Film Censorship Of KMT Government (1911-1937)

During the development of movie culture, film censorship plays an important role in the fields of film sociology , film administrative project and many other realms. Because of its audio-visual and vivid characteristic ,film art can influence audience better than other forms of art. Censorship is the product of People's concern about movie , so censorship itself would bring about direct and important influences of a nation's film industry.Chinese film broadcast history can be dated back as early as 1896. However, the first film broadcast regulations was not issued until May, 1911. At that time Shanghai government promulgate the decree of "Seven regulations of canceling the movie places ". The period between 1911 and 1931 could be considered as the beginning time of KMT's censorship. Discussing the historical background , main contents , practical applying and social influences caused by the censorship can promote our understanding about the political system and culture of the Republic of China . The time between 1931 and 1937 is the vital period when KMT built its film censorship . Also this period was the time when KMT seriously implemented the censorship. Study about the censorship in this period has a good push on the understanding of KMT's political system.The aim of this paper is to deal with the social, political and historical background of KMT's censorship (1911-1937), meantime it also discusses the censorship's main content , practical applying and social influences . KMT's censorship affected the film industry and the quality of film art greatly .Censorship showed the stern hand of the KMT's movie industry management policy . On the other hand, the state-owned film and educational film showed its "soft" hand . As a result, my paper will also talk about the general aspect of the KMT's state owned film.