I thought this blog was interesting, and if we can keep off the regular bashing could even provoke an interesting conversation. Even if you don't sit through all the pictures, skip down to the writeup at the end.

http://jturn.qem.se/2006/more-pictures-of-iranian-censorship/

Very interesting what they'll allow through, and what they'll block.

It was an interesting read indeed... It seems that they are more concerned with what Islam would consider indecent. The womans body seems to be more of a censored item then actual articles that are critical of Iran.

Knees and breasts....the root of all evil!

It is interesting and both sad and funny at the same time.

We probably seem just as ridiculous in a lot of places.

The whole country was in an uproar about Janet's nipple, meanwhile we put gratuitous violence in prime time television that kids watch.

It's not as if our sexual repression has ever prevented the kids from playing doctor. It's not as silly as censoring knees, but pretty archaic nonetheless.

I do like how the author goes on to state that the western governments are guilty of doing the same sort of censorship, except without the pen and scissors. He refers to a motion in the Swedish govt to pass laws to cut down on the scantily clad models.

While I agree that some fashion ads cross the decency line, I'm the first to admit that we, especially Americans, can be WAY too uptight about showing the skin.

The FCC is, however, starting to lighten up (http://www.theonion.com/content/video/fcc_okays_nudity_on_tv_if_it_s) under very specific circumstances (video).

Persepolis (though obviously not exactly an academic work) gave a few funny nods to that. The insanity of what religious-inspired censors take up as their indignity of the moment is fairly universal across cultures, about the only zealots who got it right were iranically (ba-da-dum-ching) enough the ancient Zoroastrians, who held lying as a capital crime.

the ancient Zoroastrians, who held lying as a capital crime.Can we hire them?

We could hire them. that would be awesome. but i'm sure the Justice dept. already has a memo that states they have no legal obligation to the truth under the dire circumstances of WAR!