Art, censorship, and the first amendment

Art, Censorship and the First Amendment
Suppression of public communication, arts and media freedom has existed in the United States ever since the amendment of the American constitution. Censorship has been witnessed in general arts, especially in public media and freedom of speech. Despite the first amendment of the American constitution that prohibits abridge of academic freedom, right to assemble, free speech, media censorship still exists. National security has been occasionally used to justify censorship through measures such as controlling what newspapers publish and what broadcast houses air. Restrictions and censorship are carried out by the government due to the failure of media art agencies to comply with laws that govern publication of government documents. An example of such laws includes the 1966 Freedom of Information Act that shades light on the use of classified government documents.
The art industry has not been left behind. This is due to the rise in recent cases where nudity, exposure of pornographic behavior and materials and depiction of homosexual imagery in live performance arts has increased. The Congress has enacted laws that give provision for punishment of such violations amounting to censorship in certain instances. The Federal Communications (FCC) has been vocal in leading the campaign. It enforces laws that illegalize public profanity, indecency and obscenity by performing artists. The body restricts and regulates what content that can be aired and broadcasted to the public.

The First Amendment of the American Constitution protects the freedom of arts. However, fear of offence still encourages censorship and self-censorship. Pornography, religious sensitivity, obscenity and nudity are the common reason for the US government censoring visual arts in public places. Censorship takes place at the gallery level where visual art has been removed in reaction to controversy rather than by legal mandate. The same applies to written literature. The government keeps Controversial books that expose and depict the government negatively out of public libraries. For example, in March 2013, the government instructed removal of the novel “Persepolis” in classrooms across all public schools in Chicago.
The American art and media industry enjoys the freedom of speech and diverse press. However, consolidation of media ownership, aggressive political and religious partisanship and other existing financial troubles have constantly posed a threat to this freedom of speech and arts. As a result, the American journalism has lost quality due to overstretching of reporters and shrinking of the media newsrooms.
Freedom and rights come up with responsibility. It’s for this reason that the media and the art industry have to enjoy the freedom of speech responsibly or risk government censorship on their freedom. The rapid shifts in online behavior and technology for the digital section has posed a great challenge to secrecy and security. An example is the prosecution and sentencing of Bradley Manning of WikiLeaks and pursuit of Edward Snowden on charges of whistleblowing. The American Congress guarantees freedom of speech but has enacted laws that restrict abuse of this freedom.
To keep sanity in media houses, the American government has enacted auxiliary laws and acts to ensure that freedom of speech is used responsibly. Although the government has enacted laws that shield and protect journalists from revealing their sources of information, it has remained tough on whistleblowers. An example of such law is the 2012 Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act. The act demands for sources of information for any government secrets leaked to journalists.
References
Book Banning, Obscenity, and “Harm to Minors”(June 3, 2014) – The Fair Observer interviews Marjorie Heins.
Harvard Law Review Censors Link to Nan Goldin Photograph (June 26, 2014) – And in a forum celebrating free expression, no less.