Film censorship in the United States
Film censorship means that certain movies or parts of movies are changed or not shown to some people because someone thinks they are bad or harmful. In the United States, film censorship has been around for a long time, and it started when movies first became popular.
Movie studios and filmmakers want their movies to be seen by as many people as possible, but sometimes the government, special groups, or individuals don't like what they see in movies, so they ask for changes or ban the movies altogether. For example, a group may think that a specific scene is too violent, too sexual, or too scary for kids, and they might want it cut out from the movie. This is called censorship.
The way movies are censored in the United States has changed through time. In 1930, there was something called the Hays Code, which was a set of rules created by a man named Will Hays, who worked for the movie industry. The Hays Code was a strict set of guidelines that said what movie makers could and couldn't show in their movies. The code was meant to make movies more moral and less offensive, but it was very restrictive, and many filmmakers ignored it.
In the 1960s, the Hays Code was abandoned, and a new movie rating system was created. This system was meant to help people know what kind of movie they were about to see. The ratings were: "G" for general audiences, "PG" for parental guidance suggested, "R" for restricted, which meant people under 17 needed a parent to see the movie, and "X" for adults only. Later on, the "PG-13" rating was added, which meant that some parts of the movie were not appropriate for kids under 13.
Today, movies are still censored, but not as much as they used to be. Most movies are now released with a rating, which gives people an idea of what to expect. However, some movies can still be banned or censored if people think they are too harmful or offensive. The debate over what should and shouldn't be censored in movies still goes on today, and many people still have different opinions on the matter.
Movie studios and filmmakers want their movies to be seen by as many people as possible, but sometimes the government, special groups, or individuals don't like what they see in movies, so they ask for changes or ban the movies altogether. For example, a group may think that a specific scene is too violent, too sexual, or too scary for kids, and they might want it cut out from the movie. This is called censorship.
The way movies are censored in the United States has changed through time. In 1930, there was something called the Hays Code, which was a set of rules created by a man named Will Hays, who worked for the movie industry. The Hays Code was a strict set of guidelines that said what movie makers could and couldn't show in their movies. The code was meant to make movies more moral and less offensive, but it was very restrictive, and many filmmakers ignored it.
In the 1960s, the Hays Code was abandoned, and a new movie rating system was created. This system was meant to help people know what kind of movie they were about to see. The ratings were: "G" for general audiences, "PG" for parental guidance suggested, "R" for restricted, which meant people under 17 needed a parent to see the movie, and "X" for adults only. Later on, the "PG-13" rating was added, which meant that some parts of the movie were not appropriate for kids under 13.
Today, movies are still censored, but not as much as they used to be. Most movies are now released with a rating, which gives people an idea of what to expect. However, some movies can still be banned or censored if people think they are too harmful or offensive. The debate over what should and shouldn't be censored in movies still goes on today, and many people still have different opinions on the matter.