Based on the premise that the media dictates our body images, this paper asserts that the judicious use of censorship could help combat eating disorders.
It is a simple fact that 15-year old, rail-thin girls are modeling clothes targeted at the 20-35
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract There is a clear and identifiable link of causation between the media and the engaging in self-destructive behaviors by consumers that could be easily broken with judicious use of censorship. Overwhelmingly, research demonstrates that there are direct links between images seen on television and in magazines and perceptions of the self among consumers of those images. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that through a conscientious censorship effort we can effectively end the epidemic of body image and related eating-disorder problems that has been wracking our culture for generations.
This paper argues that the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of media depiction of violence on children does not justify censorship of the media.
Abstract This paper explains that the report of the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, in 1999, paints a dire picture of the levels of violence with which the media was bombarding children. The author points out that this Senate report presents the causal connection between movie and television violence and aggressive behavior in children as a proven conclusion. The paper relates that a review of the underlying data through scientific studies shows that there is considerable doubt as to just how perverse an influence media violence has on children. The author concludes that the inconclusive nature of the data indicates that the American people should be cautious about taking precipitate actions based on this report, and should, at least for now, resist any effort at mediacensorship.
From the Paper "Reporting on Professor Eron's original 1960 study of 8 and 9 year olds in Columbia County, New York, Rhodes noted that Eron's and his team investigated a wide range of factors to attempt to measure aggression. Of these, watching violence on television was effectively an afterthought. Further, the data were not consistent: girls who watched television showed no higher levels of aggression, and boys who watched television the most extensively were the least aggressive in the study. In their first follow-up study, Eron and his colleagues did find a statistical correlations between high levels of television watching and aggressive behavior..."
Abstract The paper explains that, due to the fact that America is a country run by its people, the government needed justification for the intensification of the war in Iraq and against terror. The writer examines the techniques used by mass media to portray the war and questions whether there was censorship or governmental rule over the media during this period.
From the Paper "The United States is a democratic country in which the people play a major role in the making of decisions. Their opinions and views have to be considered. Therefore, the country cannot decide to enter a war or attack another country unless it makes its case in front of the American voters. Due to this, the War on Terror that President Bush is now engaged in is fought on the battle ground and in the media. If this war is to be successful according to the wishes of the Bush Administration, then it has to be won on these two sides. To achieve this victory on the media side, the United States has to convince its people that war is necessary. Supposedly, it should do so by giving them the facts that support the necessity of war. However, the reporting of the truth may have the consequence of losing support for this war. In order to avoid the loss of this support, Susan L. Carruthers informs us in "New Media, New War," that the media present a "virtualization of war" (671). In this way, the war is communicated to the citizens as an event that is somewhere "between the real and the hyperreal." Thus, they do know that a war is being fought but they think of this war as a clean one, which does not involve the high losses of life or the destruction of countries. That is to say, the war becomes something like a videogame, with the belief that the high technology weapons have created military confrontations in "which injury has seemingly disappeared, along with enemy and civilian capacity to tolerate casualties" (Carruthers 671). The more realistic views and events of the war such as the death of a minimum of 3,767 innocent poor Aghanistani citizens who were not involved in either the Taliban or al Qaeda, from American bombs (Milne), are not strongly represented as they would contradict this whole image of the "virtualization of war," and could cause public opinion to be against the war. Therefore, the objectors to the war on terror and its extending into Iraq have to destroy this whole idea of the clean and "virtualized" war and present a more realistic view of it. Thus, the American media is currently a field of war between the supporters of striking Iraq and the objectors to it. The fact that most of the American people still remember the Gulf War on Iraq as still a virtual war in which the United States had a quick and easy success, should have allowed the supporters of the war an easy victory over its objectors in the media, were it not for the fact that there are some voices in the American media who are making an effective counter argument against war and its "virtualization.""
Abstract The topic of censorship is usually applied to less-developed countries, but it is crucial to remember that censorship is found in varying aspects in all countries. This paper addresses England as a country that promotes censorship as both a mechanism for civil defense and a means of ensuring the welfare of their citizens.
Abstract This paper discusses the controversial issue of censorship. The paper presents the opinions of the proponents and opponents of this practice. Government-controlled censorship of the media is examined and contrasted with parental or guardian control. The paper contends that parental controls on television and the Internet are a big step in the right direction. Similar and more expansive controls need to be implemented to make the censorship of material in the United States both just and moral.
From the Paper "The notion of censorship is generally aimed towards protecting the impressionable minds within our society-children, for example-from messages or material that are deemed misleading, overly explicit, or detrimental. The concept is tied to the premise that some members of society do not possess ample experience or maturity to make educated decisions about their lives and the actions they take-they are highly susceptible to numerous forms of persuasion. Lack of censorship may be seen as analogous to handing a child a loaded gun and telling them to operate it responsibly; knowledge and information are sometimes wielded in a similar manner. Problems with this way of thinking arise when decisions about specifically what information is potentially harmful, and who should determine what remains seen and unseen are established."
Abstract This paper discusses the role of media in sexual conduct, drug abuse and violence among the youth. It examines the television network's right and duty to censorship and also discusses how parents have a part to play in deciding what children can and should watch. The paper also presents arguments against censorship, stating that the parents should openly discuss these issues with their children.
From the Paper "The media has been blamed for virtually every adverse action taken by today's youth. Former Education Secretary William Bennett says ?the debate over violence in the media is not just about violence, it's about the debasement of culture." It has been the current trend to attack the youth of Generation Y and Generation X, for what critics call their lack of values, and respect. Critics have argued that the excessive promiscuity, blatant use of drugs and overall disregard for societal values exhibited in the media has lead to increased violence, unacceptable teen pregnancy rates as well as other social ills."
Abstract This paper discusses how, through the globalization of the media, American culture is dominating the world and threatens to undermine the cultures of other countries. The paper then looks at the use of censorship in other cultures and the sometimes unsuitable use of the American style media in places like South Africa. The paper discusses how the American global media conglomerates could be given the opportunity to control the information that enters each and every household in the world and looks at how the Canadian government is actively attempting to limit the amount of American media that enters into the country. The paper asserts that more countries need to follow this lead in order to protect their culture and their way of life.
From the Paper "With so many cultures all over the world, it is easy to see why there could be problems regarding the globalization of media, since different cultures will interpret events differently. For example, the ongoing War in Iraq will be covered differently by various news outlets in different countries, depending on those countries' cultural beliefs. In Muslim culture, an individual would be labeled as a hero for committing a martyr attack, while North American Christian culture would label such an event in a negative manner. Since it is a culture issue, there really is no right or wrong, as everything is based on interpretation. The problem with the globalization of media is that one of the cultures would have to sacrifice hearing the events in the manner that it would be accustomed to hearing it in."
Abstract This paper examines how the media plays a prominent role in modern society and how the depiction of controversial topics, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia tends to influence social values, often to an inflammatory degree. In particular, it looks at how, recently, an increasing number of films and television programs have focused on homosexuality and how depictions of homosexuality in the media have not only affected how others view homosexuals, but also how gay people see themselves and the rights that they have.
Outline
Homosexuality in Film since the 1890s
Ignoring the Issue: Censorship Homosexuality as the Subject of Laughter
Homosexuality and Violence
Conclusion
From the Paper "During the 1990's and the first years of the new millennium, homosexuality has become an increasingly prominent issue in the media. The most controversial issue currently is same-sex marriages, forbidden by law in several states. Not allowing homosexual people to have rights is a type of censorship resulting from willfully ignoring the issue. General society is often not comfortable with the issue of homosexuality because it is either ignored or maligned by the media. Advertisements, television programs and indeed films featuring homosexuality is the exception rather than the rule. The consequences of ignoring the issue however is that the fundamental rights promised by the Constitution to every citizen are becoming a travesty of its original intention (Erwin)."
Abstract This paper discusses the problem of children being exposed on television to massive amounts of violence, sex, drugs, adult language and inappropriate ideas. The author points out that self-policing by the entertainment industry and software locks on set-top boxes have yielded very few results. The paper examines the origin of the v-chip that physically prevents viewing, its role in the popular culture, the technology, and why it has not been successful. The author concludes that, unless a v-chip can be made that operates on some sort of personal or biometric recognition system, children will continue to act out what they see on television to the detriment of themselves and society. Personal policing is the only reliable course of action.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
History
Censorship V-Chip
Significance / Meaning of Censorship Success of V-Chip
Statement of Purpose
History of MediaCensorship Definition
History
Non-V-Chip Methods
Legislative
Link between Television Violence and Juvenile Crime
Levels of Violence Shown on TV
Link between Juvenile Crime and Exposure to Violence
Link between Juvenile Crime and TV
Public Policy that Led to V-Chip
National Campaigns
Legislation
Attempts to Get Industry to Self-Regulate
Relative Success of the V-Chip
Technological Aspects
How Vchip Works
Industrial Adoption
Actual Effectiveness
Cultural Adoption
Public Policy Effectiveness
Has Public Policy Paid Off?
Has the V-Chip and Other Methods Actually Changed Society?
Reduction of Juvenile Crime
Underlying Causes
Effects of Reduction
Secondary Effects
From the Paper "Ratings, however, are simply not an effective deterrent. The determined child can simply keep his eyes open and watch as people kill each other on the screen. Ratings do not prevent actual viewing and it is viewing violence that creates violence. Therefore, the only course of action remaining, apparently, is to actually prevent children from watching particularly violent television shows. There are two basic ways to accomplish this that the broadcasting industry has agreed to participate in. First there is the "windowing" of television."
Tags: link in-home, rating system, self-policing code
Abstract This paper examines the problems that censorship places on America and takes a strong stance against the practice. It examines social injustices and problems that exist in American society and looks at the ethical issues that arise when considering censorship.
From the Paper "America was founded on freedom, it is a country that originated to protect the fundamental human rights of all people"or at least that's what the constitution and Declaration of Independence say. Contradictions to this so-called freedom have appeared throughout history. We enslaved an entire race, marched Native Americans down the Trail of Tears and sent Japanese Americans into internment camps for no good reason. Today, there is another issue that some say is putting our freedom in jeopardy. Book and periodicals censorship has occurred in our country for years, and during all of those years protests and calls for the protection of our freedom of speech have rung have been heard from some authors, students, teachers, the American Library Association, booksellers, and literature fans everywhere who believe that "the freedom to read is essential to our democracy" (Hull, 118). On the other hand some parents, family oriented groups such as Focus on the Family, the American Family Association, and Family Friendly Libraries, and Christian groups and ministers are asking the government to regulate the books that make their home on our public and school library shelves in order to protect children from being exposed to difficult issues like sexuality and racism before they are mature enough to handle it.?
Abstract This paper examines the Hays Code, established in the 1930s as a guide for movie content, and contends that it cannot work today. It looks at how it is an exaggerated control of movie and television content that equals censorship. It also contends that, even though the television and movie industry should not apply the Hays Code and should not practice censorship, it also must not be an instigator of violent behavior.
From the Paper "Freedom of expression is a precious right that only some countries enjoy and others are still fighting for and dreaming of. The United States is one of those countries which enjoys freedom of expression, supported by a constitution that protects this right and laws that try to make sure that no government threatens it. However, this freedom of expression is a very big responsibility that the people who are working in the entertainment industry have to appreciate for the sake of both this right and for the sake of society. It is important that the movie and television industry respect the freedom of expression because their words and their beliefs are heard across the world and, in many instance can have a very negative influence on the viewers."
A persuasive essay that analyzes the social problems of censorship and violations of privacy rights and persuades American citizens to take a stance against government manipulation.
Abstract This paper carefully describes the sociopolitical problems of censorship and privacy rights and presents a proposal of possible solutions to these problems. It explores various modern government manipulations that have been increased since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and includes an analysis of various new legislation such as the Patriot Act.
From the Paper "Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every website you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend?all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as "a virtual centralized grand database"?. To this computerized dossier on your private life from commercial sources, add every piece of information that [the] government has about you"passport application, driver's license and bridge toll records, judicial and divorce records, complaints from noisy neighbors to the FBI"your lifetime paper trail plus the latest hidden camera surveillance?and you have the supersnoop's dream: a "Total Information Awareness" about every US citizen? (Krigg 2) This serves as just one example of the many acts that were passed due to an increased desire for national security."
Abstract This paper answers the question of whether the U.S. government should be allowed to censor material on the Internet, or whether that would be a violation of free speech. The position that Internet material should not be censored is justified using the principle of freedom of speech, and also because of differences that exist between the Internet and other media.
Abstract This paper argues that, although modern China may be adopting a more market-oriented economy, a full transition to a free market system of the press as a Westerner might understand freedom is unlikely. This is examined as a sociological phenomena, known as the frame theory of communication. This frame is also used to consider capitalism and its relationship with a free press. The paper discusses changes in China's attitude toward the media, yet concludes that the state still reserves the right to intervene and limit the media's functions by means of legal censorship, subsidies and direct media control.
From the Paper "True, with greater media commercialization, the media, Party and government organs did become business entities, "similar to a western capitalist system with advertising, subscription dependence and capital investment (Winfield & Peng, 2005: 260). But while the Chinese media has become decentralized in terms of who disseminates the information, official censorship still remains. While the press is no longer a mouthpiece for Marxism and Maoism, "China's uniqueness," such as the longstanding respect for Confucianism and hierarchy "has been largely ignored," by scholars who argue that capitalism inevitably and invariably sows the seed of freedom (Winfield & Peng, 2005: 266). Such scholars are blinded by the Western frame of capitalism as unfettered choice."
Tags: China, media, frame, theory, of, communication
Abstract The problems of society are usually blamed on the media, however most of the problems result from other ills of society, not just the media. The paper shows that violence in the media is unavoidable - whether it is on the news or on a child's televison show, it is always accessible to anyone who wants to view it. The paper argues that since there are no available soulutions to this, the only option is for parents to talk to their children and for people to realize that this is just another form of entertainment.
From the Paper "Children will see 100,000 acts of simulated violence by the end of elementary school" (Day 65). The media has become a pivotal part of the average person's life. There are so many different forms of media to become involved in; a person cannot live without television, radio, newspapers, magazines, books and films. The average person is exposed to the media about 20 percent of the time he is awake on a typical day (Berger 30). Violence has become a problem in society as well, and a good scapegoat for this problem is media violence (Manson 23). Some believe that the violence in media affects children and causes these children to commit crimes. Meanwhile, others believe there is no problem with portraying violence; Jib Fowles said, ?"this whole episode of studying television violence is going to be seen by history as a travesty. It's going to be used in classes as an example of how social science can just go totally awry" (Rhodes 57). Some still believe that the images of violence shown or described by media create the violence in society (Berger 18).
