What does bowdlerised mean?
Bowdlerised refers to the act of editing or censoring a work of art to make it more acceptable to a particular audience. This can involve removing or altering content considered obscene, offensive, or otherwise objectionable. The term is often used in a negative sense, implying that the original work was censored or altered in a way that is considered unnecessary or excessive. Bowdlerisation can take many forms, including the removal of explicit language or content, the alteration of scenes or characters, or the addition of new material to make the work more palatable to a particular audience. The term is named after Thomas Bowdler, who edited and published a version of Shakespeare's plays that was considered more suitable for a family audience. Today, the term is often used to describe the process of editing or censoring a work of art to make it more acceptable to a particular audience, and is often associated with the idea of censorship or the suppression of artistic expression. Despite its negative connotations, bowdlerisation can also be seen as a necessary process in certain contexts, such as in the production of children's media or in the adaptation of works for different cultural or social contexts. Ultimately, the term bowdlerised highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between art and audience, and the ways in which creative works are shaped and transformed by the demands of different audiences and contexts.
verbTo edit or censor a book, film, or other work of art to make it more acceptable to a particular audience, often by removing or altering content considered obscene, offensive, or otherwise objectionable.
- To edit or censor a work of art to make it more acceptable to a particular audience.
"The film was bowdlerised for television broadcast, with some scenes removed or edited to make it more suitable for a family audience."
"The film was bowdlerised for television broadcast, with some scenes removed or edited to make it more suitable for a family audience."
"The book was bowdlerised to remove some of the more explicit language and content."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bowdlerised
The term bowdlerised is derived from the name of Thomas Bowdler, an English physician and editor who published a version of Shakespeare's plays that was considered more suitable for a family audience. Bowdler's edition of Shakespeare's plays was first published in 1807 and was intended to make the works more acceptable to a middle-class audience. The term bowdlerisation is derived from the same root and refers to the process of editing or censoring a work of art to make it more acceptable to a particular audience. The term has been in use since the early 19th century and has been associated with the idea of censorship or the suppression of artistic expression.
How bowdlerised is actually used
Bowdlerised is often used to describe the process of editing or censoring a work of art to make it more acceptable to a particular audience. It can also be used to describe the act of removing or altering content considered obscene, offensive, or otherwise objectionable. The term is often used in a negative sense, implying that the original work was censored or altered in a way that is considered unnecessary or excessive.