Censorship in Francoist Spain facts for kids

Censorship in Franco's Spain was a strict control over what people could see, read, and hear. This happened in Francoist Spain between 1936 and 1975, when Francisco Franco was the leader. Franco wanted everyone in Spain to think and believe the same way. So, his government stopped anything that showed different ideas, especially those from other countries.

The government also censored Spanish culture, like the language and traditions of Catalonia. This control was very strong. The Catholic Church also helped Franco's government with censorship. They wanted to make sure things followed their moral rules.

Sometimes, people who were not directly part of the government also censored things. They might change a book to make it clearer or to fit their own ideas of what was proper. But government censors mainly wanted to hide anything that showed "liberal" ideas. They also wanted to make Franco and his government look good. Even with all this control, many people found ways to resist censorship through art and other creative ways.

Why was there censorship?

Franco's government wanted to create a unified Spain. They believed that different ideas, especially "liberal" ones from other parts of Europe, could harm this unity. They also wanted to keep traditional Spanish values strong.

Censors often changed books, movies, and other materials. They removed anything that seemed "morally wrong" or that promoted ideas Franco didn't like. This included anything that showed too much freedom or different ways of thinking.

What was censored?

Books and stories

Books and stories were a big target for censorship. Censors changed many literary works, especially those from other countries. They wanted to remove ideas that seemed too modern or "liberal." They also removed anything that might challenge Spanish unity.

Writers in Spain often had to be careful. They knew their work would be checked by censors. This led to writers using "self-censorship." This means they would change their own writing before submitting it, to avoid problems.

When foreign books were translated into Spanish, they were heavily changed. Translators didn't just change the language; they changed the story itself. They removed parts that were seen as morally bad or too "European." Even today, some books still have these censored parts missing.

Spanish culture was also censored. For example, some traditional Spanish art forms, like Flamenco dancing, were sometimes stopped from being shown in public.

Writers sometimes used clever ways to show their ideas. For example, they might write about difficult relationships between characters. This was a way to talk about the government's harshness without saying it directly. Censors often missed these hidden messages.

Movies and shows

Movies were very important during Franco's rule. They were a way for people to share ideas, even with all the censorship. Foreign movies had to be "dubbed" (their voices replaced with Spanish ones). But the dubbing also changed the story to fit Franco's rules. Movie makers, actors, and distributors knew these rules well.

Many Spanish movies from this time show how Spain was changing. They often explored the tension between old traditions and new ideas. In 1937, rules were made to make sure movies kept "cultural morality." Special censorship boards were set up to check all films.

In 1938, the National Commission of Film Censorship was created. This group made sure movies were "morally correct." They banned scenes that showed things like divorce, stealing, or revealing clothes. They also stopped any content that might cause panic or violence.

Movies also showed how women's roles were changing in Spain. Even though women gained some rights in 1963, traditional Catholic ideas about women were still very strong. Many films showed this struggle between old and new ideas about women. If a film showed women in traditional roles, it was usually approved by the censors. They saw it as showing peaceful, everyday life.

Catalan culture

Catalonia is a region in Spain with its own language and culture. Under Franco's rule, Catalan culture faced a lot of censorship and harsh treatment. After the Spanish Civil War, people who supported Catalan ideas were punished. Some were even put in prison or forced to work.

The government also removed signs of Catalan identity from public life. Catalan was not allowed in newspapers, schools, or magazines. This made it very hard to publish anything in Catalan. The government wanted everyone to speak only Spanish.

In the mid-1950s, Spain started to open up more to other European countries. This led to a small number of students starting groups to protect Catalan identity. Because of more money coming into Spain, more books started to be published in Catalan. By 1962, about 270 books were published in Catalan. However, this growth didn't last long, as there wasn't enough support from the government or public interest to keep it going.

See also

In Spanish: Censura durante el franquismo para niños