Censorship of the Arts in Singapore - 1474 Words

What is the right balance to strike between freedom of and restrictions upon artistic expression? The commonly accepted definition of censorship- that certain texts, images, or films should be banned. The Longman’s English Dictionary defines censorship as to examine books, films, letters etc, to remove anything that is considered offensive, morally harmful, or politically dangerous. Narrowing down the definition to cover The Arts scene in Singapore, the question beckons should anyone have the power to place restrictions on an individual’s freedom of expression? One might liken that tying a gag over someone’s mouth! In a recent dialogue with Minister Mentor Lee (Friday, October 5th, 2007 – Singapore: From Arts to censorship), students†¦show more content†¦Lastly, we should note that people are not being forced to view artwork at gunpoint. Every member of the public has the right to avert their eyes not look at art that offends them. Similarly, they can refrain from entering a gallery with an exhibition of offensive works. The risks of stifling free expression far outweigh the potential for unacceptable material. Content which we consider perfectly acceptable today would have been regarded as taboo 50 years ago. In the report of the Censorship Review Committee of 2003, it was noted that the report was kept relevant against the backdrop of our social evolution and changing global landscape while understanding the need to fan the creative flames of the new generation and to accommodate the diversity of views. The social â€Å"glue† that bonds our society was not to be compromised, namely Singapore’s core values, identity, shared memories, religious and racial harmony. But the question one has to ask would be, are these changes coming fast enough to cope with the blooming art’s scene here, or is it a tightening noose fighting progress and growth? The report declares that â€Å"censorship is not just about classification, or access control; nor is it simply about liberalisation or tig htening up. Censorship is multi-dimensional, relating media and artistic expression to the social values of community.† (Part IV, 9.0, Conclusion, pg 71) I beg to differ. So does censorship help the artistic cause? Would the general publicShow MoreRelatedThe Censorship Of Singapore ( Mda )1948 Words   |  8 PagesThe practise of censorship - the restriction of ideas, action or image through the control of the media or any other medium of expression. Censorship should be practised sensibly so that it will not restrict the development and expression of new ideas while ensuring that social and political harmony is assured. Censorship plays a vital role in maintaining the morals of its society and creating an economically dynamic, socially cohesive and culturally vibrant nation. (N.A, N.D) The press exert a significantRead MoreNgos And Freedom Of Expression1719 Words   |  7 Pagesthis right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice† (UN 1976). This human right is often restricted by states which use mechanisms such as censorship, restrictive media legislation, and the harassment and persecution of journalists or bloggers. Some examples of NGOs that protect the freedom of expression are as follows: †¢ FreedomRead MoreThe Democratic Process Of Southeast Asian Countries1478 Words   |  6 PagesThe democratic process of Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, has seen very little significant changes from civil society action. While each of these countries have claimed to be democratic nations, there has been little change in terms of government rule since their independence. These civil society groups are ones that reflect the ideas and values of a group of people, in pursuit of a common goal. The changes that have resulted are in Malaysia and Singapore’s governmentsRead MorePersuasive Essay On Freedom Of Speech800 Words   |  4 PagesFreedom of speech in America is defined by the right to express any opinions without any censorship or restraint. But it isn’t just defined by the words people speak aloud. It’s the actions they take part in to support the words they express. The writing of books and essays, creating artwork, giving sp eeches to grand crowds, voting, protesting. But do all people have the right to speak their mind? Should people be able to speak freely, to express opinions and thoughts, as promised in the United StatesRead MoreGovernments Censoring Internet Content1490 Words   |  6 Pagesor watch what others think is good then we would be fulfilling others wishes but not our own. Hence, it is very important that every citizen has the needed voice to be informed without any limitation. According to, Aukerman 2013, â€Å" Implementing censorship creates technical and social issues, such as over- blocking or false detection, decreased network performance, and freedom of speech.† As a result, if government decides to censor content on the internet then it would create technical difficultiesRead MoreEssay about Freedom of Expression on the Internet3920 Words   |  16 PagesIntroduction This paper addresses whether we should censor or block access to websites with controversial material. It looks at the issue from several sides: The relevant US laws that are in place, how censorship is used at the university and corporate levels, how other countries are attempting censorship, and finally what I feel about the topic. Given all that I have read in preparing this paper, I have come to the conclusion that without a set of globally-accepted rules, we should not be censoringRead MoreGp Essay Mainpoints24643 Words   |  99 PagesGovernment Censorship d. Profit-driven Media e. Advertising f. Private life of public figures g. Celebrity as a role model h. Blame media for our problems i. Power + Responsibility of Media j. Media ethics k. New Media and Democracy 2. Science/Tech a. Science and Ethics b. Government and scientist role in science c. Rely too much on technology? d. Nuclear technology e. Genetic modification f. Right tech for wrong reasons 3. Arts/Culture a. Arts have a futureRead MoreThe Jade Pendant5982 Words   |  24 Pagesparticular, this is most true of the Singapore Short story which was by comparison to other forms of literary expression most prolific during the early years of Singapore s history. This study first provides a brief historical overview of the Singapore Short story written in English after which it examines the development of the genre through its first decade dating from 1978 and subsequently, the next ten years to the present. The Short Story in Singapore Singapore is a cosmopolitan Asian city, uniqueRead MoreEssay on The Efforts to Regulate the Internet5321 Words   |  22 Pagesexpansive intellectual horizon but simultaneously providing easy access to an infinite, virtual Pandoras box† [1]. This paper shall discuss the situations that have raised the need for the Internet regulations, and in particular, Internet content censorship. Then, it shall review the regulatory efforts worldwide, with respect to the local cultures and governmental systems. Also, technological tools for regulating the Internet contents shall be presented. The ethical discussion shall focus on the rightRead MoreThe American Model Of Research Oriented Education1518 Words   |  7 PagesYale surfaced as drivers of this model and both public and private universities adopted the model as well. On a global level, these centers of learning were meant for the upper elite and were largely intended to train Puritan priests in the liberal arts (Thelin, 24-27). As a result, universities in America did little to promote social mobility in the twentieth century, given their focus on wealthy families. This was also true for European higher education that was not accessible to the general public