media censorship
Why does anyone care if our society is aggressive? Does the kid who decides to fire a gun into his school do so because he watched Natural Born Killers? Is violence in our communities really causing anyone any abnormal amount of heartache? To the victims, and the families and friends of the victims, surely it does. Perhaps there are still some individuals who care just for the sake of caring, not because they are grieving a loss. But what does it all mean, and what is causing it? Some will point fingers at their televisions and movie theatres and assert that they are to blame. Not being one in the habit of pointing fingers and making absurd accusations, I will explain the free will of man and his inalienable rights to free speech. To censor television and motion pictures because of one faction's set of morals is earily similar to book burning. Censorship of media messages is an explicit violation of our constitutionally protected right to expression, and as such, shou!ld not be looked to as a solution for modern-day violence in society. The First Amendment states; "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." (Jefferson, US Constitution). We are an enlightened population well-versed
Hamlet, MacBeth, the Coronation Mass, Starry Night. Censorship would have eliminated these now classic works of art. During their point of conception, the masses did not see them as outstanding works, rather, many were seen as slightly above average. The value in art lies in the fact that it poses questions and shocks us. Through this exploration and realization we learn about the human condition. Artistic expression comes in many valuable forms- paintings, movie scripts, musical compositions, and sculptures to name a few. By censoring an artist, you render him incapable of a complete expression. Movies and television are not always worthwhile artistic endeavors. Inevitably, not every motion picture and situation comedy will inspire and educate. Labeling violent themes as 'inappropriate' limits a writer's repertoire to plot lines filled only with passivity. This is ridiculous. The 'art imitates life' cliche applies. Our world is not one of only two-parent families w! We are independent thinkers. Every morning, the population wakes up and as consumers' make decisions as to what they will wear, eat, and drive. The television is a deluge of media messages. Mentos give you self-confidence. Tropicana Pure Premium makes your children love you. A Ford SUV makes you an athletic, rugged person. Suprisingly enough, not everyone that wants to be athletic drives a Ford Explorer, drinks the Tropicana brand of orange juice to improve domestic relations, or eats a Mentos to feel better about themselves. We analyze the messages we receive, and decide what is worth retaining and what is worth disposing of. The programs in between the commercials we watch are no more controlling despite the fact that the commercial's sole duty is to convince and manipulate. We choose what products to buy just as we choose what media messages influence our lifestyles. The influence that the advertising agencies have over us is similar to that of the Hollywood produ! ely intertwined with religion. Censorship of images of violence in the media by the government concedes one's personal decision over what images are appropriate to view. As a thinking people, we do not need to be herded like sheep towards a central, forced view of appropriate media messages. When the government rules certain media messages immoral and inappropriate, they deny the population of it's right to think independently and make choices for themselves. The role of the government is to protect our rights, not to ap
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Approximate Word count = 1680
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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