Research: Censorship - Ms Begum

Censorship & Music Videos

Introduction

- Censorship of music is the act of altering words, statements or visuals in order to conform with and abide by the rules and laws of society.

- Censorship of music is important due to the reason of being safe from what you hear and what you see. Censorship take actions when a music video contains inappropriate or harmful images that appears to be unsuitable for the audience to watch plus influencing the audience mentally in a negative way. Censorship also take actions when the lyrics of a song contain adult strong language where it appears to be unsuitable for the younger audience.

 PARENTAL ADVISORY EXPLICIT CONTENT

- This is a warning towards the parents to keep the child from watching content that could be harmful for them or giving their child the permission to view the content when they are next to them so that they can stop the content when the content gets to the point of unacceptable.

PARENTAL ADVISORY EXPLICIT LYRICS

- This is also a warning towards the parents to keep their child away from listening to songs that contain strong language that could influence their child to learn and copy bad language.

What things get censored?

- There are 14 things to identify:

1. Violent

2. Religion

3. Drug

4. Nudity

5. Shock

6. Race

7. Graphic representation and realism

8. Corrupt the young

9. Controversy and the Press (Politics)

10. Alcohol

11. Class

12. Language

13. Culture

14. True events

Some examples:

1) Nelly - Tip Drill

- This video was banned due to the extreme content that includes nudity, foul language, drug, alcohol and homosexual behaviour. This was an offence to women as they was refered as sexual object and performed homosexual activities on top of money. When Nelly ran out of money to throw on the female, he swipe his bank card on the female instead. This then bought the artist serious critique after the video was released.


2) Can't remember what song is it but the artist was George Michael


- This video was banned due to the content being based on a true events where George performed homosexual with a police officer and was arrested for that reason. Later on he then made this song based on that event as near the end of the video, he shows two male police officer kissing each other. This was also banned due to homosexual behaviour.

Lyrics and radio censorship

- This is when the lyrics of a song is being censored in the purpose of safety for the public. This is normally done through repeating, blanking, disc scratching or bleeping the foul words.

- Repeating: Having the last word said twice instead of the censored word.

- Blanking: The entire word is not heard but music is still heard.

- Disc Scratching: Using a scratch sound of a DJ to cover the word.

- Bleeping: putting a ''bleep'' sound over the word.

*BANNED*

- This is when a music video or lyrics is taken away from viewing completely due to indecent, harmful or offensive material.

*CUTTING THE SCENE*

- This is when a music video is edited or lyrics beeped out to make it appropriate for viewing and listening.

Advantages of censorship

- Protecting the young from harmful and controversy images.

- Allowing artist to express themselves.

- It prevent the public display of disrespect to any particular individual or community.

- It promotes political correctness.

- Children are prevented from learning things that could harm them and others.

- It shields the moral of society.

- It restrains vulgarity and obscenity.

- The abundance of evidence in music videos is restricted by it.

Disadvantages of censorship 

- Freedom of speech is compromised.

- It prevents ideas from flowing freely.

- Censorship in music and music videos may compromise their entertainment value.

- Creativity is restricted.

- If you hide something from the public they will become extra curious about it.

- It has no place in a democratic nation.

- It is used to control people.

- There can be different standards of morals among different societies quite different from the imposed ones by the censorship.

- It may be used to block legitimate criticism.

- Governments should not control people, it should be the way around.

- Individuals have different tastes.

- It stiffens the opposition, broadcasting only a particular point of view.

- People have a right to hear.

As a spectator, I think that censorship should take action in the purpose of protecting the society especially the young but should loosen up the rules a little bit to allows artists having the freedom to extend their creativity and for the people having the right to view or listen to what they wish. Also the people should not be in controlled by the government.

Conclusion

- All the information above has helped me to learn so much more about censorship from how the video is being edited or banned to the lyrics being censored. I do not need to consider this because my music video would not include any features that could be harmful for the public to watch. Instead, they will enjoy my music video due to the appropriate features and creativity within my production.