Anti-Censorship: An Annotated Bibliography

Anderson, Albert A., and Charles R. Garoian. “Censorship in the Art Classroom.” School Arts. Jan. 1996: 35. Questia. 21 Nov. 2005. ?ao&d5000319858 . In this article, the authors attempt to bring to light censorship, a clear infringement on First Amendment rights. This article talks about how censorship impedes learning and art. This is a very useful, objective, and reliable source. The goal of this source is to bring to light censorship in the arts. This source was helpful in supporting my argument because it shows that there is censorship (a breach of First Amendment rights) in a nation of free speech, press, religion, and many other things.

Boston, Rob. “Witch Hunt: Why the Religious Right is Crusading to Exorcise Harry Potter Books from Schools and Libraries.” Church and State. Mar. 2002: 8. Questia. 21 Nov. 2005. ?ao&d5000729330 This article is about how the Harry Potter books (which are fiction) are being banned all over the country because of the “evil” witchcraft contained in them. Also included is a book burning (by a church) of not only the Harry Potter books but also of the collected works of William Shakespeare. This will be useful in my research because this is a clear infringement of freedom of the press (the First Amendment). The people have the right to read what they want to read. This source is reliable and objective. The goal of this source is to bring to light a violation of the First Amendment.

Bracken, Harry M. Freedom of Speech: Words Are Not Deeds. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1994. Questia. 15 Nov. 2005. ?ao&d34914362 This book talks about what speech is and what free speech is. It talks about the fact that words are NOT deeds. This is a useful, objective, and helpful source. The goal of this book is to educate people on what speech is and what free speech is. This source was very helpful in supporting my argument because it shows how people go overboard with censoring “obscene” words, pictures, etc.

Goodridge, Mike. “‘Faggot’ Phobia.” The Advocate. 23 Nov. 2005. Questia. ?ao&d5008426134 This article talks about an anti-everything song (but mostly anti-war) called “American Idiot” by Green Day. The article talks about the fact that not only does the government censor words, but radio station owners do also. It also discusses how this is wrong. This source is reliable and useful. The goal of this source is to point out that not only is censorship ridiculous, but also that some of the words that are censored are not legally “obscene” or harmful. This source is helpful because it represents my argument that censorship isn’t right and is against the First Amendment. I can use this source in my paper because it’s a good example of censorship when our nation is supposed to be one of free speech.

Garry, Patrick. An American Paradox: Censorship In a Nation of Free Speech. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1993. Questia. 15 Nov. 2005. ?ao&d26280250 . This book is about how the American identity has been distorted due to censorship. It talks about how one of Americans’ most sacred rights, freedom of speech, has been tampered with. It also talks about current censorship in America and how it’s a “symptom of insecurity” as one of the chapter titles puts it. This is a useful source and it’s objective. The goal of this source is to make Americans aware of infringements on their First Amendment rights and to show that censorship has gotten out of control.

Dileonardo, Tracey, and Juliet Dee. “Discouraging ‘Objectionable’ Music Content: Litigation, Legislation, Economic Pressure, and More Speech.” Communications and the Law. 25.1 (2003): 13. Questia. 21 Nov. 2005. ?ao&d5002045804 . This journal article is about examples of First Amendment infringements. It talks about the definition of obscenity and how most things don’t qualify. It also talks about the FCC and legal tests that have been done. This is a useful, reliable, and objective source. The goal of this source is to show that most of what is censored cannot be legally defined as obscene. The reason this source helps me shape my argument is because it offers proof of my point of view that music does not cause violence.

Richardson, Valerie. “Can the Music Industry Easily Forget What Tipper’s Song Was in ’85?” The Washington Times. 13 Aug. 2000: 7. Questia. 16 Nov. 2005. ?ao&d5001067406 . This article is about how easily people (rock musicians especially) can forget who and what said that their music was obscene and not fit for public ears. This is a very useful, reliable, and objective source. This source helps shape my argument because this article tells how censorship (and the breach of our First Amendment rights) started.

Rothschild, Matthew. “Wal-Mart Turns in Student’s Anti-Bush Photo, Secret Service Investigates Him.”Progressive Magazine. 6 Oct. 2005. This article is about how a teacher assigned her students to bring in something that illustrated their First Amendment right to dissent. When one student took a picture of himself with a thumbs down sign next to a picture of George W. Bush (who had a red thumbtack through his head), a Wal-Mart employee turned him in. The Secret Service investigated him. However, he wasn’t indicted and the case was dismissed. This is a useful, reliable, objective, source. The goal of this source is to inform people that we don’t necessarily have the freedoms promised to us in the First Amendment. This source helps me shape my argument because it shows a clear infringement of the right to dissent/of the press.

Wikipedia. “Federal Communications Commission”. 16 Nov. 2005. 17 Nov. 2005. #Criticisms . This article describes criticisms against the FCC, what it does, and its history. This is a useful and objective source. The goal of this source is to educate whoever wants to know about the FCC. This article is helpful to me because it provides me with criticisms of a commission that I believe violates the First Amendment.

Geocities. “Censor This: Music Censorship in America.” 30 March 2006. This website includes extensive research on the history of censorship, quotes, other background information, and information on how big conglomerates such as MTV and Wal-Mart are pressured by the FCC and PMRC to censor their music sales and videos. The goal of this source is to educate the public on censorship(in music especially). This website is helpful to me because it gives information on the history of censorship(especially on music censorship). This is a very useful, reliable, objective source.