Government Must Not Censor The Arts Essay - 2561 Words

Cultural historians often ask how the preoccupations of an era shape a society. And the best insights are revealed, not through the clarity of connection, the union of expression or the dominant ideology, but through the chaos and rupture caused by the dissenting voice. It is often when an artist is most at odds with his or her world, most subject to critical debate, that we glimpse the dominant values of society, giving way to the cultural conscience of the time. One of the artists and humanists greatest value to a society is in the mirror of self-examination which they raise so that society can become aware of its short-comings as well as its strengths, stated the 1965 Senate Report on the establishment of the National†¦show more content†¦However, as Americans we are guaranteed the freedom of expression as written in the Constitutional Bill of Rights, stating: Congress shall make no law representing an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and petition the Government for a redress of grievances. It is with this First Amendment that allows us the right to the freedom of the speech, press and discourse, and through cases in the Supreme Court, the freedoms have extended to all aspects of life. Therefore, the censoring of any material, including in the arts and entertainment industry is not and should not happen in the land of the free. To begin, one must define what censorship is and determine when something has been censored. There are several definitions going around, both by non-partisan group as well as special-interest groups. The term censorship has its entomological roots in Latin and the word censere, meaning to give as ones opinion, to assess, and it was in Roman times when censors were magistrates who took the census count and served as assessors and inspectors of morals and conduct. Censorship then came to mean the act of assessing the morality of a work. In the 21st century, Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary explicitly defines it censor and censorship as: Censor: One whoShow MoreRelatedEssay on Censorship Within the United States510 Words   |  3 PagesUnited States is not only an immoral and big-brotherly practice, but also an insult to each and every one of those who call themselves US citizens. Every day, censors attempt to sanitize TV, radio, music, print, and even the Internet. In their infinite wisdom, they deem what should and should not be viewed by John Q. Public. Censors succeed in suppressing our free spirits and restraining our thoughts in virtually every medium. We have all been given the ability to rationally think for ourselvesRead MorePosition Paper: Censorship1391 Words   |  6 Pages Every structured society has suffered from some form of censorship of literature, art, or entertainment. Plato, the famous the famous Greek philosopher, was the first to record a method of censorship in a democratic society. In his Republic one of the first guidelines Plato designates is that The first thing will be to establish a censorship of the writers of fiction, and let the censors receive any tale of fiction which is good, and reject the bad; and we will desire mothers and nurses to tellRead MoreCensorship Freedom Of The Internet942 Words   |  4 PagesCensorship the Freedom of the Internet? The government controls much of what we can and can’t do, and also how and when we do it. For instance â€Å"taxes†, we all have to pay a certain amount to the government on a specific day where the IRS and their officials can determine how much we have to pay. The state control our cars through smog checks and how fast we can drive on the roads through tickets and fines. When the government has all of this control over us, should we give them more power? A powerRead MoreCensorship : The British Licensing Order Banned Any Publication Not Approved By The Censor Essay1690 Words   |  7 Pagesby the censor. In Areopagitica, Milton publicly denounces the censorship the reformed Parliament has declared. Through his political tract, Milton fervently argues that censorship limits individuals in intellectual capacity and that divine obligation requires the obliteration of censorship. Milton disputes that within a Christian ethical system, censorship restricts man from achieving spiritual growth. Additionally, Milton claims that no one has the right to censor, as God did not censor Adam. ForRead MoreFreedom of Expression is Ensured in India1473 Words   |  6 Pagesof the Constitution but is also limited by Article 19(2) which allows the government to place â€Å"reasonable restrictions on this right in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.† This means that the government can potentially censor anything. No other form of expression has had so many run-ins with these constitutionalRead MoreCensorship is a Personal Decision Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesIt is probably no accident that freedom of speech is the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment: Congr ess shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The Constitutions framers believed that freedom of inquiry and liberty of expression were the hallmarks of a democratic society. Freedom of speech, of the press, of association, of assembly and petition -- thisRead MoreThe Importance Of Contemporary Art1660 Words   |  7 PagesContemporary art, or modern art, is very commonly misunderstood because of the fact that it quite often lends itself to abstraction and expressionism. People discredit the artistic craftsmanship and moving conceptualism of the pieces, as well as the political activism and messages of injustice that are conveyed by those who would not otherwise be heard by the public. Censorship is not only dangerous to our constitutional rights, but is also hyper specific to contemporary art and actively silencesRead MorePersuasive Speech On Freedom Of Speech1119 Words   |  5 Pagesyou, then what you gonna do? Let ‘em censor books, let’em censor art, PRMC, this is where the witch hunt starts, you’ll censor what we see, we read, we hear , we learn.† - Critically Acclaimed Musician and Actor Ice- T. Congress shall make no la w respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances†.(First Amendment)Read MoreReal Monsters : Tackling The Beast Of Censorship1680 Words   |  7 Pagesthings you see as a child can stay with you, as the monster did with me, so it’s no surprise that there is a such controversy over the topic of censorship in the media. Ultimately this issue can be boiled down to it being the parent’s responsibility to censor the graphic media their children have access to and not the responsibility of the content creators or a different force such as the MPAA, after all, a parent knows their child best. Seemingly since the dawn of time censorship has been a hot topicRead MorePros And Cons Of Censorship1590 Words   |  7 Pagesread, or see or do. Censorship can affect all forms of art, music, speech, and expression. It can be seen as a means of suppressing free speech, especially in the case of musical lyrics and the impact music has on behaviors. According to Richard Taruskin, â€Å"It is all but irresistible kinesthetic response that music evokes that makes it such a potent influence on behavior, thence on morals and beliefs.† Therefore he justifies the need to censor music in order to prevent or reduce the negative behaviors

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights...

There are many differences between Pride and Prejudice, and Wuthering Heights. One of the main differences is the women in the stories and how they act. The two women that are surrounded by the two stories and all the problems throughout are Elizabeth Bennet, and Catherine Earnshaw. These two women share major roles in all the conflicts in their respective stories. These two women are also vastly different sharing very few similarities. They have huge differences in resolve. Elizabeth’s resolve led her to many different problems and amplified both her positive and negative qualities. Only one person was able to change her resolve and even then it took very large circumstances where Elizabeth was so completely wrong over her first judgment†¦show more content†¦She also did not let others influence her decisions when it came to her love life. When her cousin came and offered her his hand in marriage, her mother ordered her to marry him as soon as she saw him next, howev er Elizabeth still turned him down and infuriated her mother. For Elizabeth, the thought of being married to a man who she did not love was a pain worse than any poverty she could be forced to endure. Catherine became enraptured with two men, Edgar Linton and Heathcliff. Catherine began to love Heathcliff when they were children, and would always make sure that he was physically treated well. Even though she said things that harmed Heathcliff’s feelings when Catherine’s cruel brother locked Heathcliff up and forced him to be a servant she made it very well known that she displeased his treatment and would even go to see Heathcliff while he was locked away. Catherine also loves Edgar and, allowing her to be swayed by Hindley’s actions against Heathcliff, decides to marry Edgar instead. This shows the greatest difference as where Elizabeth decides to marry the man she loves no matter who stands in her way, Catherine causes most of the conflict in the book by allow ing herself to be swayed by Hindley’s degradation of Heathcliff’s character, and decides to marry someone else. Another extreme difference between Elizabeth and Catherine is the difference in the way they act towards others. Elizabeth would always rely on her wit and sharp tongue, notShow MoreRelatedWuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen1016 Words   |  5 PagesThe novels Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen each present a story in which the precariousness of social class and the perniciousness of love constitute a central conflict. Both the protagonist from Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff, and the protagonist from Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet, share a confident, yet stubborn demeanor; however, there are many characteristics and events that distinguish each of them as strong central characters in their own rightRead MoreFemale Writers Have Made A Great Impact On Literature Throughout History886 Words   |  4 Pagestheir own back stories. Two of the greatest female writers in history were Jane Austen and Emily Brontà «. Although they are both well-known female writers, their personal histories influenced there themes and modes of writing very differently. Born into a large family on December 16, 1775 in Hampshire, England, Jane Austen was the seventh child of eight. Her family was very close and affectionate toward each other. Although Jane never married, she had a diverse social circle due to her many friends andRead MorePride and Prejudice vs Wuthering Heights3113 Words   |  13 Pages[pic] PRIDE AND PREJUDICE vs. WUTHERING HEIGHTS About structure and mood There are a number of differences. First of all, the narrative structure is very different. Pride and Prejudice is chronological, told by a limited 3rd person narrator. Wuthering Heights begins at present, and then is told as a series of flashbacks, sometimes through letters, but with two different first-person narrators. Pride and Prejudice reads chronologically, with someone telling youRead MorePride and Prejudice by Jane Austin Vs. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte902 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom Pride Prejudice by Jane Austin, can be seen as a different role model when compared to Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Both novels have a similar background but with a different twist. Austin’s description of writing is seen to be related to a more realistic and satire approach, whereas Bronte’s style seems to be a bit gothic. Furthermore, both novels have a romantic presentation of two very unique genders that fall deeply in love with one another . Pride Prejudice startsRead MoreWuthering Heights And Prejudice By Emily Bronte And Jane Austen922 Words   |  4 PagesThe setting, symbolism, dialogue, indirect characterization, tone, irony and narrative perspective are all techniques used in Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice, to draw attention to social class. The setting in both novels is a technique used to illustrate how class creates conflict between the characters and to symbolise class system through the many estates within the novels. Symbolism such as transport and the characters dress is used to draw attention to the class system. The use of dialogueRead MoreEmily Brontes Writing Technique in Wuthering Heights991 Words   |  4 PagesA very complex element of Emily Bronte s writing technique is the narrative style she uses when alternating between the two characters of Nelly Dean and Lockwood. Wuthering Heights is a story told through eye witness accounts, first through Lockwood, followed by Nelly. Lockwood s responsibility is shaping the framework of the novel wheras Nelly provides the intricate recount of the personal lives of all the characters having been present first hand. Although, each character does have a differentRead More A Comparison of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen Essay2446 Words   |  10 PagesA Comparison of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen ADVANCED ENGLISH LANGUAGE ESSAY Of the many authors to emerge during the nineteenth-century, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen were among the few who would make a lasting impression on the literary world for generations. Hard Times, often referred to as Dickens’ ‘Industrial novel’ and Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have been much read and well-loved classics for many years. It is the purpose of this essay to compare and contrast the different Read MoreLeaves And Survivor Essay2472 Words   |  10 Pagesessays trying to explain the novel as a literary genre. ( ) The last early novelist was Jane Austen, she is said to be the greatest English novelist of manners. â€Å"Restricting herself to the society of landed gentry, Austen is a miniaturist; the feminine Augustan.† ( ) She is the only female writer of her time; it was very rare to see a woman do this during that time. Her major works were Pride and Prejudice and Emma. ( ) The 18th Century was largely a time of figuring out what the novel actuallyRead MoreCause and Impact Analysis on the Main Character’s Suffering in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Novel Eat, Pray, Love7348 Words   |  30 Pagesand A sentimental journey (Stern). 4. The Gothic novel, the novel that covers such elements as horror, death, violence, mystery and the supernatural predominate. For example: Laura Conway’s The unforgotten, Fran Kestein (Mary Shelly, Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte). 5. The didactic novel, the novel in which the message is used to teach something or to preach political or religious doctrines and social reforms. For example: Dickens’s novels are didactic novels aimed at social reforms. 6. The

Right to Housing Under the Constitution of Kenya Free Essays

RIGHT TO HOUSING UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA The right to housing comprises an intricate part in the realization of one of the most basic needs of a human being, shelter. Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that has attained the status of jus cogens due to its wide acceptance. Essential to the achievement of this standard is access to adequate housing. We will write a custom essay sample on Right to Housing Under the Constitution of Kenya or any similar topic only for you Order Now It has been said that housing fulfills physical needs by providing security and shelter from weather and climate. It fulfills psychological needs by providing a sense of personal space and privacy. It fulfills social needs by providing a gathering area and communal space for the human family, the basic unit of society. It also fulfills economic needs by functioning as a center for commercial production. Due to various factors including insufficient financial and natural resources, population growth, political upheavals, and rural- urban migration, a vast population of Kenyans especially those living in urban areas end up homeless or in informal settlements. Dr. P. L. O Lumumba in his speech during the World Habitat forum in 2004 described the lengths to which people unable to afford adequate housing go to provide shelter to themselves and their families. He said that some of them end up seeking refuge in, â€Å"slums areas, squatting in informal settlements, old buses, roadside embankments, cellars, staircases, rooftops, elevator enclosures, cages, cardboard boxes, plastic sheets, aluminum and tin shelter. † According to a UN Habitat study done in 2008, 60-80 percent of residents in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, live in informal settlements. In fact, the same study shows that while 60 percent of Nairobi’s populations live in informal settlements, their homes occupy only 5 percent of the total land area of the city and its environs. Although right to adequate shelter is a human right, this does not imply that the government is obliged to provide each of their citizens with land and an appropriate house to live in. This is dependent on the laws and policies of each individual country. In Kenya, the debate about the justifiability of housing and some other socio-economic rights seems to be over with the passing of the 2010 Constitution. This is because the constitution has provisions that seek to protect the provision of these rights to every citizen as will be discussed in the next part. 1. 1 The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 When Kenya gained independence in 1963, every Kenyan was relieved to have finally been freed from the yoke of colonialism. The independent Kenya adopted a constitution that had majorly British influence but that seemed to suffice during those early ‘teething years’. But as years passed by, the biting reality that the country had been taken over by neo-colonialists hit home. The independence constitution was not sufficient to protect the general public from the vicious acts and decisions of those in power. There was need for constitutional reform. Kenyans have long struggled for constitutional reform. They struggled because they suffered under an oppressive system of government. Their human rights were suppressed. The power of the state was concentrated in one person, the president. First regions and then local governments were stripped of all their powers. At the center, the president dominated all institutions of the state. Cronyism substituted for politics. Merit counted for little. The law was frequently abused by the government and the exercise of power was unpredictable and arbitrary. The judiciary had failed to protect the constitution and the rights of the people. The civil service and other executive organs lost independence. There was corruption, plundering both of the state and a captive private sector, on a massive scale. The new constitution therefore had to be a document that remedies the shortcomings of the independence constitution. The drafters of the new Constitution aimed to restore the confidence of the citizens with their government. One of the salient features of the 2010 constitution is the incorporation of a strong and comprehensive Bill of Rights. It contains a number of rights, which were missing from the independence constitution, including rights to official information, environment, economic and social rights, and rights of consumers, et cetera. The 2010 Constitution strengthens the achievement of the human rights by limiting the restrictions that may be placed on rights and by establishing a strong mechanism for the enforcement of rights. It also provides for an independent commission of human rights to protect and promote rights and freedoms. Of importance to this research are the Economic and Social rights. Article 43 provides for each person’s right to: a) The highest attainable standard of health b) Accessibility and adequate housing and to reasonable standards of sanitation. c) Freedom from hunger and to have adequate food of acceptable quality. d) Clean and safe water in adequate quantities. e) Social Security. f) Education. Amongst this list of rights is the right to housing. Forced evictions of persons living in unplanned settlements and slums are a common feature of urban development. People living in these informal settlements live at the margins of society. Land is generally an expensive investment in Kenya therefore only a few can afford it. Those who cannot afford it opt to rent apartments or houses or rooms from property owners but there are some who cannot still afford this kind of arrangements and so set up their housing structures on any free land that they come across, regardless of whether it is private land or public land set out for other purposes. This latter group of people is the ones who fall victim to forced evictions. Article 2(5) and (6) of the constitution general rules of international law and any treaty or convention ratified by Kenya form part of the laws of Kenya. Kenya ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) on 3/1/1976 and consequently became bound to respect, protect and enforce the rights therein, including the right to adequate housing and the related prohibition of forced evictions. It is with this backing of the law that victims of forced evictions that are not conducted in the manner stipulated in both domestic law and international law are able to defend their right to housing through the courts. ——————————————- [ 2 ]. Article 25(1) which states in part, â€Å"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care†¦Ã¢â‚¬  [ 3 ]. Nicholas Okemwa, Forceful Evictions and the Right to Adequate Housing(2011)16 ; The Bench Bulletin 58 [ 4 ]. Dr. P. L. O Lumumba, Powers of Urban Authorities over Settlement Control: The Kenyan Case. He presented this paper during the world habitat forum organized by un-habitat held on the 13th –17th September 2004 at the Barcelona, Spain [ 5 ]. Preliminary Results of the 2009, National Population and Housing Census. [ 6 ]. Draft Eviction an Resettlement Guidelines, 2010. [ 7 ]. Commentary on the Kenyan Constitution, (Consolidation of 15 articles in the East African Standard). [ 8 ]. Article 35 [ 9 ]. Article 42 [ 10 ]. Article 43 [ 11 ]. Article 46 [ 12 ]. Article 24 is the only article that provides for the specific procedure to be followed for a right contained in the Bill of Rights to be limited. This is unlike in the independence constitution where each right was immediately followed by a claw-back clause. [ 13 ]. Article 11 How to cite Right to Housing Under the Constitution of Kenya, Papers

Intentional Torts free essay sample

On a Saturday night there were an incident between two males and a female in a bar called Bottom’s Up. A man name John had too much to drink and was intoxicated. He was shouting obscenities toward a lady name Jane that was sitting at a table next to another guy name Leroy, which he was a frequent customer. However, Jane ignored John and continued to drink her beer. When she ignored him than he approached her looking disturbed. Leroy asked John over to the bar for a drink, but John told him to mind his own business. John grabbed Jane’s wrist and when he did Leroy grabbed John’s wrist and put him in a neck hold. John was protesting Leroy to let go of him, but Leroy did not let go. Leroy placed John in a chair and told him not to make a move or he will punch him. We will write a custom essay sample on Intentional Torts or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After the incident happen Jane told Leroy that John was her husband. Issue 1) Why was Leroy taking upon his self to defend Jane, even though she was a complete stranger? 2) Why did Leroy even put his hands on John, especially if John didn’t touch him? 3) In what ways did assault, battery and false imprisonment come into play in this case? Rules In this case it is considered defense of persons in which is a legal justification for assault, battery and false imprisonment. Assault is someone that intentionally puts another in fear and battery is when someone using force against another person. False imprisonment is someone that is holding another person down against their will. The reason it is considered defense of persons because Leroy was using reasonable force by protecting Jane the third person from injury where John threatened by an attacking force. According to KRS Â § 503. 070, the only time to use physical force upon another person where it is justifiable is when causing serious injury or provokes the use of physical force to the other person. Analysis/Application On a Saturday night when John was intoxicated he was shouting obscenities toward a lady name Jane. He was very rude, obnoxious, and assaulting. Jane was sitting at a table next to Leroy’s, but she ignored John and continues to drink her beer. John was not very please and gave her a disturbed look. When John was shouting to her it became an assault because he intentionally put her in fear. However when he reached out and grabbed her wrist it was considered a battery because John was using force against another person. Leroy had put his hands on John’s wrist, put him in a neck hold, and would not let go, which became a false imprisonment because he was holding John against his will. Leroy was protecting Jane because he saw that she was in fear and was threatened by an attacking force, which is considered defense of persons. According to KRS Â § 503. 70, which was the Kentucky Statute the defense of persons is when causing serious injury or provoked use of physical force to the other person. Conclusion Leroy saw that John was intoxicated and put his hands on John because he seen that there was a threat against Jane, which he protected her. The assault, battery, and false imprisonment was involved in this case because John intentionally put fear in her, reached out and grabbed her wrist, but when he did than Leroy stepped in. Leroy grabbed John’s wrist and put him in a neck hold and didn’t let him go, which is considered false imprisonment. According to KRS Â § 503. 070, only time it is justifiable in using defense of others is when causing serious injury or provoked use of physical force to the other person. Assume that Leroy can prove that John acted with the requisite intent, John will be liable for assault, battery, and false imprisonment.