Drama Term Tuesday #12
/Censorship
Censorship of Drama
Censorship sets out to define, control and restrict individual or group freedom and access to ideas or expression.
In the long history of drama there has been strong recognition of its power to influence thought and to change action amongst audiences. As such a powerful force in society, drama has attracted the attention of many who wanted to control it, curb its influence or to use it for their own purposes. Censorship has been undertaken on the basis of religious belief, political ideology and propaganda, sexual or personal morality. Censorship can be undertaken by individuals, groups, governments or religious groups.
Self censorship is another common example of how individual playwrights and actors limit ideas or dramatic action.
Optimistically, wherever there has existed censorship, there has been ingenuity and resilience in drama which questioned or countered the deadening influence of censorship and ensured the power of drama continued to have an impact on society.
