Lecture 8 Censorship and truth

Lecture 8 Censorship and truth

Overview

-Notions of censorship and truth
-The indexical qualities of photography in rendering truth
-Photographic manipulation and the documentation of truth
-Censorship in advertising
-Censorship in art and photography

Censor

1. A person authorised to examine films, letters, or publications, in order to ban or cut anything considered obscene or objectionable
2. To ban or cut portions of (a film, letter or publication)

Morals

Principles of behaviour in accordance with standards of right and wrong

Ethics

1. A code of behaviour, especially of a particular group, profession or individual.
2. The moral fitness of a decision, course of action etc.
3. The study of the moral value of human conduct.

Final Thoughts

•          Just how much should we believe the ‘truth’ represented in the media?

•          And should we be protected from it?

•          Is the manipulation of the truth fair game in a Capitalist, consumer society?

•          Should art sit outside of censorship laws exercised in other disciplines?

•          Who should be protected, artist, viewer, or subject?