The Creative Field of Censorship: Several Research Perspectives

Abstract

The article analyses the concept of censorship and presents two main approaches to its study. It discusses the traditional perspective, which is based on the clear opposition between the censor and the censored, and the approaches of new censorship, which emphasise the analysis of censorship as a complex phenomenon. In the traditional approach, censorship is treated as an institutionally established repressive form of control, whose activities are defined by chronological and territorial boundaries. This concept highlights the system of prohibitions and restrictions imposed by governing institutions, whose primary goal is to prevent the dissemination of undesirable knowledge, ideas, or works. However, this perspective often overlooks the long-term impact of censorship on the sociocultural context.
In contrast, researchers in new censorship analyse censorship not only as repressive but also as a constitutive force that not only prohibits but also creates new discourses. Such censorship operates subtly, dispersing and relocating elements of discourse, aiming not only at control but also at shaping social and cultural norms. This perspective allows censorship to be viewed as a constantly functioning and ever-present force whose effects extend beyond institutional boundaries, encompassing the participation of society and individual groups in the censorship process.
The article proposes combining traditional and new censorship perspectives to provide a comprehensive assessment of the phenomenon. The structural clarity of the traditional approach, focusing on institutional analysis, balances the emphasis of new censorship researchers on the functioning of power mechanisms within social and cultural contexts. The integration of these two approaches enables an understanding of both the historical and contemporary aspects of censorship. Such a synthesis of methods not only broadens the scope for censorship studies but also helps uncover its impact on the development of theatre.