Censorship in the American Media

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the American cultural fascination, on one hand, and repulsion, on the other hand, of explicit sexuality, which is almost always simultaneously accompanied by calls for banning certain forms of expression. The paper contends that allowing a free and open media is important for economic, as well as artistic reasons, in order to create a more representative and expansive popular culture.

From the Paper:

"With the rather sentimental reminiscing about the end of the ten-year-old television show "Friends," it is easy to forget some of the controversy that surrounded this eight p.m. show during its first years of network airing, before its images became institutionalized as part of our cultural discourse. "Friends" was noted for the high level of sexuality incorporated into a relatively early show, spanning the reference framework from lesbianism to single motherhood, to "going commando" in one's style of evening underwear. The recent "wardrobe malfunction" of Janet Jackson on live television during the Super Bowl similarly highlighted the discomfort with open displays of sexuality on television in American culture, that seems to be accompanied by an equally intense fascination with sexuality."

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