Music Should Not Be Censored

Why Music Should Not Be Censored
“Censorship is based on fear ”(Johnny Clegg). The fear that people, especially youth, will be exposed to music with lyrics and/or videos that contain obscene content. There are those that want to limit the exposure of these songs to the public. Then there are the others who want to let people choose what they can and can not listen to. Music censorship has no place in our modern society, because of its negative effects.
Censorship is nothing new in America. After the civil war, pro southern songs were banned. During the roaring twenties, there was a movement to censor jazz, because of its negative effects on white youth. These were all minor things compared to the controversy that surrounded heavy metal and
rap. Controversy arose during the eighties when these styles of music had become mainstream. These songs were challenging the system, using explicit language, and singing about lewd topics such as sex, drugs and suicide. There wasn’t any push to censor label records until the creation of the PMRC. The Parental Music Resource Centers main goal was to have music records with obscene content be labeled, but the labeling eventually created censorship.Though the PMRC isn’t as influential today, censorship still exists. Today, not only are artists are still censored for obscene content, but they are also censored for their political/religious views. Censoring music adds fuel to the fire and can possibly lead to the censoring of more than just music. Music censorship should not exist in any form. Censoring should not be used because even when it is applied it usually does not work.
When we listen to music, we are listening to the artist sing about real things going on in our world. Explicit and descriptive language are things we hear in life everyday(Rivera). We see and hear obscene content everywhere. It is in advertising, television, the internet, and even from our peers. There is no way to hide ourselves from these things. In the end, it is just pointless to censor music on the basis of limiting exposure, when there is no way to not be exposed. Furthermore, just because we censor music, does not make the problem go away. Censoring a song for inappropriate language does not stop a person from using that word(Noise Between Stations, 7). Repugnant content, will exist regardless of it being in a song or not.Being that, there is no point in censoring a musician, because he and or she uses “immoral” language or talks about suggestive material, will not change the fact that you will hear it from something
else.
Censoring any form of art, especially music stops listeners from learning. Stopping a song from being aired or altering the words, because it deals with a subject, such as sex, will do more harm than good. People need to be taught about these subjects not censored from them(ConnectUs 1). Even if music is not the way you want to be taught, it is more beneficial to be exposed to these subjects, rather than hiding yourself from them. Additionally, the most major mistake we can make is limiting our exposure to such topics. Being exposed to lewd topics, may seem like a bad idea, but it in fact helps us to learn certain skills like dealing with challenges(ConnectUs 2). Instead of sheltering ourselves or taking music away from others, but rather need to learn to deal with these problems and be tolerant of others music choices. Consequently, if we choose to change music and stop it from being real, we are doing more harm to ourselves and depriving ourselves of necessary life skills. As George Bernard Shaw, a famous playwright, once said “all censorships exist to prevent anyone from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions.” Considering this, it is easy to see how people of power uses censorship to limit others. This is known as power knowledge. We all know knowledge is power, if someone in a position of power uses their power to limit the learning of others. They are stopping them from gaining knowledge/power. This seriously sets people back and creates a cycle of depravity of knowledge/power(Noise Between Stations, 15). This is most true with the government. Even if it not necessarily a problem the United States of America, does not mean it isn’t a problem in other countries. Power knowledge is a horrendous conception. It exists to leave people in a state of ignorance, so other more powerful people can benefit off of their vagueness. Likewise, not only does it limit knowledge, but it can neglect cultures or beliefs. Music can be the identity of a culture, race, or religion, and if we silence their voices we will be shutting them out(Freemuse). A culture, race, or religion create music not only to tell of their beliefs,but to also teach members of their communities and others of their ways. If we take away their ways of expression we could ultimately eradicate their way of life. Limiting what people can learn only end up with negative consequences, the best bet it to leave music as it is.
Not only does censoring music affect the listener, but it can also have detrimental affect on the musician themself.
Most musicians have first hand accounts of certain situation, whether it be alcohol/drug abuse, racial discrimination, or views they want to share, and this is often what they write their songs about. Musicians have the responsibility to share their knowledge or beliefs on subjects they feel important(Kris Kristofferson Freemuse). If a musician’s work is altered or censored, then the information they want to share is basically useless. An artist's work should not be changed so that the message they want heard can be expressed as it is meant to. Musicians have an amazing gift to relate to people. Musicians and their music relate to people especially youth(Noise Between Stations, 2). When someone like a teenager is still trying to find some sort of self-identity, music can help them determine what sort of beliefs they feel are right. If the music they connect to and base their beliefs off of is no longer available, then they have no source of backup for their beliefs. Not only do musicians write about such topics to teach, but it makes them more relatable, which benefits both the artist and the listener. These topics that they sing about may seem obscene, but they are just realities that make their music real(Noise Between Stations,7-8) When a musician tries to make their music real, it increases the satisfaction from the listeners, which fundamentally leads to
higher profits for the musician, creating a win-win situation. Now if someone does not like these harsh realities and has the song censored, it has a negative effect on the musician and the fan. All in all, censorship does not just affect the fans, but also it can harm the musician as well, both economically and morally.
It is written into our constitution that citizens of the United States of America have the freedom of religion, press, to peacefully assemble, and the freedom of speech. So constitutionally speaking it is a violation of the constitution to censor music on the basis of the first amendment. Not only does censorship violate the first amendment, but it is morally wrong. People think that something they find immoral should be banned or censored. What they do not realize is that they themselves our forcing their morals onto others, which is what is actually immoral(Rivera). No one has the right to impose their beliefs onto others. This being the case, censorship is a clear violation of human basic rights.
Music censorship has no place in a modern society, and should never be used. Music censorship should not be used, because it doesn’t work anyways, it stops the flow of ideas, it has negative effects on fans and the musician, and it is a violation of basic human rights. Music censorship is more dangerous than commonly believed, if we become accustomed to music censorship, what is to stop us from limiting the press, or literature, or even speech.