Banned And Censored Music Essay Example For Students

Banned And Censored Music Essay The discussion of whether or not the censorship of music is constitutionally sound has come about. This problem has been around since the beginning of music in one way or another. The fact of the matter is that there is technically no such thing as the censorship of music in the United StatesBanned Music 1. Although that is supposedly the case, that statement can be very misleading. It is stated in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution that every American is granted the Freedom Of Speech. This includes all musicians. Contrary to this statement, there has been a numerous amount of cases in which a song or music group has been banned of either their right to perform their act on stage, or the sale of their album has been condemned as illegal. The troubling fact about music censorship is that music is considered to be an art form, and there are certain laws set up to protect art from being censored. People should have the right to choose what type of music they want to listen to in this country. Censorship is the control of what people may say or hear, write or read, or see or do. Censorship can affect books, newspapers, magazines, motion pictures, radio and television programs, and speeches. World Book 345 Most of the early problems with the censorship of music came about in the early 1950s. This was the first real era of rock and roll in America. In 1954 a Michigan Congresswoman tried to pass a bill that stated that the mailing of any explicit or pornographic album could lead to some hefty jail time, up to five years if convicted. When looking back, the 50s had some of the most laughable incidences when songs were banned. There was a Billie Holiday song by the name of Love For Sale, none of the radio stations were allowed to play it because of its strong sexual content and its depiction of prostitution. In even a funnier case there was a song by the name of Transfusion banned because it was felt that a blood transfusion was not a laughing matter. Perhaps the most farcical form of censorship in the 50s came about in 1957 when Elvis Presley was scheduled to perform on the Ed Sullivan show. Cameramen were instructed not to film any of Elviss lower body because his dancing was considered inappropriate for the viewing audienceElvis To Ice-T 3. What is so offensive about that to have it censored from the public. Times have changed though, today we just sit back and laugh at that type of censorship. The 1960s brought about a new wave of censorship. During the 1960s, popular music diversified, and so did the censors. Although the censorship supposedly diversified, the uncalled-for censorship of certain music continued. In 1964 the state of Indiana banned the song Louie Louie because they felt that it had some sexual content in it. But if you listen to the words it is obvious that sexual content is no where to be found. In 1967, the Rolling Stones were forced to change the lyrics of a song in order to perform it on national television because, of course, it had sexual content. The song was called Lets Spend The Night Together and they were forced to say Lets Spend Some Time Together. Later that decade John Lennon and Yoko Onos album Two Virgins featured a naked picture of the two. These albums were confiscated before they even had a chance to hit the record stores. There was one Chicago retailer shut down by the vice squad for carrying this albumThe 1960s 1. A piece of art is destroyed if altered. What would Michael Angelos famous sculpture The Thinker be like if somebody carved clothes on to him. it wouldnt be what he attended and therefore the art piece would loose most of its significance. People often times do not get offended as easily as they use to. In the early 1990s an album released by Nirvana featured a naked baby on the cover. There was very little controversy over the cover and there was no ban of the record sale. Unlike the 1950s, the 60s proved to have a few more controversial topics. That goes to show how people change their views about morality as time passes. The 1970s proved to have just as many controversial cases about censorship, as the fifties and sixties. In April of 1971 Officials in Illinois released a list of popular music that contained drug references. The list included the popular childrens song Puff The Magic Dragon and the Beatles Yellow Submarine, The 1970s 1 This is so absurd. These officials must really have had a lot of time on their hands to sit around and turn around the words to these wonderful children songs. Music Industry Structure and Interaction Assignment- Music EssaySuch stores as Wal Mart and K Mart decided not to sale any records that proved to be obscene. This meant that if a record label wanted to sell a lot of copies of an album, they would have to start making sure they were acceptable for the general public. Since the Wal- Marts and K -Marts were so big it would be really hard to sale a large quantity of the albums at record stores. As you can see, censorship is a big part of the music industry these days. Obviously censorship has been around for a while, but is it all that it is cracked up to be? There are many groups or coalitions who believe the answer to this question is no. There is a group by the name of the Free Music Coalition, based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is always fighting for the right of musicians. They feel that the censorship of music is wrong and it is bad for the music community. The Free Music Coalition has three basic goals: 1. To educate the public about the seriousness of the threats we are facing. Church groups, politicians, and the police have formed a network to censor music. Fans need to understand this to effectively fight back. 2. To organize a counter attack. To be successful everyone must band together, only then will activities such as letter writing campaigns, petitions, boycotts and demonstrations produce results. 3. Make censorship illegal. The First Amendment is supposed to protect our freedom of expression, but lawmakers and police are able to twist the laws to stop ideas that they find dangerous or offensive. What we need is a law that prohibits the censoring and labeling of records, books, arts, or films. Only then can artists create without a cloud of fear hanging over them. Only then can we enjoy the music we want to hear Fighting Censorship 1. The Free Music Coalition is against the censorship of music because censorship is unfair to musicians. In a recent case in Michigan it wasnt a bands lyrics that got banned, it was one of their T-shirts. A young boy went to school with the inscription Korn on his plain black shirt. He was asked to change the shirt, and if he didnt, he would be suspended Music Censorship: Elvis to Ice -T 12. This incident can be more rightly justified; the Offense Principle states that a person can be stopped from doing want he or she wants do if it is going to offend othersEthics: Theory and Contemporary Issues 203. Everybody has a choice about what kind of music they want to listen to. My friend is big into rap music, and I am offended by the language used in it. It is his choice to buy and to listen to it, and it is mine not to. Him buying it doesnt affect me, so there for it should be his right. If nobody is affected by a persons actions then it should be allowed. The First Amendment in the U. S. Constitution states pacifically that each person has the right to freedom of speech. Congress shall make no law representing an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people living peaceably to assemble, and petition the government for a redress of grievances. If a person is not allowed to express themselves and their feelings vividly, then they are not being given the right that is rightfully theirs. Artists have never had their drawings censored because they are inappropriate, and boxers dont get censored because their sport is too violent, so why should musicians? Sure, some of the music out there is not appropriate for little kids to hear, but it is not the musicians responsibility to make sure youngsters do not hear it. So, for those people who believe the censorship of music is correct, maybe they should take their own advice and start censoring what they and their kids buy, and quit worrying about what others are buying. America is based on individual rights and individual differences. Censoring the music in this country would go against everything America is all about. People should be able to choose want they want or dont want.