shopping cart
Save up to 30% on our Staff Picks
Call us:  800-878-7323 HELP
McAfee SECURE helps keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams.
Interviews | November 19, 2009

Dave: IMG Finding John Irving: The Powells.com Interview



johnirving[Editor's note: The following is a reprint of our 2005 interview with John Irving, whose new novel, Last Night in Twisted River, has just come out... Continue »
  1. $19.60 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$5.50
List price: $30.00
Used Trade Paper
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
Qty Store Section
1 Local Warehouse Law- General

More copies of this ISBN:

Not in Front of the Children: Indencency, Censorship, and the Innocence of Youth

by Marjorie Heins

Not in Front of the Children: Indencency, Censorship, and the Innocence of Youth Cover

ISBN13: 9780809073993
ISBN10: 0809073994
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

Only 1 left in stock at $5.50!

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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 website. 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.

There is an urgent need for informed, dispassionate debate about the perceived conflict between the free-expression rights of young people and the widespread urge to shield them from expression that is considered harmful. Not in Front of the Children will spur this long-needed conversation. – www.epic.org

Review:

"In recent years the rights of young people have come under siege from the left and the right. Their civil liberties are systematically compromised, eroded, and denied in the name of public safety and the so-called best interests of the child. Heins examines the long history of 'protecting' children from 'indecency.' Her analysis exposes hidden political agendas, ideological underpinnings, and fallacious logic. In challenging our most basic assumptions about children, Heins breaks new ground, facilitating a dialogue that's long overdue. Scholars, educators, civil libertarians, legislators, students, and young people and their advocates will find this an invaluable resource." Donna Gaines, author of Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia's Dead End Kids

Review:

"Not in Front of the Children is an indispensable resource for anyone curious about censorship designed to 'protect' young people, and an eloquent argument for more thoughtful dialogue about helping kids grow up without stifling their spirit." Judy Blume

Synopsis:

The first comprehensive history of the debate about censorship designed to protect children

From Huckleberry Finn to Harry Potter, Internet filters to the V-chip, censorship is often based on the assumption that children and adolescents 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, a pathbreaking history of "indecency" laws and other restrictions aimed at protecting youth, Marjorie Heins suggests that the "harm-to-minors" argument rests on shaky foundations.

Synopsis:

The first comprehensive history of the debate about censorship designed to protect children From Huckleberry Finn to Harry Potter, Internet filters to the V-chip, censorship is often based on the assumption that children and adolescents 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, a pathbreaking history of "indecency" laws and other restrictions aimed at protecting youth, Marjorie Heins suggests that the "harm-to-minors" argument rests on shaky foundations. 18 B&W Illustrations, Notes, Index

Synopsis:

The first comprehensive history of the debate about censorship designed to protect children and winner of the ALA's 2002 Eli Oboler Award for best-published work in the area of intellectual freedom

From Huckleberry Finn to Harry Potter, Internet filters to the V-chip, censorship is often based on the assumption that children and adolescents 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, a pathbreaking history of "indecency" laws and other restrictions aimed at protecting youth, Marjorie Heins suggests that the "harm-to-minors" argument rests on shaky foundations.

About the Author

Marjorie Heins is the Director of the Free Expression Policy Project, National Coalition Against Censorship. She is the author, most recently, of Sex, Sin, and Blasphemy: A Guide to America's Censorship Wars. She lives in New York City.

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Alvinhageman, October 25, 2007 (view all comments by Alvinhageman)
Finally a good book against censorship that provides a logical agrument...I'm a 17 year old in school who is doing a speech in english class as of the moment on this very topic and I believe that this book is a good example that maybe by becoming to "censor happy" the government in essence actually hurts minors by displaying that it is unsuitable for minors, which in my opinion at least would actually spark a minor's curiosity to find out why they cant look at it but adults can.Another thing I believe is that maybe instead of blaming the government for exposure to that information that is "harmful to minors", parents should take some action in deciding what is right for their children.There are many programs that can block access to content that the parents deem unsuitable and as for television the v-chip is a good idea.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)

Product Details

ISBN:
9780809073993
Subtitle:
"Indecency," Censorship, and the Innocence of Youth
Author:
Heins, Marjorie
Publisher:
Hill and Wang
Location:
New York
Subject:
Children's Studies
Subject:
United states
Subject:
Legal History
Subject:
Youth
Subject:
Censorship
Subject:
Media & the Law
Subject:
National characteristics, american
Subject:
Obscenity.
Copyright:
Edition Number:
1st pbk. ed.
Series Volume:
3959
Publication Date:
20020210
Binding:
TP
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
416
Dimensions:
8.34x5.44x1.13 in. 1.06 lbs.

Other books you might like

  1. $68.50 New Hardcover add to wish list
  2. $14.95 New Trade Paper add to wish list
  3. $3.50 Used Trade Paper add to wish list

    Loser

    Jerry Spinelli
  4. $1.00 Used Trade Paper add to wish list
  5. $3.00 Used Trade Paper add to wish list
  6. $1.78 Used Trade Paper add to wish list

Related Aisles

  • back to top

Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.