Censorship of Subtitled Films

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the complex questions raised by the censorship of subtitled films, focusing on cultural considerations as well as the technical and linguistic constraints imposed by such practices. It seeks to explore each element of the issue: specifically, censorship and its role in shaping the intellectual patterns of nations and societies, as well as the importance of subtitling as the primary technique for translating films. This raises several important questions: How can subtitling maintain its primary function as a cultural intermediary when it is subject to censorship that erases or alters the cultural markers and elements of the original language to avoid offending norms? Can we truly speak of globalization and openness to the Other when censorship confines viewers and keeps them trapped within their own social reality and a singular culture, under the guise of preserving social, moral, and cultural systems?  Does preserving a film's cultural elements through subtitling necessarily mean shocking the viewer, offending his sensibilities, or undermining his moral beliefs? What solutions can be proposed to address these concerns? All of these questions are examined using an analytical approach, aiming to highlight the complexities of this translation practice across linguistic, cultural, and cinematic dimensions.