During more intense periods of The Cold War, such as the Korean War and Vietnam War, the United States government focused heavily on the indoctrination of its citizens as well as suppression of any social movements or social reform. As the government claimed to be squashing signs of communism, they attacked government officials, education systems, and figures in the entertainment industry. The entertainment industry took a significant hit, as censorship of anything deemed “un-American” was prevalent (Censored: Free Speech & Hollywood). The US government was especially known during this period to utilize television and other forms of media, such as radios and films in order to push propaganda and "American" political beliefs which would further its own agendas. For example, during the Korean War if media portrayed the military or war in a unfavorable light, the government would simply censor said media and place restrictions on what could be produced and broadcasted (Allen 3). Along with this form of censorship came the government’s attempts to portray the U.S. as a conservative nation of “high moral standards”. Magazines with provocative covers were considered immoral and this immorality was frequently considered a part of a large communist conspiracy to destroy the nation. This radical belief led to the burning of books, magazines, and any photographs considered “un-American” or obscene (Steele). In 1957, the beginning of the Vietnam War, Roth v. United States took place declaring obscenity is not protected under the first amendment of the United States constitution (Steele). Despite the usage of pin-up photos in soldier’s barracks, back home, repression of sexuality and sexual themes was rampant.   

Allen, Alyssa. “The Change in U.S. Television News Throughout the Cold War.” The Alexandrian, XI, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1–8, https://journals.troy.edu/index.php/test/article/view/472/383. Accessed 04 Sept. 2024.  

“Censored: Free Speech & Hollywood: Discussion Guide.” PEN America, PEN America, 5 Feb. 2024, pen.org/censored-free-speech-hollywood-discussion-guide/. Accessed 04 Sept. 

Steele, Jennifer Elaine. “A history of censorship in the United States.” Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy, vol. 5, no. 1, 12 Nov. 2020, pp. 6–19, https://doi.org/10.5860/jifp.v5i1.7208. Accessed 04 Sept. 2024.