Alexis+Westfield

Guiding Research Question: Should there be ratings or labels on different forms of media such as movies, music, and video games. The issue in my topic is that the government censors and puts ratings on certain types of media that restrict the use of some types of media to certain age groups. __Pros and cons of Ratings and Labels__

Pros: Cons:
 * Allows parents to supervise what their children are watching or listening to
 * Restricts indecency shown on television and in moviesor heard in music
 * Reduces chances of peoplebeing offended by obscene scences or lyrics
 * reduces negative influences on children and teens.
 * Restricts artists freedom to express how they feel on a topic or subject
 * Original work is distorted so that it can be more "approapriate" for the public
 * Difficult to enforce

This case took place in california where they wre restricting the sale of violent video games to minors. This case was argured in the supreme court because it ws considred a violation of first amendment rights to restric the sale of the video games because they are considred a form of expression. This case took place in the state of Ohio when Jacobellis was convicted and fined because he obtained and exhibited an obscene film. The supreme court upheld the conviction, even though motion pictures are protected constitutionally, because obscenity is not constituionally protected. so the state had the power to convict him. This case is about a short film entitled "The Miracle." the films liscense was revoked by the state of New York because the film was thought of as sacrilegious. Burstyn challenged the court because he thought it was a violation of his First Amendment rights to have the liscense revoked.
 * Brown Vs Entertainment Merchants assn
 * Jacobellis vs Ohio
 * Joseph Burstyn inc vs wilson

What I Think I Believe that ratings are a good thing to have but I don't believe that they should be the reason that media sales are prohibited. Teens should not be have the right to but any form of media regardless of what label it has. The entire purpose of ratings is so that parents can be aware of the explicit content in the product their child is buying. So as long as the parents are aware of the contente I think the sale should not be limited or prohibited.

Works Cited "BROWN v. ENTERTAINMENT MERCHANTS ASSN."//Legal Information Institute//. N.p., 02 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. . "Censoring Music Lyrics."//Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection//. Gale, Cengage Learning, 2010. //Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context//. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. "Jacobellis v. Ohio."//Jacobellis v. Ohio//.N.p., 26 Mar. 1963. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. . "Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson." //Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson//.N.p., 24 Apr. 1952. Web.13 Nov. 2012. [] “The Rating Game.”//The Rating Game.//N.p., n.d. Web.27 Nov. 2012. . Walker, Jesse. "The Government Should Not Strictly Regulate Indecency on Television." //Television//. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "You Can't Say That on Television." //Reason// (1 May 2009).//Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context//. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. Taylor, Charles. "Censorship Is Not an Effective Way to Protect Children." //Censorship//. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Morality Police." //Salon.com//. 2001. //Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context//. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.