Asked by Joy Mae Williams on Jun 15, 2024

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The road to self-censorship via Will Hays and the Production Code Administration was a long and complicated one.What ultimately led to the adoption of the Production Code in 1934?

A) Will Hays's list of "Don'ts" and "Be Carefuls"
B) the release of Mae West's scandalous She Done Him Wrong, which resulted in her arrest
C) the intervention of the federal government via a Supreme Court ruling
D) organized boycotts on behalf of the Catholic Legion of Decency

Production Code

A set of industry moral guidelines that was applied to most United States motion pictures released by major studios from 1930 to 1968, also known as the Hays Code.

Self-censorship

The act of censoring or withholding one's own speech or written work to avoid offending others or infringing upon standards of propriety.

Catholic Legion of Decency

A Roman Catholic organization founded in 1933 that rated films based on their moral content, influencing the viewing habits of American Catholics.

  • Discuss the historical context leading to the adoption of the Production Code and its implications on freedom of expression.
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JM
Javiera MárquezJun 16, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Organized boycotts by the Catholic Legion of Decency played a significant role in the adoption of the Production Code in 1934. The Legion threatened to organize a boycott of films they deemed immoral or offensive, and their influence led to the establishment of the Production Code Administration, which enforced the code's rigid standards of morality on films released by major studios. While Will Hays's earlier list of "Don'ts" and "Be Carefuls" was a step towards self-censorship, and the release of scandalous films like Mae West's She Done Him Wrong may have contributed to public outcry, it was ultimately the power of organized boycotts that led to the adoption of the Production Code. There was no intervention by the federal government via a Supreme Court ruling.