Censorship Essay, Research Paper

Joseph Graham

Eng 101-24

Essay 2

Sept 29,1996

“Censorship”

“The song [Cop Killer] is fiction, not fact. At no point did I go out and say

‘Let’s do it.’ I am singing in the first person as a character who is fed up with police

brutality. I ain’t never killed no cop. I felt like it a lot of times. But I never did”

-Rapper Ice-T, National Review, July 20, 1992.

Statements such as that has started an on going debate about censorship in the

television and music industry. What exactly is censorship? Some feel censorship is a

violation of the first amendment right. Others say censorship is a must in the violent,

abusive world we call “society”. Who has the right to censor? Who doesn’t? What needs

to be censored, and what doesn’t? The fact of the matter is that their are the pro’s and

con’s in the music and entertainment industry about censorship.

Since its invention earlier this century, television has become the most popular

format for entertainment. We can be entertained, informed, and inspired by programs on

TV. In fact, Americans love TV so much that we probably watch far too much of it. TV

stations are becoming less restrictive about content in their programs. More violence,

profanity, and nudity than ever before now graces our TV screens every night. Clearly,

there are things that children should not be seeing on TV. The new V-chip legislation

passed be Congress requires all TV manufactures to install an electronic device that allows

parents to set the tolerance levels for violence, profanity, and nudity. However, are

children’s viewing habits the responsibility of the government or the parents?

There are several arguments that can be made on censorship on TV. One for

example, what the pro’s for censorship? What are the con’s? The are a lot of good points

and bad points about censorship on TV. A good point that can be made is that there are a

lot of violence and profanity on the “tube”. This can be clearly stopped by the new V-chip

legislation just passed. But would the V-chip automatic censor block out such violent

dramas a “Schindler’s List,” “Root.” or “Gone With the Wind?” Would producers make a

television mini-series about the bloody Civil War, which very likely would be blocked as

too violent, or pass on such a project for fear of censorship? Another good point to

censor certain TV shows is the theme of the show or movie. For example, “The Simpson”

and Married…With Children” encourage children to disrespect their parents. But for

families that watch TV together and discuss the good, bad and the ugly don’t need not

stinking v-chip. The lines of communication are open, and children are taught what is

acceptable and what is not. By relying on a transistor to do their parenting for them, many

adults will fall even more out of touch with their children, who will spend more time trying

to get around technology to watch shows they’re not supposed to watch. Those are just a

few minor points about censorship in TV, but the same points can be made about the

censorship in music as well.

To many, music is the language of the soul. In the past, the musician’s right to

control his work was not in question. This has begun to change in recent years, however,

as the lyrics to popular music have become more explicit. Is a rap group portraying real

life in the ghetto, or a heavy-metal band singing about suicide, protected as artistic

expression? Or do these songs really influence society, becoming a cause of violence and

hate instead of merely an expression of them?

Is government censorship of offensive and violent lyrics a way to improve society,

or simply controlling who offend the wrong people. Many artist claim they are just using

the freedom of speech amendment and singing and writing about whatever they please.

But to others, the real intentions of the would-be music censors is to impose on all

Americans the tastes and values of political power brokers who don’t connect with

experiences and concerns of the young and alienated. According to the “would-be”

censors free speech does not include the right to yell “fire!” in a crowded theater. Most

lyrics go a lot further than that. The artist need to acknowledge that there are obviously

some correlation between the negative and violent messages that are being put out in

many tapes and the violence that exists out there in the real world, is a major reason to

uphold censorship,

People can go on and on why music and TV should be censored and why is should

not. This is an debate that will go well into the 21st century. But the real question is will

the music get more explicit and TV get more and more violent. Only the test of time will

find out.