Kumar,+Megha

Contributions:
1. Added Analysis and Reflection and wikispiace alias: November 16th.

2. Worked on Timsnortons page: added information on the pictures, bibiliography, and edited the proposal page and the rules and responsibilities page.

3. Added text here and there about the popularity of bollywood movies abroad, crossover movies, etc in the Bollywood entry-November 29th, 2006.

4. Added information, text to Russel Peters: Nov 30, 2006 5. Added more text and a source to the above: November 30, 2006.

6. Added a paragraph about misconceptions in 'Graphic Novels': November 30th, 2006.

7. Added an intro paragraph to my **Main contribution**: 'Legal issues with comics': December 4th, 2006. 8. Added more information and the source in 'legal issues with comic books': December 4th, 2006. 9. Added concluding information: December 4th, 2006. 10. Added an image: December 4th, 2006.

11. Added an image and an explanation in 'Culture jammers': December 4th, 2006. 12. Added the source on 'culture jammers': December 4th, 2006.

13. Changed title from 'Legal issues and censorship' to 'Legal issues with comic books'. December 5th, 2006. ccit300-f06 : Table of Contents

14. Added a paragraph of information on 'Pornography', December 5th, 2006. 15. Added another paragraph on pornography and a source. December 6th, 2006.

16. added more definitions of the word 'Kitsch': December 5th, 2006

17. Edited 'Analysis and Reflection' page and added question 3: December 8th.

= = =Content:= (original content by Me before being edited by others)
 * [[image:http://ccit300-f06.wikispaces.com/i/bBLin.gif width="8" height="8"]][[image:comic_censorship.gif width="270" height="206"]] ||  ||   ||   ||
 * [[image:http://ccit300-f06.wikispaces.com/i/bBLin.gif width="8" height="8"]][[image:comic_censorship.gif width="270" height="206"]] ||  ||   ||   ||

Legal Issues with Comic books:
Since 1948, comic books have been protected by The Supreme Court under the First Amendment. During this time, several people boycotted comics and comic came under huge criticism. In 1954, comic book censorship took place because of a book called ' //Seduction of the Innocent'// published by Frederic Wertham who argued that comics causes juvenile delinquency. This happened during the McCarthy era, who, being a Republican U.S senator, was accused for being communist and persecuted. This era began the wave of hysteria and hatred towards comic books. The U.S senate held the hearings to investiage the publisher's claims and the 'Comics code authority' prohibited any controversial comics with gory violence or sexual content. Wertham's allegations were that the adventures of Batman and Robin insinuated a homosexual relationship, that Wonder Woman was a lesbian, and other such farfetched insinuations were made. Although several people disagreed, this set off a wave of anti-comic rules. Washington passed a law in 1955 that selling comic books without a license was a crime. Los Angeles County passed an ordinance on the sale of any comic books with crime themes in them to anyone younger than 18. A few years later these laws were claimed to be unconstitutional, but comic book sales still stagnated. The fear of losing jobs and the comic book market gave birth to the 'Comics code of America' which was a censoring code.

Today, seperate lines of comics are sold to young readers, adolescents and adults. The vertigo line of comics sold for mature readers is labelled 'Suggested for mature readers'. The issue of whether or not to label 'explicit content' has been debated because they want parents to decide what their children can read but the authors don't want to draw unneccesary attention from younger audiences who are tempted to read them and the censorship board. If explicit sexual content does not increase to the level of 'obscenity' then it cannot be banned, but it can be legally labelled as 'indecency' which can regulate sale or distribution. The legal definition of indecency is stated as "language (or an image) that describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards … sexual or excretory activities and organs … when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience," (as quoted by the Supreme court in McWilliams, James, 2006). Censorship does not just limit itself to sex or violence but also reference to drugs.

Whilst books and magazines contain a good amount of curse words and R-rated movies are shown, including on TV, mature content in comic books always draws negative criticism and protests. A bookstore owner, Castillo in Texas got arrested, fined and accused for obscenity for selling an adult based comic to an adult where kids where not allowed in the store. This was a Japanese horror series named 'Demon Beast invasion: The Fallen'. Japan and Europe allow mature content in comic books and do not categorize comic books as children's medium, why do Americans tend to stigmatize comic books? According to Scott McCloud, 70% of comic book readers are above 18, so it is ambiguous where this stereotype of comics being for kids has risen. If other media has the right to 'Free speech', comic books should as well.

Sources:

McCloud, Scott, 'Understanding Comics', 1993. McWilliams, James, 'Comic books', November 2006, at: [|http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/Speech/arts/topic.aspx?topic=comix] image from: [|http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.4/2.4 gifs/alstonlegal01.gif]


 * Analysis and Reflection:**

1. Honestly I was a little disappointed when i first heard we were doing the Wiki because we had done it before for in CCT205 and I felt although it was useful, I had learnt enough about it as I needed to know and did not want to do it again for 2 more subjects, CCT333 and CCT300. I wanted to learn something new. At times it can be insulting when my work is constantly changed, and one does not know how accurate their information is which could affect the overall layout of your work. However I have never had my work broken apart or torn into pieces and usually the information that is changed can be useful and ameliorates my learning experience. Hence, I was double minded with regards to the concept of the wiki. This year, thought I find since there has been a rule that we should start early, the wiki has been used more and there has been more interactive and collaborative work between users and students. More people have actively participated, and more people are pooling in information in order to have a wider breadth of knowledge and information. Additionally, so many generous people have posted notes on the textbook or study notes from lectures which shows a group/team spirit that arises from the wiki: everyone is more cooperative and works together positively to help one another. My expectation for the wiki is to start earlier, and add more qualitative information. Since I am familiar with the wiki, I can contribute to the wiki without having to be explained how to use it. I can also edit and organize work quicker than a beginner would. The familiar atmosphere of wiki enables me to communicate more effectively to other group members. The problem with the wiki is the ongoing nature of it when people tend to procrastinate because they feel they have time, which doesnt help gain as much knowledge. The fact that we have group work on the wiki to do each week and we have another wiki for CCT300 to deal with does not leave as much time for the wiki as I would have liked. It is also due on the same day which is not a good idea because people are scrambling last minute to pool in information for both subjects. Having the same type of assignment due for both subjects is redundant and doesnt help us learn anything. Perhaps we should have had something else different to do with the wiki, another way to use the wiki which I have not encountered yet then I would have learnt more. Having to use the wiki for two subjects and the group project makes the wiki more of a chore.

2. I decide what I can add according to firstly, what topic do I have some or vast knowledge about, what topic I am familiar with and can research more on it, and what topic lacks information which is begging to be added. Generality of topic, like a broad topic, I feel is easier to work on because one can add lots of information but also harder because one doesnt know what to add under which category. Conflicting categories can exist in the table of contents or similar categories which one may not be aware of. I advocate editing and adding information on others work, but deleting someone's work is is something which can anger others if there is no specific reason for deleting it. Unless it is biased, wrong, or plagiarized one should not delete it. I feel even if it is a little bit biased, it is about sharing other's perspectives so it does not have to be pure factual. Additionally, adding and expanding information is the key purpose of the wiki so I feel deleting is most of the time not necessary.

3. I found that the main limitation in the wiki was time-although we had a lot of it, it was divided between the two wikis and the group projects online. I found it a challenge to start much more in advance and do it ongoingly because one inevitably ends up spending more time on wiki than the other and the attention is too divided that way. I suggested in the exam, and I still think- a downloadable wiki toolbar would be useful to get notification when someone has edited their work and it will also remind students to keep going at it. It is our responsibility to do it, but it would certainly help. A spellcheck and a plagiarism detector would also be useful. There were, however, many advantages to using the wiki. The collaboration of study notes, for example, made the wiki a more empathatic design rather than a competitive, individualistic tool. The fact that most people posted topics relevant to the course further ameliorated and augmented our knowledge of the course and gave us extensive information on whatever we needed to look up but couldnt find online or were too embarassed to ask. Wiki is a useful and contributive tool and also helps us get to know other students and our peer's work abilities.