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Matches in DBpedia 2014 for { ?s ?p Sex, Sin, and Blasphemy: A Guide to America's Censorship Wars is a non-fiction book by lawyer and civil libertarian Marjorie Heins about freedom of speech and the censorship in the early 1990s by the U.S. government of works of art. The book was published in 1993 by The New Press. Heins provides an overview of the history of censorship, including the 1873 Comstock laws, before moving on to more topical case studies of attempts at suppression of free expression. The book argues that artists have been scapegoated by those advocating censorship, as a method of focusing debate away from suppression of human rights. The author asserts that censorship of works deemed obscene has been used as a tactic throughout history to suppress women's rights.Key incidents of censorship from the time period discussed in the book include: actions by the ratings board of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Parental Advisory warning labels put forth by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and how this led to self-censorship by music stores, and attempts by the Meese Commission to encourage proprietors not to sell Penthouse and Playboy magazines. The book criticizes controversy generated by politicians against the National Endowment for the Arts, over the organization's support of photography by Robert Mapplethorpe and artwork "Piss Christ" by Andres Serrano. Heins argues that even if the perceived negative impacts of pornography, hip hop music, and violent films were factually accurate (and she asserts they are not), the ends would not justify the means of degrading the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. She emphasizes that education should be used to help guard against potentially dangerous notions, instead of censorship and suppression of dissent.Sex, Sin, and Blasphemy received a favorable reception from the Women's Review of Books which praised the author's clear writing style and ability to present complex legal information in an understandable format for the reader. The News & Observer observed the book implored readers to act against censorship while also documenting its history. In its review, San Francisco Chronicle echoed the author's warnings of the dangers of censorship and admonished readers to take heed to the wisdom imparted in the book. The Gazette surmised the crux of Heins' argument was that the solution to problematic expression would be simply additional speech to educate and explain. American Book Review criticized the author for arguing for an absolute right to free speech in virtually all circumstances.. }

• Sex,_Sin,_and_Blasphemy abstract "Sex, Sin, and Blasphemy: A Guide to America's Censorship Wars is a non-fiction book by lawyer and civil libertarian Marjorie Heins about freedom of speech and the censorship in the early 1990s by the U.S. government of works of art. The book was published in 1993 by The New Press. Heins provides an overview of the history of censorship, including the 1873 Comstock laws, before moving on to more topical case studies of attempts at suppression of free expression. The book argues that artists have been scapegoated by those advocating censorship, as a method of focusing debate away from suppression of human rights. The author asserts that censorship of works deemed obscene has been used as a tactic throughout history to suppress women's rights.Key incidents of censorship from the time period discussed in the book include: actions by the ratings board of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Parental Advisory warning labels put forth by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and how this led to self-censorship by music stores, and attempts by the Meese Commission to encourage proprietors not to sell Penthouse and Playboy magazines. The book criticizes controversy generated by politicians against the National Endowment for the Arts, over the organization's support of photography by Robert Mapplethorpe and artwork "Piss Christ" by Andres Serrano. Heins argues that even if the perceived negative impacts of pornography, hip hop music, and violent films were factually accurate (and she asserts they are not), the ends would not justify the means of degrading the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. She emphasizes that education should be used to help guard against potentially dangerous notions, instead of censorship and suppression of dissent.Sex, Sin, and Blasphemy received a favorable reception from the Women's Review of Books which praised the author's clear writing style and ability to present complex legal information in an understandable format for the reader. The News & Observer observed the book implored readers to act against censorship while also documenting its history. In its review, San Francisco Chronicle echoed the author's warnings of the dangers of censorship and admonished readers to take heed to the wisdom imparted in the book. The Gazette surmised the crux of Heins' argument was that the solution to problematic expression would be simply additional speech to educate and explain. American Book Review criticized the author for arguing for an absolute right to free speech in virtually all circumstances.".