Friday 5 March 2021

mise-en-scène

Via Futility Closet, we are treated to a composition arranged by Paramount studio photographer A. L. “Whitey” Schafer captured in 1941 in derisive protest to the Hays Code that started to be enforced in 1934—see previously. Captioned “Thou Shall Not,” the image includes all the taboos and transgressions that filmmakers could not show on the big screen until 1968 when censorship in American cinemas became a self-regulatory matter with less government interference regarding expression. Schafer received a fine and censure for entering his work in an industry candid photography contest but the satire was not lost on judge and jury.