Write Or Wrong 88

Censorship and Sensibility

It's been a hectic few weeks but I'm back again. Working at a school full of rich kids is nice as it's the Thursday before a week-long vacation. Hence, the little buggers are all leaving school early to jet off to Italy, the Alps, Japan, or some other foreign destination that I will only know of through travel brochures and the news. Anyway, with all the youngsters gone, I have a bit more in the way of free time. So, I thought I'd hit the keyboard and regale you all with one of my columns chock full of rapier wit and cutting edge insight into society. Or maybe I'll just bitch about something.

Now, we all know about the current climate here in the US. There is currently a huge resurgence in the conservative mindset of the country. People are outraged all what they deem immoral and unwanted behavior that has pervaded society through the media. And as such, the FCC has stepped up fines and penalties for "indecent behavior" that is not in accordance with broadcast standards for television and radio. The thing is that this has been building for quite a while. It went overboard when Janet Jackson had her notorious "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl half-time show last year. Ever since then, the FCC and other watchdog groups have jumped on anything considered even remotely "indecent".

I use the word indecent in quotations because it seems that the word is not being used all that consistently. Or the application of what is considered indecent and not is not being used consistently. The FCC has rules about not using the "4 letter words" (fuck, shit, etc.) and about sexual content not allowing bare breasts or genitalia to be shown, but other than that, there is not a list of what is considered "indecent".

The Howard Stern, an un-official whipping boy for the FCC's censorship campaign was edited so as to remove the phrase "bowel movement". Now, do you consider that term, one used correctly to refer to a bodily function, as "indecent"? If so, what is the reasoning? I mean, quite honestly, it's ridiculous what people complain about. I read that there were even complaints about Paul McCartney's tame half-time show at this years Super Bowl. They were upset that he had lyrics that mentioned "California grass" in one of his songs.

But what's even worse is what Wal-Mart has proposed. They have unveiled an idea to have all the movies that they have in stock edited for content. In other words, they'd get rid of all the swearing, blood, sex, and other situations that are part of films. They'd dare to edit the masterpieces of Spielberg, Scorcese, and other greats and change the work of artists who just happen to express themselves through film. What has it come to that there can't just be a ratings sticker on music or a DVD?

Why is it that the conservatives can't allow us to watch, listen to, or play with what we want? Is it possible that people could just not watch things that they don't approve? Maybe make the effort to be a good parent and pay attention what your kids are into instead of making it so everything is so, well, neutered, that you let your kids watch any of the crap out there?

And most importantly, I don't really think that the precedent being set by government regarding this topic is a good one. They're controlling what they want us to see and what they don't. Soon, what we read, watch and listen to will be highly edited for content and might not bare any resemblance to what the artist originally intended. Even scarier, some of those insightful, thought provoking pieces of cinema, groundbreaking songs, or literary masterpieces might go the way of the dinosaur and just disappear completely. The government isn't doing us any favours. They seem to be aping some other regimes that were quite good at silencing media and other things that challenged the status and making sure that what we experienced was what they certified. Those regimes are ones like Nazi Germany and the Taliban.

So just think before you sit back and let people take away your liberties. And as small as something like censoring entertainment seems, it's a symptom of much larger problem. So get out there and be informed. It's the only way to keep all those things you love to do alive and well.