Running Head: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS CENSORSHIP IN THE ENTERTAINMENT

Censorship in Entertainment Aaron Beckford University of Texas at El Paso

Running Head: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS CENSORSHIP IN THE ENTERTAINMENT

Weve seen them and heard them everywhere, This program may contain adult content not suitable for children. Viewer discretion is advised. Censorship, weve all watched our favorite movies in theaters and on DVD or blue-ray, but the moment we see it on television, every little curse word, sex scene, and violent action is watched over very carefully. Maybe even be listening to a new song that can bring up sex, drugs, violence and even racial slurs but once played on the radio you feel as though the song has a skip to it, but its only the censorship of the American government. But yet when reading 50 Shades of Grey every little detail is read and an image is created in your mind. In the article, Children, Entertainment, and Marketing, author Rhoda Rabkin, describes just how censorship and restrictions work towards our entertainment, including movies music comic books and even tobacco commercials. Written for concerned parents, the article shows just how censorship has changed over time. Most American parents want to restrict childrens access to entertainment glamorizing violence, sex, drug-use and vulgar language. Parents do have a right to be concerned about what exactly their children watch especially with all the violence, sex and drug-use. With shows like South Park, Breaking Bad, and Dexter we see that limitations are dropping in shows. The audience of this article is directed to the parents of children that are easily consumed by what we find entertaining but not something we would go out and do ourselves. Rabkin wrote this article to inform those of what actions have been taken to watch create a security in entertainment. She explains how the MMAA has shaped the way entertainment is given as well as many other laws, restrictions, and enforcements have been created to control the way entertainment is represented to the American people. Described in the article, R-rated movies actually cannot be advertised in a G-rated or even a PG-rated movie. As well as vice versa, G-rated and PG-rated movies cannot be advertised in an R-rated movie. Adults have

Running Head: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS CENSORSHIP IN THE ENTERTAINMENT

always been skeptic on what their children watch, hear and interpret but over the years, Rabkin describes, weve actually become more liberal to what is shown and heard throughout our entertainment. Many can find this article very credible. Its used many different facts and very well worded and articulate wordings. The article brings up a lot of organizations and acts that break down the article even more. The RIAA continues to insist, however (as noted critically in the FTCs December 2001 report) on its right to market labeled music aggressively to young people. The RIAA, Recording Industry Association of America, is a trade organization that represents recording industry distributors in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which create, manufacture and distribute approximately 85% of all legally sold recorded music in the U.S. We all, one day will want children. We want to watch grow up and become successful with no problems as they see what the real world can become. Well with them growing old and maturing they start off with minds like sponges. What they see on television and hear on the radio may even become what they want their life to be. But whos to say that what they hear and see is something that wont become the reality to them. This article brings in our future children and even the children of today. It breaks down the emotion of one day becoming a parent and thinking about just how your child may grow up and be morally confused. In April 2001, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced the Media Marketing Accountability Act (MMAA)--a bill to prohibit the marketing of "adult-rated media," i.e., movies, music, and computer games containing violent or sexual material, to young people under the age of 17. This can be seen in many places such as electronic stores, movie theaters, and

Running Head: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS CENSORSHIP IN THE ENTERTAINMENT

even online. This is why you dont see a 13-year-old alone in an R-rated movie as well as why you dont see the same aged group paying for an M-rated video game. The facts broken down in this article are proven through real-experiences and passed laws that restrict children from mature content. Weve all heard the same excuse over and over again. Its our freedom of speech. But what does that restrict to? We all love our favorite movie more when it comes with the sex the violence and the vulgar language, but would we let our young children watch it? With minds like sponges and the adolescent thought of being invincible, we have to be careful as to what young people wish to see and hear. The violent movies we all love to watch may be something our children want to try some day. They see the all-powerful kingpins of the world and think that drug dealing is okay when in reality is morally incorrect and illegal.