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In The Public Good? Censorship in New Zealand
In The Public Good Censorship in New Zealand Author:Roy Shuker, Chris Watson The landscape of censorship is a frequently changing one, but the same arguments tend to arise repeatedly: to what extent and by whom should controversial material be censored: How much violence is acceptable, and how does it affect our children? When does sexually explicit material become pornographic and potentially harmful? How can mat... more »erial available on the Internet be controlled when it crosses unseen borders in an invisible form? The 1993 Films, Videos and Publications Act consolidated the law regarding censorship of films, videos, books and other publications, superseding laws that had been in place since 1963. The implications of the new Act are covered here. In the Public Good describes the historical evolution of the censorship of popular media in New Zealand and provides an overview of issues related to controlling the content of film, video, television, radio, video games and the Internet. The effects of indecent literature are considered, but instead of reviewing the better known causes clbres such as Lolita and Lady Chatterley's Lover, which have been repeatedly discussed over the decades, Watson and Shuker examine the controversies surrounding comic books and Penthouse magazine. In this book censorship is viewed from both the international perspective and in the specifically New Zealand context. We are shown how the ever-changing global media technologies and the evolution of public opinion constantly present new challenges for censorship and the law-makers.« less