Topic

Media & Censorship

A collection of 13 issues

Error 451: How the Internet Protests Censorship with a Nod to Ray Bradbury

Beyond '404 Not Found' is a code with a story: 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons. It signals that content is blocked not by a glitch, but by a legal demand. Its number, a direct homage to Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451,' makes it a transparent, albeit quiet, act of protest against censorship.

The Comedy King Who Was Canceled: How a False Accusation Destroyed Roscoe Arbuckle's Career

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle was a silent film titan who mentored Charlie Chaplin and launched Buster Keaton. His career, however, was obliterated by a media frenzy following a false accusation, despite being acquitted in court three times. His story is a chilling tale of trial by media.

Art vs. The FBI: The Story of Frank Iero's Song That Triggered a Federal Investigation

In 2009, My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero’s side project, Leathermouth, released a song with a provocative title that landed him on an FBI watchlist. This is the story of artistic expression colliding with national security, resulting in a home search, a ban, and punk-rock defiance.

How South Park's Creators Won an R-Rating Battle Against a Studio's Absurd Bluff

In 1999, Trey Parker and Matt Stone fought for an R-rating for their South Park movie against Paramount, which wanted a more profitable PG-13. The studio's absurd tactic? An executive feigned ignorance, asking if R-rated films made more money. The creators didn't fall for the bluff.

The 'Over-the-Top' Actor Who Was Actually Real: A Lesson from 'Good Night, and Good Luck'

George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck" used archival footage of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Test audiences, unaware of this, complained the "actor" playing him was unbelievably over-the-top, proving that reality can indeed be stranger and more dramatic than fiction.

Green, Yellow, Red: The Forgotten Color-Coded System That Rated Arcade Games

Long before the ESRB, arcades had their own rating system. The American Amusement Machine Association used simple color-coded stickers—green for all ages, yellow for mild content, and red for strong themes—to guide parents and players in the golden age of arcade gaming.

The Question That Ended Censorship: How a Snobbish Remark Freed 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'

In 1960, Penguin Books was on trial for publishing D.H. Lawrence's 'Lady Chatterley's Lover.' The case hinged on one famously out-of-touch question from the prosecutor about wives and servants, which made the jury laugh and marked a pivotal moment for free speech in Britain.