January 1, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks Oppose Censorship of Classics

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
On May 13th, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot and… READ MORE ABOUT THIS HISTORIC DAY HERE

Actor Tom Hanks has spoken out against censoring old books to accommodate modern sensibilities, asserting, “we’re all grownups here.”

Steven Spielberg on editing work after the fact: "It's our history. It's our cultural heritage… I do not believe in censorship in that way" #TIME100 pic.twitter.com/1dOEm8HPLk

— TIME (@TIME) April 25, 2023

While promoting his upcoming novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, Hanks told NBC News that he opposes censoring potentially offensive content and believes individuals should decide for themselves what they find offensive.

Breitbart News has documented several instances where classic books, such as Ian Fleming’s James Bond stories and Roald Dahl’s works, have undergone modern “updates” to appease certain sensibilities. Artists, including those with left-leaning views, have generally opposed such efforts.

Steven Spielberg has blasted the woke trend of revising old works of art — including movies and books — to appease modern sensitivities, calling it a form of "censorship." https://t.co/n2Gvqu3KYa

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) April 27, 2023

For example, director Steven Spielberg expressed regret over his past decision to censor his classic film, E.T., by removing guns from federal agents during the climactic bike chase scene.

Spielberg called his self-censorship a “mistake” and emphasized the importance of preserving cultural history and heritage without censorship.

Oscar-winning writer/director Martin McDonagh also expressed concern over recent censorship attempts on his plays. McDonagh revealed that theaters have requested word changes in his plays from 20-25 years ago and have refused to stage them when he declined. He finds the current situation “much more problematic” than in previous years.

Folks like Spielberg and McDonagh are speakin’ out too, and it’s about time we all pay heed. It’s up to us, as grown-ups, to decide what offends us and what don’t. We don’t need no nanny state tellin’ us what we can and can’t handle in our art and literature.

So let’s tip our hats to Hanks, Spielberg, and McDonagh for takin’ a stand against censorship. It’s a fight worth fightin’, and I reckon we’re all better off for it.

---

source1

source2