast.
Words and scenes speak the truth of our life. You can’t censor the real-world out. The language used in certain situations might not be needed and others can be. This is what is going on in our world, and because you don’t agree or want to get into. Then simply don’t! Who’s to say weather the context is ment to be funny, or taken seriously. It’s pure hypocrisy on some of the people who’ve paid fines, and hasn’t with the same or worse material. You cannot
pick or chose, which is why the fight on this battle can’t be won. From Music videos body language, movies content, and radio persons opinions, it all relates back to our everyday life and interests. Looking into the Wars and news broadcasts, you see killings, and interviews with members in the war who can’t use any other words to describe the situation but “Fucked”. We can’t portray TV to how we want it, rather than what it is, or how it was, which is why censorship is over-rated.
As a liberal, I believe of freedom of speech. Yes the network TV should have controls, and still be monitored. but some guidelines need to be set out to determine what can be seen and heard. . Right now so many things are too subjective and nothing is clear.