Community Standards

Definition

Community standards refer to the norms and values shared by a group of people within a specific locality regarding acceptable behavior and content. These standards play a crucial role in defining what is deemed obscene, indecent, or profane, influencing laws and regulations related to expression and media. In the context of regulating obscenity, indecency, and profanity, community standards serve as a benchmark for determining whether particular materials are suitable for public consumption based on the prevailing attitudes of that community.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Community standards can vary significantly from one locality to another, meaning something deemed acceptable in one place could be considered offensive in another.
2. The Supreme Court has ruled that community standards are an essential factor in determining what constitutes obscenity under the Miller Test.
3. In media regulation, adherence to community standards is used to decide whether certain content can be broadcast during specific times or shown in public spaces.
4. Community standards can evolve over time as societal norms change, impacting how laws related to obscenity and indecency are interpreted and enforced.
5. Local governments and regulatory bodies often rely on community standards when making decisions about zoning for adult entertainment venues or issuing broadcasting licenses.

Review Questions

• How do community standards influence legal definitions of obscenity and indecency?
  • Community standards play a pivotal role in shaping legal definitions of obscenity and indecency by providing a framework for assessing whether certain materials violate societal norms. The Supreme Court's Miller Test utilizes these standards to determine obscenity, requiring that the content be evaluated against the prevailing attitudes of the local community. As a result, what is considered obscene in one area may not be viewed the same way in another, highlighting the subjective nature of these legal definitions.
• Discuss the implications of changing community standards on media regulation and censorship practices.
  • As community standards evolve, they significantly impact media regulation and censorship practices. For example, content once deemed indecent may become more acceptable as societal attitudes shift over time. Regulatory bodies must adapt their policies to reflect these changes, which can lead to debates about freedom of expression versus protecting societal norms. This dynamic creates ongoing challenges for broadcasters, publishers, and content creators who must navigate the complex landscape of ever-changing community expectations.
• Evaluate how community standards can affect the distribution of controversial material across different regions in the United States.
  • Community standards can create significant disparities in the distribution of controversial material across different regions in the United States. Content creators and distributors often face obstacles when trying to release works that push boundaries since local laws reflect the values and norms of specific communities. This means that a film or piece of literature approved in one city might face censorship or outright bans in another due to differing perceptions of what is considered acceptable. Such variations highlight the tension between artistic expression and societal expectations, ultimately influencing which voices are heard and which ideas are suppressed based on geographic location.

Related terms

Obscenity: Material that is considered offensive or inappropriate according to community standards, often lacking serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Indecency: Content that may not be obscene but still violates community standards for broadcasting due to its offensive nature, particularly regarding sexual or excretory activities.

Profanity: Language that is considered vulgar or disrespectful and often violates community standards for public discourse.