Censorship is a very interesting topic, but at the same time controversial. Let's talk about it in the context of the problem “what is censored”. And we will find out whether a person can do without censorship at all.

Definition

Now it is argued that there is no censorship, so we have the happiness of watching programs or reading interviews with popular Western or Russian show business figures who, for example, in cooler times could not appear, and censorship is to blame. The last word means, according to explanatory dictionary, the following: “The system of state supervision over the press and media mass media" The question of what censored is directly relates to the definition of censorship, and this will soon become obvious.

There is no censorship, and freedom of speech reigns in our country. But if we give ourselves the trouble to think a little, we will understand: there is censorship. All those media outlets that exist with public money adhere to a certain politeness towards their employer, and this is completely normal, because no one wants to lose their job. Another thing is that the current state does not set any ideological goals (at least obvious ones), so there is no such press as there was in Soviet times. Then, as you know, the press had an educational function. I must say that this idea is not so bad. For example, the yellow press would not be allowed near the public, would that be tragic? But yes, many journalists would be out of work.

Translation

After it has become clear what censorship is, it’s worth turning to the direct hero of our today’s story, the word censored. Translating it is a simple matter, but first you need to say this: it is not an English noun, but a second participle. For example: It was censored. That is, it is impossible to translate the text on the sign that appears in the film with the corresponding inscription simply “censorship.” Rather, it should be translated as “uncensored” or “has been censored.” The last phrase is suitable for translating the example we used. It was censored means “was censored.”

When is the censored label used?

After answering the main question, what is censored, another arises: when this black sign with white letters on it appears. Oddly enough, the question suggests different answer options. For example, if you watch the film “Starship Troopers” (1997) by Paul Verhoeven, you can come across it in the episode when the arachnid devours the cow. Naturally, there is no censorship in the film itself. Severed legs, arms and other “charms” flash on the screen. In this film, the sign is in its place.

But in Tex Avery’s cartoons, she creates more of a comic effect when she closes the most piquant moments from the viewer, although, by and large, the cartoons are innocent.

The phenomenon of self-censorship

But restrictions are not always bad. Sometimes they provide an amazing creative boost. It is customary to refer to the richness of Soviet literature and the poverty of the current one, but we will not use cliches. What if, after 20 or 30 years, a whole galaxy of science fiction writers crystallizes from today’s present and then past, and we will gasp and say: “Just think, we didn’t notice!” Therefore, we will do without shortcuts.

Let's talk about something else. Let’s imagine that the question of what censored is is of no interest to anyone, because censorship has been abolished. This means that right here you can write whatever your heart desires, even obscenities. Perhaps state supervision has been abolished, but the internal censor still remains, which means that decent authors will still not be able to express themselves dirty in public. This is precisely the phenomenon of self-censorship. Education is extremely productive for creativity when it does not concern conscience. For example, Sergei Dovlatov had a commandment that words in the same sentence should not begin with the same letter. Stylistics only benefited from such chains. But this is also a kind of limitation.

So, hopefully it's clear what censored means. And there will be no more problems with this. And remember that censorship is not only evil, but sometimes also good.

Censorship varies according to the methods of implementation. preliminary and censorship subsequent(punitive).

Preliminary censorship involves the need to obtain permission to release certain information. The specific form of implementation of such censorship consists in the presence of a certain formal procedure, according to which the author, performer or publisher must submit texts, audio and video recordings, sketches, etc. to the state censorship body in order to obtain permission for publication, performance, exhibition, broadcast on electronic channels and so on.

Subsequent censorship consists of evaluating already published information and taking restrictive or prohibitive measures in relation to a specific publication or work, withdrawing it from circulation, as well as applying sanctions against individuals or legal entities that violated censorship requirements during its publication.

Punitive censorship imposes sanctions on violators of censorship requirements. In particular, it existed in Russia in 1865-1917. In contrast to preliminary censorship, it examined books and magazines after they were printed, but before publication. For violation of censorship rules, the publication was seized, the author and publisher were brought to court. Soviet censorship also had similar functions/

26. Internet and its use by a journalist

However, newspaper turnover forces a journalist to work quickly and hard. Strict market requirements have greatly reduced editorial staff, the workload on creative workers has increased significantly, and competition requires us to provide news and reveal problems faster than our competitors. The Internet becomes an excellent information base and support for it.

The website of a company or organization usually contains a section for the press (web press office), is regularly updated and is user-friendly. The Web press office of any serious company today sets out its mission, contains financial information about it, other data and statistics, elements of its corporate identity (logo, trademark, etc.), biographies of managers, technical characteristics of products, photographs of managers and products, press releases, articles and comments, a collection of official documents, telephone numbers and email addresses.

News Web sites offer press releases and news items that are shorter than printed materials but have links to other sites and email addresses.

For each of its users, the Internet expands the space of perception, simultaneously opening access to an unregulated number of complementary source channels; accelerates access to powerful databases (libraries, world research centers, etc.); provides personal direct participation in mass communication in real time; direct communication (chat), expression of opinion (rating surveys); facilitates independent solving of personal problems (employment, education, self-affirmation, creativity, social recognition); generates a feeling of inner freedom, liberation, and lack of control.

A modern journalist navigates this virtual space like a fish in water, and it is not difficult for him to catch the necessary information on the Internet, without even leaving the office.

this is a requirement from the editorial office of the media on the part of officials, government agencies, organizations, institutions or public associations to pre-coordinate messages and materials or impose a ban on the dissemination of messages and materials, their individual parts. Currently in Russia it is prohibited to create and finance organizations, institutions, bodies or positions whose tasks or functions include the implementation of censorship.

Excellent definition

Incomplete definition ↓

CENSORSHIP

lat. censura) - control by official authorities over the content, publication and distribution of printed materials, the content and performance (display) of stage productions, radio and television broadcasts, and sometimes private correspondence (perlustration), in order to prevent or limit the spread of ideas and information considered by these authorities to be objectionable or harmful. According to the method of implementation, it is divided into preliminary and subsequent. Preliminary C. involves the need to obtain permission to publish a book, stage a play, etc., subsequent C. consists of evaluating already published, released publications and taking prohibitive or restrictive measures against persons who have violated the requirements of the C. Most modern constitutions ( including the Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1993), proclaiming freedom of information, directly prohibit information. However, in all countries of the world, the introduction of information is allowed when some state of emergency is declared (in the Russian Federation, information can be introduced when a state of emergency or martial law is declared ).

Back in the middle of the last century, the wise Ray Bradbury wrote: “... if you don’t want a person to be upset about politics, don’t give him the opportunity to see both sides of the issue. Let him see only one, or better yet, none...” In fact, in this excerpt from his novel Fahrenheit 451, the author described the entire purpose of censorship. What is this? Let's find out and also consider the features of this phenomenon and its types.

Censorship - what is it?

This term was derived from the Latin word censura, which translates as “exacting judgment, criticism.” In our time, it means a system of surveillance of various types of information, which is carried out by the state in order to prevent the dissemination of certain information on its territory.

By the way, the bodies directly specializing in such control are also called “censorship”.

The history of censorship

When and where the idea of ​​filtering information first arose - history is silent. Which is quite natural, since this science is one of the first to be controlled by censorship. It is known that already in Ancient Greece and Rome, statesmen came to the conclusion that it was necessary to control the mood of citizens in order to prevent possible riots and maintain power in their own hands.

In this regard, almost all ancient powers compiled lists of so-called “dangerous” books to be destroyed. By the way, most often works of art and poetry fell into this category, although scientific works got it.

Similar traditions of combating unwanted knowledge were actively used in the first centuries new era, and then were successfully continued in the Middle Ages, and have survived to our times, although they have become more veiled.

It is worth noting that the authorities almost always right hand In terms of censorship, it was some kind of religious institution. In ancient times - priests, and with the advent of Christianity - popes, patriarchs and other spiritual “authorities”. They were the ones who twisted Holy Bible for the sake of political interests, they imitated “signs” and cursed anyone who tried to speak differently. In general, they did everything to turn the consciousness of society into plastic clay from which they can mold whatever is needed.

Although modern society and has greatly advanced in intellectual and cultural development, however, censorship is still a very successful way to control citizens, which is successfully used even in the most liberal states. Of course, this is done much more skillfully and quietly than in past centuries, but the goals are still the same.

Is censorship good or bad?

For example, if every film director uncontrollably shows overly explicit sex scenes or bloody murders in his creations, it is not a fact that after watching such a spectacle some viewers will not have a nervous breakdown or their psyche will not suffer irreparable damage.

Or, for example, if all the data about some epidemic in a populated area becomes known to its residents, panic may begin, which could lead to even more dire consequences or completely paralyze the life of the city. And most importantly, it will prevent doctors from doing their job and saving those who can still be helped.

And if we don’t take it so globally, then the simplest phenomenon that censorship fights is swearing. Although everyone sometimes allows themselves to express themselves obscenely, however, if profanity were not officially prohibited, it’s even scary to imagine what modern language would be like. More precisely, the speech of its speakers.

That is, theoretically, censorship is a kind of filter designed to protect citizens from information that they are not always able to correctly perceive. This is especially important in the case of children, whom censorship protects from the problems of adult life, giving them time to strengthen before having to face them in full.

However main problem are the people who control this "filter". After all, much more often they use power not for good, but in order to manipulate people and use information for selfish purposes.

Let's take the same case of an epidemic in a small town. Having learned about the situation, the country's leadership is sending a batch of vaccine to all hospitals in order to vaccinate all citizens free of charge. Having learned about this, the city authorities are disseminating information that paid vaccinations against the disease can be done in private medical offices. And information about the availability of a free vaccine is kept silent for several days, so that as many citizens as possible have time to buy what they were entitled to for free.

Types of censorship

There are several criteria by which to distinguish different kinds censorship. This is most often associated with the information environment in which control is carried out:

• State.
• Political.
• Economic.
• A commercial.
• Corporate.
• Ideological (spiritual).
• Moral.
• Pedagogical.
• Military (carried out during the country's participation in armed conflicts).

Censorship is also divided into preliminary and subsequent.

The first prevents the dissemination of certain information at the stage of its occurrence. For example, pre-censorship in literature is government control of the content of books before they are published. A similar tradition flourished during the times Tsarist Russia.

Post-censorship is a way to stop the dissemination of data after it has been made public. It is less effective because in this case the information is known to the public. However, anyone who admits to knowing it is punished.

To better understand what the features of preliminary and subsequent censorship are, it is worth recalling the history and his “Travel from St. Petersburg to Moscow.”

In this book, the author described the sad political and social situation in which Russian empire in those times. However, it was forbidden to talk about this openly, because officially everything was fine in the empire and all the inhabitants were happy with the reign of Catherine II (as is often shown in some cheap pseudo-historical TV series). Despite the possible punishment, Radishchev wrote his “Travel...”, but formatted it in the form of travel notes about various settlements found between the two capitals.

In theory, preliminary censorship should have stopped publication. But the inspection official was too lazy to read the contents and let “The Journey...” go to print.

And then subsequent censorship (punitive) came into play. Having learned about the true content of Radishchev’s work, the books were banned, all found copies were destroyed, and the author himself was exiled to Siberia.

It didn’t really help, because, despite the ban, the entire cultural elite secretly read “The Journey...” and made handwritten copies of it.

Ways to bypass censorship

As is clear from Radishchev’s example, censorship is not omnipotent. And as long as it exists, there are tricksters who can get around it.

The most common are 2 methods:

• Use of Aesopian language. Its essence is to covertly write about exciting problems, using allegory or even some kind of verbal code that is understandable only to a select few.
• Dissemination of information through other sources. During the times of strict literary censorship in Tsarist Russia, most seditious works were published abroad, where the laws were more liberal. And later the books were secretly imported into the country and distributed. By the way, with the advent of the Internet, bypassing censorship has become much easier. After all, you can always find (or create) a site where you can share your forbidden knowledge.

"Censorship (lat. censura) - control of the authorities over the content and dissemination of information, printed materials, musical and stage works, works visual arts, cinema and photo works, radio and television broadcasts, websites and portals, in some cases also private correspondence, in order to limit or prevent the dissemination of ideas and information recognized by this government as undesirable.

Censorship also refers to the bodies of secular or spiritual authorities that exercise such control.

The essence of the phenomenon

Censorship is an integral function of any state that implements a system of prohibitions and restrictions, as well as a propaganda mechanism. In contrast to this, in civil society there is a public and legal support freedom of speech.

...

Nobel laureate Friedrich von Hayek explains the reasons for this phenomenon by saying that for the existence of a totalitarian system it is necessary that the beliefs external to them become their own, and the whole society lives with a single goal.

Types and forms of censorship

Historically, types of censorship have developed based on the nature of the regulated information:

• military
• state
• economic
• a commercial
• political
• ideological
• moral
• spiritual.

In addition, censorship is divided into secular and religious, as well as by type of information media (censorship of the media, books, theater and cinema, public speeches, censorship of correspondence, etc.) There are other types of censorship.

So, Arlen Blum notes the so-called. “pedagogical censorship” - in relation to information approved for publication, but limited in distribution in certain segments of society, for example, a ban on use as school reading.

According to the methods of implementation, a distinction is made between preliminary censorship and subsequent censorship (punitive).

Pre-censorship consists in the need to obtain permission to release this or that information. Specific form The implementation of such censorship consists in the presence of a certain formal procedure, according to which the author, performer or publisher must submit texts, audio and video recordings, sketches, etc. to the state censorship body in order to obtain permission for publication, performance, exhibition, broadcast via electronic channels and so on.

Subsequent censorship consists of assessing already published information and taking restrictive or prohibitive measures in relation to a specific publication or work, withdrawing it from circulation, as well as applying sanctions against individuals or legal entities that violated censorship requirements during its publication.

Punitive censorship imposes sanctions on violators of censorship requirements. In particular, it existed in Russia in 1865-1917. In contrast to preliminary censorship, it examined books and magazines after they were printed, but before publication. For violation of censorship rules, the publication was seized, the author and publisher were brought to court. Soviet censorship also had similar functions.

Corporate censorship called the coordination of speeches by press secretaries, employees and business partners of corporations under the threat of monetary losses, loss of work or loss of access to the market.

There is also self-censorship— conscious self-restraint of the author in publishing information based on certain personal considerations (for example, moral restrictions, internal conformism), or out of fear of punishment for violating censorship rules. Self-censorship for reasons of conformity or fear is one of the characteristic manifestations of the deformation of civil society.

With the advent of new means of transmitting information (in particular, electronic ones - radio, television, the Internet), new forms of censorship arose. The need to control information transmitted from abroad has led to the emergence of means of “jamming” radio broadcasts and Internet censorship. The USSR jammed so-called “anti-Soviet radio broadcasting” for almost 60 years, with great intensity for 40 years.

The difficulties of censorship control over information on the Internet have led to the fact that some countries (for example, China and North Korea) exercise total control over information passing through the junction of national Internet networks with global ones, and Iran has stated that it plans to completely isolate the internal network.

Even in the most liberal countries there are certain censorship restrictions related to limiting the demonstration of violence, and especially calls for it, age restrictions for information of a sexual nature, etc. Thus, according to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950, it is permissible to restrict freedom of the press for reasons of national security or to establish public order.

Attitude towards censorship

Fundamentally opposing opinions regarding censorship have been expressed since the Enlightenment. Confrontation on this issue also existed in German classical philosophy: Immanuel Kant stood for freedom of expression of personal opinion, and Hegel believed that this freedom should be regulated by law and police measures.

Critics also note that calls for the introduction of censorship are often a sign of the powerlessness of state and public organizations in solving certain problems. social problems. For example, they believe that the calls of religious organizations to introduce “moral censorship” in Russia in order to prevent a decline in the morale of the nation actually reflect the inability of religious organizations to somehow influence the moral climate in society. A number of international organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders, fight censorship.

Bypass censorship restrictions

Methods for circumventing censorship restrictions have also been known since antiquity. The most famous of them is Aesopian language - an allegory that deliberately disguises the author’s thought. To circumvent censorship restrictions, information may be published and distributed illegally or abroad. To overcome filters on the Internet, publicly available technical solutions exist and are used.

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Articles on related topics on Wikipedia:

• Blasphemy
• Big public problem
• Free speech zone
• Propaganda model
• Political correctness

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Read full article CENSORSHIP (on the WIKIPEDIA website)