What is Censorship? Should the Censorship law be minimum?
Introduction
Censorship law is important for every countries. Censorship exists to some extent in all countries. with the proliferation of mass media in society, whether it be films, radio, books, music, internet, the question of censorship goes hand to hand. But implementation of censorship law differs in Asia, Europe and Middle east countries.Some countries follow censorship law strictly but some are not. Censorship law implements in music, art, books, internet, films, literature etc. Censorship derives from the official duties of the Roman censor who conducted the census by counting, assessing, and evaluating the populace. Originally neutral in tone, the term has come to mean the suppression of ideas or images by the government or others with authority.Censorship is official prohibition or restriction of any type of expression believed to threaten the political, social, or moral order. It may be imposed by governmental authority, local or national, by a religious body, or occasionally by a powerful private group. It may be applied to the mails, speech, the press, the theater, dance, art, literature, photography, the cinema, radio, television.
Censorship in music, art, books, literature, film etc.
Music censorship has been implemented by states, religions, educational systems, families, retailers and lobbying groups – and in most cases they violate international conventions of human rights .The recording industry has regulation or censorship.
Art is important as an intellectual stimulant. A good artist advances culture and civilization by provoking thought, introspection, and discussion. Art triggers emotions. Subject, color, and texture are used by artist to evoke feeling. As long as artists have been creating art, governments have both supported and censored artists’ work.
Film industries are issues of censorship and control. Many controversial films have been cut or banned by censorship bodies or local or state authorities. Yet it would be wrong to see film censorship as largely the removal and prohibition of whole movies or specific images. Film censors tend to see themselves as classifiers, administering certificates that aim to control the type of audience that sees a particular movie. If they lack such a certificate, some films’ reception is restricted; studios or distributors can also act to prohibit a film by withdrawing it from circulation for contractual, legal, or political reasons.
Internet censorship is control or suppression of the publishing or accessing of information on the internet. Computer-mediated communication grows explosively every year and in some ways outpaces and obviates current legal principles. The prevailing concept of law applies to real-world events and transactions, and, as those in the legal field are realizing, may unravel when exercised in cyberspace.
Censorship of books is a supervision of the press in order to prevent any abuse of it. Official restriction of any written books believed to threaten the political, social, or moral order. For Asian countries, book censorship is important.
Censorship law in Asia
Censorship law in Asian countries can apply to books, movies, the Internet and other media. Censorship occurs on religious, moral and political grounds, which is controversial in itself as the latter especially is seen as contrary to the tenets of democracy.
In Asia, censorship law for books, music, art, literature and films should be maximum. Several books of Bangladeshi writer Taslima nasreen have been banned because these books violates the religious and culturual issues. Censorship in India mainly targets religious issues. The ccontitution of india guarantees freedom of expreesion but places in certain restrictions on content, with a view towards maintaining communal and religious harmony, given the history of communal tension in the nation. Several books critical of religion have been banned in India or in parts of India as a precautionary measure to prevent riots or other form of violence. The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees freedom of speech but still places reasonable restriction in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan or public order or morality. The people of asian countries are very emotional. So, Here censorship law should be implemented strictly.
Censorship law in middle East
Censorship in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia target religious issues. It is justified by the government as necessary to maintain communal harmony, peace and tranquility, given the history of communal tension. Censorship in Iran is the limiting or suppressing of the publishing, dissemination, and viewing of certain information in the Islamic republic of Iran.. The majority of such censorship is implemented or mandated by the Iranian govt..Censored content often includes information that relates to women rights, freedom of speech, democracy certain news sources, certain religious content, and many websites. During the reign Saddam Hossain censorship was imposed over all aspects of life in Iraq. It was used to spread fear among the Iraqi people. Although the constitution of the Saudi Arabia guarantees freedom of expression, the government dilutes the power of media persons. Every single piece of media that is imported into the country requires receiving clearance from the country’s media regulation agency, the National Media Council. The council heavily censors anything they find inconsistent with religious, cultural, political, and moral values of the country. So, censorship law strictly followed in middle East countries.
Censorship law in Europe and America
Europeans and Americans know little about censorship because they mostly don’t care to know. The believe everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. So, Censorship law plays minimum role in European countries and America.
Conclusion
censorship is an important issue for all countries. Censorship is the suppression of speech or removal of communicative material which may be considered objectionable or repulsive. Censorship is nothing new and its effects are constantly felt throughout society. Many countries use censorship to protect the established moral and social order. Censorship should be enforced because it is needed into today’s society. Censorship needs to be used in art, music, book, film, literature, internet. So,we can say that censorship law plays minimum role in European country but plays maximum role in Asian and middle east countries.
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