Key Concept of Media: Blasphemy

With the fast development of technology in the world, the main issue about media is no longer just about the question of its accessibility, but rather, what should be assessed. Every year, the amount of information generated by the wired-in-world is huge. However, so is the amount of problems in relation to censorship. One of such is blasphemy. Blasphemy refers to the behavior or language that insults or shows a lack of respect for religion. So what is considered “blasphemous” to the extent that the former has to be censored?

The degree of blasphemy by media would be dependent on the culture of the society. Different societies have different ideologies and would be affected differently by various issues. For example, in a democratic country where freedom of speech is practiced, people are relatively open-minded. On the other hand, people in a religious country tend to be very sensitive. This is why Da Vinci Code, though described as ‘stridently anti-Christian’ by an official in the Vatican doctrinal office, can still go on to become the best-selling novel in the United States, while the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad are taken hard as a form of blasphemy, erupting furore in the Muslim community.

But then again, it is because countries have different needs of censorship of media that resulted in so many problems. Hence, it is important that societies are clear of one another’s cultures so as not to offend one another. Take for instance, the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad may not be considered blasphemous in Denmark but is considered so in the Muslim community. So, if Denmark felt that the cartoons should not be censored as part of its practice of freedom of speech, it should have at least kept the cartoons to itself and blocked other countries’ access to them to avoid the problem of blasphemy.

To conclude, censorship is not just a matter within one country but in the whole world. Regardless of whether one country is practicing freedom of speech, it is still important that it take into account the different societies.

In reference to:
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
Reading 3 & 4 of AJC 2008 reading package: Media