March 19 2014:  Democracy and Censorship (1950 - 1960s)

Last time on Beneath the Waves "Prosperity and Cold War fear" the nuclear age threat was quite real; anxiety over communism and totaliarianism was perpetuated by the media and government.  Earlier programs introduced a 20th c  preoccupation with social Darwinism, eugenics, and the pseudo-scientific means of profiling people into units and groups   Today we examine US censorship during the 1950s and the public's response to this particular threat to democracy.  (Bohemian ideals -- love, freedom, beauty and elusive truth are embedded in the 20th c). 

Censorship in the United States, involving the suppression of speech or other public communication directly or indirectly related to freedom of speech, is fundamentally protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Technically the expression of certain forms of hate speech were legally protected as long as the individual or group does not engage in the acts being discussed, or urges others to commit illegal acts. Freedom of speech has been challenged thoughout history and remains controversial today as was the case during periods of anti-communist sentiment and hearings of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.