Analysis of an Issue
Question Prompt (Source: Official Guide to the GMAT 12th Edition)
"In some countries, television and radio programs are carefully censored for offensive language and behavior. In
other countries, there is little or no censorship."
In your view, to what extent should government or any other group be able to censor television or radio programs?
Explain, giving relevant reasons and/or examples to support your position.
Essay:
Radio and television and television programs should be carefully censored for offensive language and behavior. Radio & Television are the most effective ways of the media to reach to the people. What is aired through these media often has a great impact on the people; for example: The airing of the "War of the Worlds" was actually mistaken to be live news and people took to the streets to evacuate. Though everyday programs do not have such an effect on people, these programs can actually play an important role in the way people think or act in society.
The extent to which programs should be censored can be decided from the social and cultural history of the region. A government body or group responsible for censorship must carefully consider the cultural history before deciding the extent of censorship. A program considered as offensive by a particular group of people may not be done so by another group. In a highly conservative and orthodox society the level of censorship must be higher than in a relatively modern and open-minded society. Viewers from a remote Hindu village in India, still speaking in Sanskrit, will consider even game of Beach Ball sufficiently vulgar whereas the same show will be considered offensive in New York.
Of course the creators of programs may argue that censorship is an obstacle in the path of creative expression but the idea of implementing censorship is to prevent people from taking advantage from the lack of it. An adult program may draw sufficient number of viewers over the free channels but it might also attract children viewing in absence of their parents. In absence of censorship these programs can sometimes get too vulgar for viewing of the common people. The presence of a censorship group and its effective functioning will ensure such incidents from happening. Of course these programs may be allowed to be aired but only through paid channels with proper parental control facilities.
Therefore it can be concluded that censorship is necessary in controlling the quality programs aired through television and radio though the level of censorship can vary according to the social culture of the place of airing.
Question Prompt (Source: Official Guide to the GMAT 12th Edition)
"In some countries, television and radio programs are carefully censored for offensive language and behavior. In
other countries, there is little or no censorship."
In your view, to what extent should government or any other group be able to censor television or radio programs?
Explain, giving relevant reasons and/or examples to support your position.
Essay:
Radio and television and television programs should be carefully censored for offensive language and behavior. Radio & Television are the most effective ways of the media to reach to the people. What is aired through these media often has a great impact on the people; for example: The airing of the "War of the Worlds" was actually mistaken to be live news and people took to the streets to evacuate. Though everyday programs do not have such an effect on people, these programs can actually play an important role in the way people think or act in society.
The extent to which programs should be censored can be decided from the social and cultural history of the region. A government body or group responsible for censorship must carefully consider the cultural history before deciding the extent of censorship. A program considered as offensive by a particular group of people may not be done so by another group. In a highly conservative and orthodox society the level of censorship must be higher than in a relatively modern and open-minded society. Viewers from a remote Hindu village in India, still speaking in Sanskrit, will consider even game of Beach Ball sufficiently vulgar whereas the same show will be considered offensive in New York.
Of course the creators of programs may argue that censorship is an obstacle in the path of creative expression but the idea of implementing censorship is to prevent people from taking advantage from the lack of it. An adult program may draw sufficient number of viewers over the free channels but it might also attract children viewing in absence of their parents. In absence of censorship these programs can sometimes get too vulgar for viewing of the common people. The presence of a censorship group and its effective functioning will ensure such incidents from happening. Of course these programs may be allowed to be aired but only through paid channels with proper parental control facilities.
Therefore it can be concluded that censorship is necessary in controlling the quality programs aired through television and radio though the level of censorship can vary according to the social culture of the place of airing.
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Anindya Biswas
Metallurgist
India
Anindya Biswas
Metallurgist
India
