Censor
Censorship refers to the practice of removing or suppressing content deemed objectionable, often by officials or self-appointed individuals. The term originates from the Latin word "cēnsor," meaning "to give as one's opinion" or "assess." Historically, the role of censors can be traced back to ancient Rome, where officials were responsible for conducting censuses, evaluating property, and managing public morals. In modern contexts, censors often emerge during wartime or periods of civil unrest to control information flow, with the goal of protecting national security or maintaining public order. Governments may utilize censorship to limit access to certain media, restrict political dissent, and enforce legal compliance regarding content deemed inappropriate. In addition to governmental censorship, religious organizations have also played a role in identifying and prohibiting materials considered morally offensive. The practice of censorship is a contentious issue, with critics arguing that it infringes on fundamental freedoms such as speech and press. Understanding the dynamics of censorship can illuminate its implications for society and individual rights.
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Subject Terms
Censor
DEFINITION: One who removes or suppresses, usually from written or visual material, what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable. Censor comes from the Latin cēnsor meaning "to give as one's opinion" or "assess."
SIGNIFICANCE: Censorship does not happen without censors, who may be officials or self-appointed
In Rome in 443 BCE, two censors were elected to office. Their primary responsibilities were three. First was census taking of the Roman citizens. The census was the basis for civic life to the Romans; it formed a foundation for taxation, voting, and conscription to military service. Their second responsibility was evaluating property. Assessing the citizens’ property was critical to the maintenance of the Roman state. Romans believed that the greater one’s possessions, the more one owed to the state and hence, the more say one had in state matters. Their third responsibility was managing public commerce and overseeing public morals. Because censors assigned state contracts and maintained the census lists, they eventually assumed the responsibility of overseeing public morality.
Many censors have plied their skills since the fall of Rome. In times of war, governmental bodies often establish official censors. During wartime, it is the censors’ job to inspect any and all forms of communication entering or leaving the country. Wartime censors remove, change, or destroy any information that might endanger national security.
Some governments have appointed censors with the intent of maintaining public order during times of civil unrest, while others have used censors to suppress political dissent and hang onto political control. Governments have also used official censors to monitor art, communications, curricula, and media; to restrict citizens’ access to what the government sees as objectionable content; and to enforce compliance with laws, such as those against pornography and obscenity. Such censorship is criticized by opponents as infringing on freedom of speech and press, and other democratic ideals.
Religious organizations have instituted official censors, especially in periods of suspected moral decay. It was their role to list as objectionable any types of literature, film, or photographs they found to be morally offensive or blasphemous.
Bibliography
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"A Brief History of Film Censorship." National Coalition Against Censorship, ncac.org/resource/a-brief-history-of-film-censorship. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Cram, Robert Vincent. “The Roman Censors.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, vol. 51, 1940, pp. 71–110.
Darnton, Robert. Censors at Work: How States Shaped Literature. Norton, 2015.
Dunkel, Curtis S., and Erin E. Hillard. “Blasphemy or Art: What Art Should Be Censored and Who Wants to Censor It?” The Journal of Psychology, vol. 148, no. 1, 2014, pp. 1–21.
Mattingly, D. J. Imperialism, Power, and Identity: Experiencing the Roman Empire. Princeton UP, 2010.
Tarwacka, Anna. The Censors as Guardians of Public and Family Life in the Roman Republic. Taylor and Francis Group, 2024.
Werbel, Amy. “For Our Free Speech, We Have Censors to Thank.” Chronicle of Higher Education, vol. 62, no. 3, 2015, p. A56.