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The Human Censor

Posted on 20/07/2011 by admin

I was very interested to learn that Hollywood had a pre-censor era of film making going up to about 1933, after which a host of rules came into force about what was and was not allowed to be shown in films. What interested me was not the actual rules but the fact that it was America that was censoring content. It went against everything Americans hold dear to their political hearts and since film making is considered an art form (and silent moves truly were in a way talking pictures are certainly not) it goes against everything artist believe in because censoring masks the truth.

This is not a problem of sensibilities, anyone can umbrage or be offended about anything, this is a problem of either not wanting to know or of not wanting other people to know. Many years ago I heard a Methodist preacher ask if there were a TV set everyone could watch, would we like to see our list of sins broadcast upon it (what sins fifteen year olds could have was not listed.) Leaving aside the silliness of his suggestion, there is that moment of discomfort that other people will laugh at you or judge you.

Censorship is all about Government control but politics should be all about how freedom harmonises with self-control, not diktat.

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Children’s author, novelist, editor and poet.

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