Not in Front of the Children: Indecency, Censorship, and the Innocence of Youth
From Huckleberry Finn to Harry Potter, from Internet filters to the v-chip, censorship exercised on behalf of children and adolescents is often based on the assumption that they must be protected from “indecent” information that might harm their development—whether in art, in literature, or on a Web site. But where does this assumption come from, and is it true? \ In Not in Front of the Children, Marjorie Heins explores the fascinating history of “indecency” laws and other restrictions...
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From Huckleberry Finn to Harry Potter, from Internet filters to the v-chip, censorship exercised on behalf of children and adolescents is often based on the assumption that they must be protected from "indecent" information that might harm their development-whether in art, in literature, or on a Web site. But where does this assumption come from, and is it true? In Not in Front of the Children, Marjorie Heins explores the fascinating history of "indecency" laws and other restrictions aimed at protecting youth. From Plato's argument for rigid censorship, through Victorian laws aimed at repressing libidinous thoughts, to contemporary battles over sex education in public schools and violence in the media, Heins guides us through what became, and remains, an ideological minefield. With fascinating examples drawn from around the globe, she suggests that the "harm to minors" argument rests on shaky foundations.About the Author:Marjorie Heins is a former Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Acknowledgments xiiiIntroduction to the 2007 Edition xvIntroduction 3From Plato to ComputersYouth and Censorship: A Road MapClarifications and Caveats"To Deprave and Corrupt" 15Minors, Censorship, Sex, and HistoryThe Invention of Childhood?"Protecting the Young and Immature"Free Love, the Comstock Law, and "Secret Entertainment"Some Judges Start Asking QuestionsMore Emetic Than Aphrodisiac 37Freud, the First Amendment, and a First Round with UlyssesMinors and Obscenity in the '30s and '40sJuvenile Delinquency, Social Science, Comic Books, and Professor KinseyIntellectual RumblingsThe Great and Mysterious Motive Force in Human Life 60The Supreme Court Speaks-FinallyProtecting Young Psyches After Butler and RothButtons, Armbands, The Little Red School Book, and Rupert BearJustice Brennan Changes His MindPolicing the Airwaves 89Oral Sex, and "the Public Convenience, Interest, or Necessity"Jerry Garcia and a Definition for IndecencyShielding Young Ears from the Seven Dirty WordsPacifica in the Supreme CourtThe Reign of Decency 109The FCC, the Meese Commission, and Art About AIDSACT I, the Irrepressible Mr. Stern, and Perhaps Molly BloomSealed Wrappers, Blinder Racks, and Dial-a-PornA Few Judges Think About Indecency and HarmSchool Censorship, Heinous Crimes, and Violent VideosThe Ideological Minefield: Sexuality Education 137Modesty, Virtue, and Early Battles over Sex EdTeen Pregnancy and Sex RespectAbstinence Unless MarriedModels of Sexuality EducationIndecency Law on Trial: Reno V. Aclu 157Panic over CyberspaceThe Wired CourtroomA Never-Ending Worldwide ConversationFiltering Fever 180The Politics of Filtering-Blocking Sex, Vulgarity, and Dr. SeussState Laws, Loudoun County, and Reno IIHeavy Breathing: The "Harry Met Sally" CaseV-Chips, and Ratings RevisitedViolence, Curse Words, and Kids at Century's EndCultural Differences 201Minors in the Global CultureVideo Nasties and the Venerable BBFCThe French Letter and Internet WatchThe European Union Weighs In"Les Dangers Ubuesques du Filtrage"Media Effects 228Imitation and CatharsisDisproving AristotleDefinitional DilemmasSex, Violence, and Social ScienceKids, Ambiguity, and the Social Cognition ApproachConclusion: "The Ethical and Moral Development of Youth" 254Notes 265Index 373
\ Judy BlumeAn indispensable resource for anyone curious about censorship designed to "protect" young people.\ \
