History Lesson: Infographic Likens SOPA To The House Committee On Un-American Activities' Hollywood Blacklist
"SOPA And The Film Industry," an eye-opening infographic created by Anne Rhodes, shows Hollywood's longtime war on technology using censorship and legislation as weapons of choice. The visual timeline asks the question, "Has Hollywood already forgotten the 1950s and the Hollywood blacklist?"
Claiming "SOPA is the reincarnation of the House Committee on Un-American Activities' Hollywood blacklist," the infographic, posted by Boing Boing today, says that in today's world, SOPA is an Internet blacklist.
Censorship is shown as first appearing in the industry in the 1920s when the federal government threatened to censor movies. Enter Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Following a timeline up until present day, the visuals depict how the industry has continuously battled technological innovation and distribution through regulation. MPAA Chief Jack Valenti is quoted as saying, "I say to you that the VCR is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston Strangler is to the woman home alone." Way harsh, Valenti.
Flash forward to 2012, and we're seeing the introduction of SOPA and PIPA, two bills aiming to crack down on online piracy in support of the entertainment industry. To add a few thought-provoking numbers to the equation, courtesy of the infographic, the film industry raked in $87 billion in revenue in 2010, a 35% increase from the $52.8 billion it made in 2000. About 65% of the industry's revenue is from sources studios once said would put them out of business, like pay-per-view TV, cable, video rentals, DVD sales and online subscriptions.
View the complete infographic here.
