Skins, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Censorship

The American version of the British television show Skins premiered last week on MTV, and has since faced controversy that goes as far as child pornography accusations. I have not seen the American version, nor am I lawyer, so this post will not explore that issue beyond this point. Instead, this is a post about how censorship always tends to have an effect opposite of its intentions.

I was introduced to the UK Skins a couple years ago when my friend showed me this gem of a scene (spoilers if you haven't seen the UK version, the American version will have to be different since there's no Maxxie.) I watched a couple of other clips after that, but I never actually sat down and watched the show. After I read about the drama surrounding the American version, I watched (and loved) the pilot of the British version to see what all the fuss was about. (Note: I wrote this parapraph on Monday. I've since finished the first season of Skins. It's SO good.)

I'm nineteen, so I'm at that weird age where, legally speaking, I'm a teenager and adult at the same time. Of course I can make the decisions about what I watch as a legal adult, but I would've done the same thing if I was sixteen. Heck, when I was thirteen I was supposed to see a production of To Kill a Mockingbird with my class, only to later be informed that To Kill a Mockingbird is not allowed to be taught in Nova Scotia, and we couldn't go. Everyone in my class was so frustrated by this that we all wanted to read To Kill a Mockingbird, and some arranged trips to see the play outside of class. We wanted to prove that we weren't kids anymore, we were curious, and yeah, we were not impressed that we were missing out on a field trip.

How many of us do you think would've picked up To Kill a Mockingbird at thirteen if that hadn't happened? How many people do you think will watch Skins because they were told not to?

The problem with this is that teenagers will still read and watch this material, but they'll feel a need to hide it from their teachers and parents, which prevents many important conversations from happening. I don't think it's necessary for teenagers to discuss every adult issues with an adult--in case you haven't heard, teenagers are smart--but if they want to, I think it's important they have that opportunity.

Censorship often occurs to hide kids from the world, which is a nice but incredibly naive thought. The truth is that all censorship does is peek kid's curiosity--and I guarantee you that if they want to find censored material, they will find it on the internet--and prevent conversations about important issues.

In short, censorship sucks. Though the controversy around Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak has died down, let's still remember to speak loudly.

Update: Check out this incredible video from Funny or Die about the PTC's reaction to Skins. It shows exactly what censorship does.

Teenagers thank the Parents Television Council - watch more funny videos

You tell me: Is the controversy surrounding Skins an overreaction? Were any books banned at your school? Did you read them anyway? 

Tweeting Can Help You Revise! Really.

Almost every time I write a tweet, I write more than 140 characters.

When I see my character count is at -25 (not an exaggeration), I tend to take it out on Twitter. Why only 140 characters? Why not 165? Or 200? Or 500? I have too many brilliant things to say about Glee to be censored by your limit!

Shockingly, that is not productive. What I need to do is take my frustration out on my tweets.

My latest tweet started like this:

I know I'm a little late to this party, but Sara Bareilles' Kaleidescope Heart is perfection, and I didn't think anything could live up to Little Voice.

I was over the character limit, so I decided to cut a little because it didn't add to the purpose of my tweet--to let everyone know how brilliant Sara's latest album is---and because it's a lie. I'm really late to that party. I was still over, so I cut I know because, well, I'm the one tweeting, making saying I know redundant. The result was this:

I'm late to this party, but Sara Bareilles' Kaleidescope Heart is perfect, and I didn't think anything could live up to Little Voice.

It says everything I wanted it to say, just in a more direct way.

If you follow me on Twitter, you already know that I don't always put that much thought into my tweets, nor do I do tweet brilliance (this is a great pitch if you were considering following me, eh?) However, you can use the skills you learn in Twitter Land in Revision Land as well. Tweeting teaches you how to get to the point while still conveying all necessary information, which is exactly what we try to do as writers.

You tell me: Are you on Twitter? Do you often revise your tweets? Does it help you revise your novel? 

Road Trip Wednesday: Favourite WIP Lines

Road Trip Wednesday is hosted by YA Highway.

This Week's Topic: What is your favourite line from your WIP (or from a book you read recently?)

Confession: When I read this week's prompt, the first lines from my WIP to come to mind were dirty jokes. Honestly, I'm quite proud of them. 

Most of those only make sense in the context of the novel, (see, they're complex dirty jokes), so here are two innocent lines from BUILDING FORTS that I'm proud of:

Anyone who lives as much as he does would die.

Guys, that's the first line. In other words, lower your expectations, because the novel only gets worse! 

The other line is:

 Chase and I share one of those smiles that make people hate you because you're hogging happiness.

What are your favourite lines from your WIP?