I feel that we could've spent several days a week unpacking the constitutionality of a number of laws, government programs, and especially how the First Amendment functions in news media.
Because I someday hope to be working in the film and television industry, I decided to explore how the first amendment affects films. After a quick google search, the answer that kept on coming up was the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This is the same organization which determines ratings of films, but in the 1920's they were founded as a defense against mounting government censorship.
Filmmakers have the right to free speech and free expression-- just as the rest of us. But the amount of exposure that films gain often made filmmakers a target for censorship. Films are often intimate, and they expose parts of us or our society that are not comfortable. The right to do so is protected under the First Amendment, and the MPAA set out to ensure that filmmakers would always be protected. That led to the rating system, which helped protect younger ages or minds from seeing films meant for different audiences.
I found this to be extremely interesting research, and a meaningful last blog post as I consider how this class will factor into my career. As a writer and someday-filmmaker, I hope to challenge people, to make them think, and to create positive societal changes. That can't happen without taking a few risks; creating content that challenges people will not always be easy. It is reassuring to know that in any future endeavors, I am protected by the First Amendment.
For more on what the MPAA does to protect free speech, Click here.
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