Who Censors What and How? A Linguistic Inquiry into Censorship in Arab Audiovisual Media

Abstract

Censorship is undoubtedly a complex topic to study and research. Its multifaceted and layered nature has evolved in response to shifting socio-cultural, political, and technological dimensions of human life. Current research and real-world events demonstrate that censorship persists, although it often takes less direct and more subtle forms. Despite the significant role that censorship plays in shaping the production, distribution, and circulation of various forms of expression—including those in the Arab world—it remains under-researched in this region. This paper reviews censorship and censorial practices imposed on different domains of art, literature, and entertainment, namely books and publishing, televised shows, and theatrical drama. Drawing on examples from various contexts and historical periods, particularly in the Arab world, the paper highlights both continuity in censorship responses and the evolving mechanisms of how censorship is implemented—and how people react to it—over time. The analysis demonstrates how writers, publishers, playwrights, directors, translators, and television producers navigate and adapt to evolving censorship norms, thereby ensuring their content reaches the intended audiences. Notably, the paper highlights the dynamic interplay between political, religious, economic, and cultural forces that drive censorial practices. By illuminating these interactions, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how censorship operates as a complex, adaptive mechanism across different media and socio-political environments.