Sense in Censorship

There is and always will be a never-ending battle between those who are for and those against censorship. Everywhere we look we find censorship. Censorship is in movies, television, video games and music. We live in a country that has constantly fought for freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly and petition.  Because of those values instilled in Americans, there will always be an opposition to censorship. People will strongly rebel against censorship because they feel they are trying to uphold those freedoms. So, where did censorship in movies begin and why was it instituted?

Censorship in movies was a reaction to what was becoming popularized and consistently shown in movies. Since the creation of fiction movies, filmmakers continued to push the envelope of what they could show in their films. It all began with May Irwin’s “First Kiss” where there is a man kissing a women several times. Of course there would be contrasting reactions to this. Some felt that this public display of affection was disgusting. On the other side, there were many imitations of the scene produced soon after. Like everything over time, things began to progress. Filmmakers realized that sexuality on film is what people wanted to see and that is where the money making would be. Once again, filmmakers pushed the envelope of what they would show in their films. Sexually driven movies began as “peep shows,” eventually emerging into scenes with full-scale orgies like the one in “The Ten Commandments.” Eventually, iconic male and female actors arose as sexual Hollywood superstars. These stars would become the cash crop for the film industry.                                                                                                                         1

                                                                                                                                   

Throughout the progression of graphic sexuality, violence and language in the movies, a demand for censorship sprang forth. Some people felt movies had gotten out of control and were glamorizing immoral behavior. From this objection to the immorality being displayed in movies came the Hays Code. Will Hays wanted to preview every movie before it was released. This regulation on films only caused filmmakers to try even harder to push the limits of things they would show in their films. The Hays code was adopted and enforced by the Motion Picture Association of America until 1968, where it was replaced by the MPAA rating system. 

The MPAA rating system attempted to please both crowds—those that pushed the limits and those who weren’t comfortable with the pushing. However, even with the rating system there are disagreements about what is acceptable within each particular rating. I believe that we can agree to disagree. I believe the rating system is a good replacement for complete censorship. I believe parents should be able to know what kind of subjects a movie has, as well as the filmmaker has the right to express freely those subjects.

Since the earliest films, filmmakers have continued to push the limits of what is shown on film. Because we live in a world whose consistently pushing the limits of morality and what is acceptable, censorship will always be strongly opposed. People in America will forever hold on to the idea of freedom of speech. Censorship is oppression to those who believe in their freedom of speech. There will always be those who want to censor what is portrayed in films, and those who want freedom of expression. Because of these conflicting interests, there will always be a conflict over censorship.

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