Synopses & Reviews
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
"Cogent . . . a timely appeal to our better judgment." (William Saletan, Mother Jones)
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
Review
"Not in Front of the Children is an indispensable resource for anyone curious about censorship designed to 'protect' young people. . ." (Judy Blume)
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 freedomFrom 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
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.