The censorship interference in television serials and series during martial law in Poland (1981-1983) – historical and legal context

Abstract

Throughout the period of the People’s Republic of Poland, political and systemic solutions were undemocratic. There was the Main Office of Control of Press, Publications and Shows (GUKPPiW)., whose name was changed in July 1981 to the Main Office of Control of Publications and Shows (GUKPiW). On 13 December 1981, the communists (under the leadership of General Wojciech Jaruzelski) introduced martial law, which was abolished on 22 July 1983. The state authorities tried to stop the development of Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity”. Society, including the makers of television serial and series, has been subjected to even tighter control. Preventive censorship had a negative impact on the development of cultural and artistic life. The aim of this article is to show the mechanisms of operation of Polish censorship (also in the historical and legal context), which had an impact on the broadcast of programs on Polish Television during martial law (1981-1983).