RESEARCH: CENSORSHIP

RESEARCH: CENSORSHIP

What is Censorship? Why is it Important?

Censorship is the process of examining a product and making a conscious decision whether it is appropriate for public display. It aims to create a safe industry and environment for anyone, regardless of age, cultural/ethnic background or gender. Censorship can be done in many ways, either by removing offensive or upsetting content or trying to alter it with something else or through re-editing. This is done to ensure that the product is not offensive or upsetting. Censorship can often cost the artist a lot of money as many of them will have to change the lyrics or re-edit such video, which means they need to invest extra funds and time into the process. This is especially evident within certain genres that are commonly censored due to the regular offences or controversial content. For example Rap, Hip Hop or R&B are known for swearing, nudity or controversy in their music videos which often is censored. However, many manufacturers and artists find a way around censorship, especially with the modern technology advancements.  Many artists will release their music videos on social network websites such as YouTube or other sites in order to avoid censorship. Therefore they are less likely to be caught on their content as not everything gets checked online. Censorship is important in the music industry, and film, as it helps to ensure that music content is safe to view by most audiences and the public is not upset. It also serves to protect people from content that they shouldn’t be displayed to and people won’t copycat wrong behaviors.

Today many artists utilize the Parental Advisory logo to warn sensitive audience as well as parents about explicit content or lyrics. This is evident on front covers and helps to protect audiences. This gives people a choice to buy the product or decide to abstain. It also makes them an active consumer who makes a conscious choice in their music selection.

Explicit Content VS Explicit Lyrics

Explicit content refers to the imagery displayed in the video that is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 18. This can be either a performance, concept or a narrative. Many modern music videos will be censored because of explicit nudity and erotic references, controversial references to real life events, graphic violence or explicit drug abuse/ unlawful behavior. Over the years many music videos have been banned for various reasons from any websites or for general viewing. MTV is one of the platforms that takes censorship very seriously and often bans crude music videos. For example ‘Killed by Death’ by Motorhead was banned by MTV due to its excessive and senseless violence including a scene depicting the lead singer death in an electric chair. It was too obscene to air and could upset vulnerable viewers or draw a negative response. In addition, Eminem was also called out for controversial depiction of real life affairs in relation to Michael Jackson who at the time struggled with court and was accused of child molestation. His video ‘Just Lose It’ was banned by Black Entertainment Television due to the depiction of noseless Jackson on a bed full of children. Michael himself commented it was ‘inappropriate and disrespectful’. This could upset Jackson’s fans and was simply mocking towards the serious case.

Explicit lyrics refer to words or phrases that are too controversial or inappropriate for public disposal. This can include references to sex, explicit sexual language or frequent curse words which would be unsuitable for people under 18 or sensitive listeners. Over the years, however, more listeners have become inert to explicit language and today it is hard to exactly establish what is deemed appropriate or not. However, in general few bad language references are acceptable, however must be in the ‘right’ context and shouldn’t be repeated for no purpose. Genres like Rap or Hip-Hop are more famous for using explicit lyrics and many of these are edited out or censored through various methods. However, genre is not always the case. For example George’s Michael ‘I Want Your Sex’ was banned by the BBC for various reasons. First off it was the first of the few songs that included the word ‘sex’ in the title, therefore it was restricted for being overly sexually suggestive. In addition, some people argued that it was promoting casual sex, at the time when AIDS was a great concern, which was also controversial. Another major explicit lyrics case was Robin’s Thicke ‘Blurred Lines’, banned on different radio stations and deemed overly controversial due to its promotion of rape and women objectification. Blurred Lines upset a lot of women and set the wrong example for young males and females who are exposed to similar music in their everyday life.

What Gets Censored?

There is a criteria which points out what gets censored or banned. These help others establish whether the content is too explicit and should be amended. The lists includes:

• ·         Sexual Content
•             Language
• ·         Nudity
• ·         Religion
• ·         Violence
• ·         Graphic Representation & Realism
• ·         Culture
• ·         Class
• ·         Sexual Violence
• ·         Race
• ·         Shock
• ·         True Events
• ·         Corrupt the Young
• ·         Controversy and Press (Politics)

These are some of the songs examples that have been censored for one or more of the above factors.

• 1.       M.I.A ‘Born Free’ (2010) - Censored for explicit violence and making references to bloody rebellions like the Irish Republican Army.  The video was temporarily removed by You Tube but then reposted with an age requirement.
• 2.       The Prodigy ‘Smack My B**ch Up’ (1997) – Censored for explicit nudity, shocking imagery of crude content and general corruption of the young. It was later moved to after-midnight viewings on MTV, with a disclaimer.
• 3.       Garth Brooks ‘The Thunder Rolls’ (1991)- Censored for explicit violence and graphic representation and realism of domestic violence. It was deemed too graphic for CMT viewers and the network pulled it one day after its premiere.
• 4.       Madonna ‘Like A Prayer’ (1989)- Censored for religious and racial reasons and an explicit representation of racism. It was deemed as a mockery of the Catholic religion and was generally censored around the world.

Lyrics and Radio Censorship

Radio is an open music platform that has a wide global audience and therefore takes censorship very seriously in order to maintain its popularity and air suitable music for all audiences. There are various ways in which the radio can censor inappropriate lyrics. These include:

• ·         Blanking- The explicit language is blanked out but the music continues to play. For example the Suicide Squad soundtrack ‘Sucker for Pain’ has explicit language sang by Lil Wayne. The words are blanked out when aired on radio or TV.  
• ·         Repeating – The repetition of the last word instead of the censored word.
• ·         Bleeping- Inserting a ‘Bleep’ sound instead of the word.
• ·         Disc Scratching- Inserting a DJ scratching sound instead of the word.

Cut VS Banned

CUT: The process of cutting or editing the content to a point where the explicit material is deemed more appropriate for public disposal. It can also mean to remove a sequence of footage completely until the material is suitable for the audience. This can cost a lot of money for the manufacturer or artist due to the re-editing process, which is expensive and time consuming.

BAN: This refers to legal prohibition of a product that is unsuitable for public distribution. Lyrics or music video content can be forbidden for public viewing and disposal and anyone who decides to go against that law will have to face consequences, including fines or court.

Censorship: Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• ·         Helps to protect the public
• ·         Sets boundaries for the artists
• ·         Prevents upset audiences
• ·         Tries to prevent younger audiences from corruption
• ·         Gets rid of crude content in general
• ·         Helps to guide audiences in their choices
• 
  

Disadvantages

• ·         It’s a way of controlling people and their choices
• ·         It restricts freedom of speech
• ·         It is not always accurate and effective
• ·         It shows that audiences are fed with what others decide to show
• ·         Ideas are restricted
• ·         Creativity is restricted
• ·         Promotes dictatorship

In my opinion censorship is still important, despite the various arguments against it. Although it can restrict artists and take away public’s freedom, it is crucial in order to set certain boundaries and prevent the public from harm. It plays a significant part in the industry and is a useful filter to today’s music industry, especially with the way audiences have become much more inert to violence, nudity or explicit language. By censoring inappropriate content, the audience can be guided through the industry but still have a free choice amongst the varied genres and types of artists.

Conclusion

Overall, music censorship in extremely important factor I need to consider when planning my music campaign. By knowing the different elements that are likely to be upsetting or censored, I will be able to avoid hurtful content. However, the indie genre is rarely censored due to its mild content which is unlikely to upset anyone, therefore I have a smaller chance of getting restricted. Yet to be sure, I will make sure that my music video is all ages friendly and the lyrics are suitable for the majority of the audiences and if not I will use blanking to get rid of the upsetting content.