International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1931)

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— 1068 — In the field of Cinematographic activity womens influence can make itself markedly felt. A man, absorbed in work and study, and by reason of his mode of life, is apt to see all questions from an abstract and scientific point of view. Occupations which involve him in intense activity sometimes prevent him from realising the essentially practical nature of certain questions, even of important questions. This task is most especially suitable for the woman on account of her special qualities as sister, wife and above all mother, which keep her constantly in closer relation with all the members of the family. The man, perhaps, may, by a scientific method arrive at the same conclusion as the woman but he gets there more painfully and more slowly. The woman, on the contrary, finds about her in daily life practical conviction, the observation and the proof of facts, verified countless times and directly put to trial. Take for example one branch of activity in the field of the Cinema, that of film censorship. There is no question here of attacking or defending this institution. Without doubt in many countries it would benefit from being in more direct contact with the realities of existence, and by abandoning a number of generic and prejudiced principles, especially as the Cinema becomes a more formidable factor in social life from day to day. But leaving aside the question of censure itself, women are almost invariably present on those commissions which do exist. Doubtless their innate feeling for art and their naturally delicate taste will enable them to look after the artistic side of production but it is above all in matters of public and individual morality that they intervene. In those countries where no official censorship organ exists, feminine control acts as a preventive influence additional to the repressive functions of the authorities. From the short enquiry which we have just made it is obvious that in most cases women bring to film control a real and practical knowledge, more appreciable in moral and social domains than scientific research or that spirit of defiance and prejudiced reaction so often found in censorship commissions. Additionally, where censorship exists and where it is intended that it should continue to exist, could not women be more generally draw into the work of censorship, above all if representatives were chosen from those women who are experienced in life and can understand at the same time both the necessities of an industry and those things which constitute real moral and social dangers? We find the proof of womens ability in these matters in a report published in this number of the Review which deals with the part played by women in the adoption by the American film industry of moral Codes for film production and advertisement matter. And it may well be affirmed that if the essential points of those codes were scrupulously respected by producers and distributors there would be no need for the authorities to intervene at all. But, if a corporative orga