Media - Censorship & Regulation
FAM300F
Media and Writing 2011
Assignment 1: Topic 2
Discuss the differences between regulation and censorship by referring specifically to the work of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Film and Publications Board.
This essay will be looking at the similarities and differences between Regulation and Censorship in the media, both in general and in relation to the Film and Publications Board and The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). The theoretical works of Duncan and Glenn, Fourie, and Burns will be examined and applied along with the Film and Publications Act of 1996 and a couple of articles (by Fowler and MacAskill) to illustrate how regulation and censorship works in day-to-day life.
And finally two case studies involving regulation and censorship will be examined, one international one and one South African one. This will be so the reader can get a better understanding of the ways in which censorship and regulation can be applied.
In order to fully understand the concepts of Regulation and Censorship as discussed in this essay the reader must first understand what is meant by the terms.
Censorship
The technical definition of Censorship as is applicable to this essay according to the South African Pocket Oxford Dictionary (ed.3) is, “·n. An official who examines material that is to be published and bans anything considered offensive or a threat to security. ·v. Ban unacceptable parts of (a book, film, etc).” (South African Pocket Oxford Dictionary (ed.3), 2002).
According to Y. Burns censorship means the “limitation of freedom of expression” (Burns, 2001: 169) and derives from the Latin censere which means “to give opinion or to assess” (Burns, 2001: 171). She claims that the main role of state censorship is to curtail any immoral, pornographic, blasphemous matter or religious beliefs which do not follow in accordance with “state-imposed religion” (Burns, 2001: 171). However she
Media and Writing 2011
Assignment 1: Topic 2
Discuss the differences between regulation and censorship by referring specifically to the work of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Film and Publications Board.
This essay will be looking at the similarities and differences between Regulation and Censorship in the media, both in general and in relation to the Film and Publications Board and The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). The theoretical works of Duncan and Glenn, Fourie, and Burns will be examined and applied along with the Film and Publications Act of 1996 and a couple of articles (by Fowler and MacAskill) to illustrate how regulation and censorship works in day-to-day life.
And finally two case studies involving regulation and censorship will be examined, one international one and one South African one. This will be so the reader can get a better understanding of the ways in which censorship and regulation can be applied.
In order to fully understand the concepts of Regulation and Censorship as discussed in this essay the reader must first understand what is meant by the terms.
Censorship
The technical definition of Censorship as is applicable to this essay according to the South African Pocket Oxford Dictionary (ed.3) is, “·n. An official who examines material that is to be published and bans anything considered offensive or a threat to security. ·v. Ban unacceptable parts of (a book, film, etc).” (South African Pocket Oxford Dictionary (ed.3), 2002).
According to Y. Burns censorship means the “limitation of freedom of expression” (Burns, 2001: 169) and derives from the Latin censere which means “to give opinion or to assess” (Burns, 2001: 171). She claims that the main role of state censorship is to curtail any immoral, pornographic, blasphemous matter or religious beliefs which do not follow in accordance with “state-imposed religion” (Burns, 2001: 171). However she
References: * Burns, Yvonne. (2001). Chapter 6: Censorship – control of the publication and dissemination of information. Communications Law. Cape Town: Lexis Nexis * Burns, Yvonne (2001) * Fourie, Peiter J. (2001) Media Studies: Institutions, Theories and Issues (Vol.1). South Africa: Creda Communications. Pp580 – 590 * Fowler, Geoffrey A * South African Pocket Oxford Dictionary 3rd Edition (2002). South African Pocket Oxford Dictionary 3rd Edition (ed. Catherine Soanes). Oxford: University Press.