“Won’t somebody please think of the children?” It’s the catchphrase of Helen Lovejoy, a character from The Simpsons. It also seems to be the rallying cry of the Russian Federation. Recent legislation intended to protect children from harmful information is…
Author: Soyini Hamit
Comics Struggle to Gain a Foothold in Iran
Increasingly, young artists in Iran are expressing their love for comic books. Rather than imitate the work found in American and European comics, these artists want to put a uniquely Iranian stamp on their work. However, they find their voices…
American Cartoonist Daryl Cagle Presents Video Conference on Editorial Cartoons for Pakistani Journalists
In mid-August, American cartoonist Daryl Cagle presented a video conference on for editorial cartoonists and journalists based in Lahore, Pakistan. Cagle discussed the impact of political cartoons in the US, and the lack of restrictions on the ideas that American…
Media in Myanmar Opposes New Press Council
Last Friday, after widespread criticism of delays in eliminating its censorship board, the government of Myanmar announced that it was forming an interim council to regulate the press until the new media law is enacted. The 20-member council is comprised…
Censors in Myanmar Suspend Two Weekly News Journals
Last week, two weekly publications in Myanmar (Burma), The Voice Weekly and Envoy, were suspended indefinitely for violations of the country’s regulations on news media. The suspensions came as new media laws are drafted that officials claim will lift past…
Tunisian Man Loses Free Expression Appeal
On March 28, Jabeur Mejri, a Tunisian man convicted of upsetting public order and morals, was sentenced to seven years in jail after posting cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad on Facebook. Last week, he learned that the court would not…
Codifying Obscenity in Japan
A 40-year-old man from Kobe, Japan was arrested by the Okayama Prefectural Police on Monday for allegedly selling obscene illustrations from his website. He reportedly plead guilty to the crime, saying that he was motivated by the desire for money. CBLDF blogger takes a look at the case and at the prosecution of obscenity in Japan after the jump…
Manga and Anime Series Undergo Content Review in Tokyo
In Tokyo, the Youth Healthy Development Ordinance prohibits the sale of publications containing material that is “sexually stimulating, encourages cruelty, and/or may compel suicide or criminal behavior” to people younger than 18. A 2011 amendment expanded the scope of the ordinance to include manga and anime with explicit depictions of children engaging in sexual acts. This week, the manga To Love-Ru Darkness survived a challenge under the ordinance. Click through for details from CBLDF blogger Soyini Hamit.
The Huffington Post Evaluates the Use of Ratings for YA Books
by Soyini A. Hamit
The academic journal Mass Communication and Society published an article in their May 18, 2012 issue about the frequent use of profanities in Young Adult (YA) books. One of the authors, Dr. Sarah Coyne, assistant professor at Brigham Young University, believes that a rating system should be in place so that parents will know what books are appropriate for their child’s age. The Huffington Post takes a closer look at whether such a system is necessary.
India Moves to Ban Cartoons from Textbooks
by Soyini A. Hamit
On May 14, one day after the 60th anniversary of the Indian Parliament, the government decided to ban textbooks from the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) for using cartoons that mock politicians. The government will also review NCERT textbooks, in addition to removing the offensive cartoons.
What began as an affront to famed cartoonist Shankar Pillai’s depiction of political leader B. R. Ambedkar has grown into an assault on the use of all cartoons in textbooks. Members of Parliament protested until the government relented and agreed to censor textbooks. The lone voice of dissent came from MP Sharifuddin Shariq, who felt that the cartoons should not upset politicians because they “reflected the reality.”
More after the jump…