Quando a babá eletrônica encontrou a integração nacional: ou uma história da censura televisiva durante a Ditadura Militar (1964-1988)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the enforced changes to the Federal Censorship during the Military Dictatorship (1964-1985), in particular the form that the censorship on television has acquired in the period. Censorship had already been placed as a legal practice by the Constitution of 1946, at least related to the public amusement. Between 1946 and 1964, censorship had been disputed for several groups who had different views on their role and on their usefulness in control over culture. After the Coup of 1964, the authoritarian regime that took power submitted the previous censorial legislation to a series of modifications in order to center it under federal control and to submit it to the imperatives of the National Security Doctrine and Development (DSN). Television was one of the media that caught the attention of the censorship laws and censors because it was considered more difficult to control. Within the telecommunications development policy undertaken by the military governments, television has become the most influential and modern media of the period, especially after the formation of television networks on the early 70’s. This new device, however, caused a series of anxieties and fears when its expansion took place. These fears were mobilized by the censors as a way of legitimizing their actions, guiding their daily practices.