Early cinema and juvenile crime in Scotland: Edinburgh’s Chief Constable at the 1917 cinema commission

Bohlmann, J. (2014) Early cinema and juvenile crime in Scotland: Edinburgh’s Chief Constable at the 1917 cinema commission. Networking Knowledge, 6(4),

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Publisher's URL: http://ojs.meccsa.org.uk/index.php/netknow/article/view/347

Abstract

The enthusiastic relationship between children, adolescents and early cinema was observed with some unease in 1910s Britain. TheCinema Commission, set up by the National Council of Public Morals in 1917, was the first enquiry into the impact of cinema on children and young people in Great Britain and marks a significant moment in the modern discourse on children’s media consumption and juvenile behaviour that is still on-going and transcends national boundaries. One of the Commission’s key concerns was to investigate the link between the popularity of cinema-going among children and rising juvenile delinquency. This article discusses in detail the contribution of Chief Constable Roderick Ross from Edinburgh to the Commission, who challenged the notion of such a link. The paper employs a historiographical research methodology, complementing the reading of Ross’s statement with an analysis of the Scottish press and local municipal archival material. In that way it contextualises Ross’s account in view of the distinct connotations of local censorship discourse in Scotland and reveals the ambiguities and complexity that it entailed.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bohlmann, Dr Julia
Authors: Bohlmann, J.
College/School:University Services > Learning and Teaching Services Division
College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Theatre Film and TV Studies
Journal Name:Networking Knowledge
Publisher:Media Communications & Cultural Studies Association
ISSN:1755-9944
ISSN (Online):1755-9944

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