SELECTED ARTICLES ON CENSORSHIP OF THE THEATER AND MOVING PICTURES

Beman, Lamar T.

Published by The H.W. Wilson Company, New York, 1931

First edition of this debate-formatted exploration of censorship in the performing arts rarely found in original dust jacket. Published just one year after the establishment of the Hays Code and advertised on the printed dust jacket as a "companion volume to CENSORSHIP OF SPEECH AND THE PRESS," Beman's debate-in-book-form tackles the moral and ethical questions around censorship that were common for the time, as film had quickly become "unquestionably the world's largest form of commercialized entertainment." The book is split into two parts (Censorship of the Moving Pictures and Censorship of the Theater) and some pains appear to have been taken to represent all sides of the issue. Interestingly, as Beman notes in the introduction, much of the argument for censorship in moving pictures appears to be focused on crime, in particular the notion that there is a direct connection between films and crime perpetrated by "children," "adults of limited intelligence," and even "normal adults" (depending, evidently, on who you ask). Still others find danger in the amount of "Sex, smut and love slop" being churned out. A fascinating look into the changing media landscape during a period of heightened moral questioning. 9'' x 5.5''. Original brown cloth, gilt-lettered spine. In original brown printed jacket. 386 pages. Jacket with small chip to spine foot and trace edgewear. Book with minor bumping to corners, touch of foxing to endpapers and edges, else sound. Very good plus in very good plus jacket. Seller Inventory # 53052

Bibliographic Details

Title: SELECTED ARTICLES ON CENSORSHIP OF THE ...
Publisher: The H.W. Wilson Company, New York
Publication Date: 1931
Binding: Hardcover
Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
Edition: 1st Edition