Censorship in American Culture

(4 Credits)

This course explores debates about censorship from the late 19th century to the present, addressing domains of literature, film, theatre, art galleries, history museums, public sidewalks, lecture halls, and the Internet. Students gain an understanding of the historical contexts in which cultural and legal struggles over censorship have taken place, and bring that understanding to bear on contemporary debates about the arts, sexuality, national security, media technology, privacy, and government involvement in the marketplace of ideas and images.