Can censorship be justified? Before answering that question, one should understand it fully. Censorship, as defined by the Cobuild English Dictionary, refers to the censoring of books, plays, films, or reports, especially by government officials, because they are in a way considered immoral or secret in some way. Justifying something, for example an action, proves that it is reasonable or necessary. My opinion on this issue is that censorship is justifiable.
Imagine if all forms of censorship weren’t to exist. In my opinion, that would create mass havoc in the world. Pornography and vulgar films would be accessible to everyone including youths. This could very well lead to a rise in crime rate all around the world. As statistics from the Washington Health Department show, teens become more violent and misbehave under the influence of this sort of films. What has the international community done about this? Well take Singapore for example. The Singapore Censorship board rates movie films and restricts viewing to certain age groups if the films are considered to be to ‘mature’ for teens. In this case, censorship is necessary and thus justifiable in order to curb the negative effects these films might have on society.
However, censorship, at times, may not be justified. Freedom of speech is important to societies and governments around the world. When criticisms of a government are freely voiced, the government has the opportunity to respond to unfair comments and criticisms about its actions. It is also in the governments’ interests to have criticisms in the public arena where they can answer to the criticisms and correct their own mistakes if any. Information minister of Singapore Lee Bon Yang also believes that criticism has “helped to contribute to the nation’s construction”. Thus censorship, in some ways, cannot be justified.
sources:
1.)http://www.ourcivilisation.com/cooray/rights/chap6.htm#6.1
2.)http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi? section= violence &page= fasftacts
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Mass Media and Its Impact on Youths
As time goes by, one cannot deny the fact that the media is having an increasing effect on youths. Our technologically advancing world makes it easier for these youths to gain access to different forms of media, for example the internet. With the internet, the world is at their fingertips and they can now do almost anything from viewing movies and videos to playing online games. However with the many advantages that the internet provides youths, it has also brought along many disadvantages, and that is why I strongly believe that the youths have been negatively influenced by the mass media.
Statistics from an online website created by the Washington state department of health show the link between movies and the way youths behave, that is, the more violent the movies, the more violent the youths are. When they see their favourite movie stars lighting a cigarette, youths think it is cool to follow suit. When they see the stars punching someone else on screen, they will think it is alright to do the same. From this, it is obvious that the media effectively manipulates and creates false perceptions among youths today that there is nothing wrong in being violent, thus proving that the mass media has a negative influence on them.
However with that said, we must also acknowledge the advantages of mass media. With the internet, youths now have access to tons of information that can enrich the mind and ensnare the senses. This information would complement whatever they learn in school and thus allow them to gain knowledge in many different fields.
Statistics from an online website created by the Washington state department of health show the link between movies and the way youths behave, that is, the more violent the movies, the more violent the youths are. When they see their favourite movie stars lighting a cigarette, youths think it is cool to follow suit. When they see the stars punching someone else on screen, they will think it is alright to do the same. From this, it is obvious that the media effectively manipulates and creates false perceptions among youths today that there is nothing wrong in being violent, thus proving that the mass media has a negative influence on them.
However with that said, we must also acknowledge the advantages of mass media. With the internet, youths now have access to tons of information that can enrich the mind and ensnare the senses. This information would complement whatever they learn in school and thus allow them to gain knowledge in many different fields.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Nowadays, the mass media do not report the news; they make the news.Discuss this with references to recent events.
Does the mass media report the news anymore, or do they simply just make stories up and provide inaccurate or unessential information just to boost ratings? Well, from recent events, such as the Virginia Tech mass killings on 16 April, we can see that the media is indeed trying to make the news.
I’m sure everyone agrees that the killing spree was an unfortunate and tragic event that should have never taken place in the first place. The worldwide press has done well to report on this event and I do applaud their efforts. However I strongly disagree to what they are doing now, and that is to give the massacre more attention than it deserves.
It has been one week since the tragedy, yet the press still insists on writing articles on it. American broadcasting service the NBC decided to air a video the gunman recorded and some journalists even went to his hometown in South Korea to find out more information about him, just so their articles could make the front page on newspapers worldwide the next day.
What’s the point! It’s not going to do anyone good if they keep on blabbering about the subject. Why do they do it? Simple, to give their ratings a boost and of course to increase profits. I mean its not everyday 30 plus people get killed at gunpoint for no reason and because of that, the media pounces on the opportunity to sensationalize the whole issue by airing videos and releasing pictures of the gunman and writing unessential articles on him and what he did.
What they are doing is wrong and by doing so, they might cause future problems such as discrimination towards Asians, and not just South Koreans, if they keep exaggerating and ‘glorifying’ the massacre in the mass media.
I’m sure everyone agrees that the killing spree was an unfortunate and tragic event that should have never taken place in the first place. The worldwide press has done well to report on this event and I do applaud their efforts. However I strongly disagree to what they are doing now, and that is to give the massacre more attention than it deserves.
It has been one week since the tragedy, yet the press still insists on writing articles on it. American broadcasting service the NBC decided to air a video the gunman recorded and some journalists even went to his hometown in South Korea to find out more information about him, just so their articles could make the front page on newspapers worldwide the next day.
What’s the point! It’s not going to do anyone good if they keep on blabbering about the subject. Why do they do it? Simple, to give their ratings a boost and of course to increase profits. I mean its not everyday 30 plus people get killed at gunpoint for no reason and because of that, the media pounces on the opportunity to sensationalize the whole issue by airing videos and releasing pictures of the gunman and writing unessential articles on him and what he did.
What they are doing is wrong and by doing so, they might cause future problems such as discrimination towards Asians, and not just South Koreans, if they keep exaggerating and ‘glorifying’ the massacre in the mass media.
"YouTube has no ethics, it's been created for the sole purpose of entertainment and money." Do you agree?
With over 1.5 billion people worldwide accessing the online video sharing website ‘you-tube’ and with the creators of the website earning over 1.65 billion from it, many might say that you-tube was created to make a quick buck, or it was created solely for entertainment purposes. However I feel that there is more to it, thus I have to disagree with the statement that youtube was created for the sole purpose of entertainment and money.
Why do take this stand? Simple. I believe that youtube can also (and on many occasions has done so) be used as an avenue to showcase your talents. For example in 2005, an electric guitarist who goes by the name ‘jerry C’ grabbed the attention of many musicians around the world with his proficiency and jaw-dropping licks on the guitar. He was featured in many newspapers including Singapore press holdings’ Digital Life.
However it is also true to a certain extent that many have used youtube to earn some money. For example some have used youtube to boost sales by uploading advertisements for their products on the website. The majority of course just use the website as a form of entertainment, watching whatever videos they might find worth spending their time on.
Nevertheless, I still stand by what I say, and that is, the biggest online video sharing website to date is more than just a money making scheme or just for one’s viewing pleasure. Instead, it also gives many the chances for them to showcase their talents on an international stage.
Why do take this stand? Simple. I believe that youtube can also (and on many occasions has done so) be used as an avenue to showcase your talents. For example in 2005, an electric guitarist who goes by the name ‘jerry C’ grabbed the attention of many musicians around the world with his proficiency and jaw-dropping licks on the guitar. He was featured in many newspapers including Singapore press holdings’ Digital Life.
However it is also true to a certain extent that many have used youtube to earn some money. For example some have used youtube to boost sales by uploading advertisements for their products on the website. The majority of course just use the website as a form of entertainment, watching whatever videos they might find worth spending their time on.
Nevertheless, I still stand by what I say, and that is, the biggest online video sharing website to date is more than just a money making scheme or just for one’s viewing pleasure. Instead, it also gives many the chances for them to showcase their talents on an international stage.
Monday, April 2, 2007
‘The teenage years are the best years of one’s life.’
It is true that many feel that their teenage years were the most enjoyable period of time in their lives. However it is also true that everyone has different opinions and perspectives on what enjoyment is. I for one believe that the teenage years are the best year in our lives because we get to enjoy more freedom and independence than when we were children, yet we do not have to worry about the problems, such as work-related issues, that adults face.
Some teenagers today though, have different ideas on how best their teenage years should be enjoyed. These teenagers go to great lengths just to follow the latest fashion trends or styles, and in my opinion they sometimes go overboard. For example, an increasing number of teens today are getting influenced by the recent ‘emo’ trend, which encourages teens to dress up somewhat like halloween trick-or-treaters, with hair covering half their face. I have nothing against the way these teenagers dress but the ‘emo’ trend also encourages self-mutilation and cutting your own wrist just to express your emotions and that is something I have to disagree that anyone should do.
There are other avenues to which one can use to express his or her emotions, for example music. I see no reason why one should cut his own wrist just to express himself and in my opinion one would be foolish to do so. I believe that teens who do cut their wrists will grow up to regret doing so, and they’ll look back at on their teenage years knowing that it may not have been the best period in their lives.
Thus we can see that self-mutilation and following fashion trends may seem to some like the best way to live out their teenage years. As for me, I think hanging out with friends, enjoying their company and enjoying the freedom my parents give me would certainly make my teenage years the best time of my life.
Some teenagers today though, have different ideas on how best their teenage years should be enjoyed. These teenagers go to great lengths just to follow the latest fashion trends or styles, and in my opinion they sometimes go overboard. For example, an increasing number of teens today are getting influenced by the recent ‘emo’ trend, which encourages teens to dress up somewhat like halloween trick-or-treaters, with hair covering half their face. I have nothing against the way these teenagers dress but the ‘emo’ trend also encourages self-mutilation and cutting your own wrist just to express your emotions and that is something I have to disagree that anyone should do.
There are other avenues to which one can use to express his or her emotions, for example music. I see no reason why one should cut his own wrist just to express himself and in my opinion one would be foolish to do so. I believe that teens who do cut their wrists will grow up to regret doing so, and they’ll look back at on their teenage years knowing that it may not have been the best period in their lives.
Thus we can see that self-mutilation and following fashion trends may seem to some like the best way to live out their teenage years. As for me, I think hanging out with friends, enjoying their company and enjoying the freedom my parents give me would certainly make my teenage years the best time of my life.
me,myself and i
A bit about myself.
There is nothing to it really. I’m just an average teenager. I’ll be turning 17 this year on the 22nd of April. I come from a family of three. I don’t have any brothers or sisters.
Like everyone else I have many likes and dislikes. I love music, be it playing it or listening to it. I’m currently a percussionist in the Anderson Junior College Symphonic Band. I also play the piano and a bit of the electric guitar. My favourite genre of music would have to be rock and heavy metal, but I’ll listen to any song that has a nice melody. I guess one could also consider me a person who lives to eat as I love good food and that may also explain my little weight issue.
I don’t really have many dislikes but one thing is for sure, I can’t stand mushrooms.
Did my secondary school education at Kranji Secondary School, scored 10 points for my O’levels and now I’m here in Anderson Junior College. I’m a science student and chemistry is my favourite science subject. Hopefully, with hard work and determination, I’ll be able to do well in my A’levels and enter a good course in university. However I am still unsure about which course I would like to enter in University but the course I eventually choose would definitely be science based.
There is nothing to it really. I’m just an average teenager. I’ll be turning 17 this year on the 22nd of April. I come from a family of three. I don’t have any brothers or sisters.
Like everyone else I have many likes and dislikes. I love music, be it playing it or listening to it. I’m currently a percussionist in the Anderson Junior College Symphonic Band. I also play the piano and a bit of the electric guitar. My favourite genre of music would have to be rock and heavy metal, but I’ll listen to any song that has a nice melody. I guess one could also consider me a person who lives to eat as I love good food and that may also explain my little weight issue.
I don’t really have many dislikes but one thing is for sure, I can’t stand mushrooms.
Did my secondary school education at Kranji Secondary School, scored 10 points for my O’levels and now I’m here in Anderson Junior College. I’m a science student and chemistry is my favourite science subject. Hopefully, with hard work and determination, I’ll be able to do well in my A’levels and enter a good course in university. However I am still unsure about which course I would like to enter in University but the course I eventually choose would definitely be science based.
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