Censorship - Ms Georgiou

Censorship can be defined as the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the government or media organisations as determined by a censor.

There are different types of censorship some are self-inflicted that are a joint decision of the artist and the music label in control of the artist. However the government have put into place an organisation called ‘Ofcom’ who is an independent organisation created by the government to control and govern what is broadcasted on TV and aired on the Radio. It stipulates what can and cannot be shown. Self-censorship can be put into place by the artist and the music label to avoid negative publicity which may lead to a bad reputation going against the music label and artist, this then may affect sales figures which is the opposite of what music producers and artists want to achieve. Censorship can be argued in different ways as some people believe people of a certain age should be protected from violence, sexual references and political/religious views. On the other hand it can be argued that others think it is an art and should be seen as a form of expression. As well as this there is lyrical censorship which ABC Radio put into place from the 1940’s. Finally, there is also political censorship which was put into place when the ‘Sex Pistols’ released their single ‘God save the Queen’ which was released by Virgin records on the 27^th May 1977. The reason the song became censored was due to the lyrics in the song which some found offensive towards the queen.

I will be using Eminem as my example artist in this case and if censors should be put into place for some of his music videos as they contain strong language and other references some may find offensive. I will be debating the different points of view that can come from different organisations and people. Firstly, I will be debating the side of the artist which is Eminem. Eminem may feel that he does not want his music videos to be censored because it is the only way he may feel he can express himself. Moreover if people enjoy his music then it is their choice to listen and watch his videos whereas if someone does not like what he produces then they have the option of not watching it. It can also be argued that censorship can ruin the song and the lyrics which consumers enjoy. In music videos and songs the offending lyrics used within are cut out which means there is a short precise break between the songs. Fans also understand the type of lifestyle the artist lives, this leads me to conclude that it is a way of creating a link between the audience and the artist referencing what they have experienced in the past through choices the artist has made and past relationships. If censorship was then put into place the artist and their target audience may lose their common link and relationship between the artist and fans which could have an effect on music sales and profit margin. For example, Eminem's song 'Just lose It' was censored due to the music video suggesting private issues of Michael Jackson, another very well known artist. 

The way Eminem uses language shows the audience the type of artist he is and references his everyday lifestyle as well as this, a true artist is represented by what they produce without misleading consumers. It also plays a big part on the parents of the audience that enjoy listening to his music however they should intervene if they feel the lyrics and music videos are too much for their child/children to be watching or hearing. If this is the case then a lock can be put into place on certain channels preventing their child/children watching what they do not want them to watch. This can also be done on the Internet by blocking certain websites such as YouTube that will allow anyone who has access to the Internet to watch the content of a video. Finally, again the main song that was censored was ‘Just lose It’, the reason for this was because of the content which the lyrics included. This song was censored on MTV and other radio stations because they felt the content was too inappropriate for viewers.

I will now be debating the views of Eminem’s fans. It can be argued that swear words are only words and they cannot hurt or bring any harm to anyone. It is also a form of expression which ordinary people use on a daily basis. This also allows a link to be created between the audience and the artist. When Eminem’s song ‘Just lose It’ was censored on TV it was due to the visual sections of Michael Jackson portraying rumours that have been publically followed up on within the press and police. This section of the music video meant that Michael Jackson was getting a bad reputation for the fun of producers who made the music video 'Just lose It'. Finally, there is a big difference between the lifestyle Eminem lives and the fans who listen to his music. This has lead me to conclude that fans only listen to the lyrics in the song and do not follow anything from Eminem’s lifestyle. Swearing is also a part of everyday life culture right now and is a convention from the Hip Hop genre which is the genre Eminem falls under.

Eminem owns his own record label which is called ‘Shady Records’, this means he is free to make his own decisions on what he feels is best for him reaching his highest potential in regards to sales figures and keeping his fans happy. As a result of this EminemEminem is also an individual artist who many consumers can build up a relationship with. This means there is a gap in the market for the individuality of Eminem as his songs are a reflection of his past life as well as future.  He can also be seen as an idol due to the fact that he was the first male white rapper that ever made it successfully within the music industry. Record labels enjoy what Eminem has to offer and can see his potential for his musical abilities. Eminem has also experimented with other aspects of entertainment industry such as films. He stared in the big release, 8 Mile which was a blockbuster. This film shows the true reflection of Eminem and his past life that again allows consumers to relate to him further. The film 8 Mile however did have to have a censorship age attached due to the storyline of the film, the censorship for this was a certificate age 15.

Moving on, I will be debating the different sides of what parents think is correct in this case (for and against censorship).

For:
There are different points that can be argued about when it comes to the censorship of Eminem’s songs. One reason censorship should not be put into place is because his lyrics contain the truth about everyday life and the struggles the world has to offer, this can be used as a tool of making the younger generation more aware of what they are growing up into. As well as this it can also be argued that Eminem is a role model for working hard in succeeding were he is today and who he has become. This can be seen as motivation to want young children to aspire to be something and do something good with their lives. Eminem is also a unique and individual character that many consumers can relate to; this means Eminem can be seen as hardworking in getting to where he is today. Moreover, Eminem refers to his children and past events that has happened throughout his life, this shows the audience that he is not afraid to open up about his feelings which can again influence others to speak up about any problems they may have in order to get help or support. Finally, censorship should not be put into place because it is showing young people how to express themselves through music, this can be seen as a particularly good tool for young people with anger issues. In conclusion to this anger can be let out through music which is again going to be used for the good. Lastly, if parents do not want their children to watch or listen to Eminem then something can be done about it, for example putting a ban on certain channels and on certain websites to prevent their children being influenced by any artist.

Against:
On the other hand it can also be argued that censorship is a good thing as it may upset individuals from some of the language used within a song and different types of referencing for example drugs. It can also be argued that teenagers are very easily influenced by what they see and hear this may give off the impression that you can take drugs etc and still live the luxury life of a rap artist. Moreover, from being seen as an idol the different situations that are portrayed in music videos can be copied by a fan if they aspire to be like Eminem. For example, this could encourage teenagers to join gangs, take drugs and carry weapons on them. Moreover children can get a bad reputation for listening to a specific artist which may lead to bullying at school or other issues that can be avoided. It can also be argued that certain Internet websites and channels cannot be blocked in which case parents will have no control on what their children are watching on a day to day basis. 

In conclusion to both sides of the argument it comes down to parents deciding on what they want their children to watch and what not to watch, when it comes to being aired on the radio parents have no control of what can be played out to listeners however all swear words are cut out in any song that has made it to air. An example of a song that has been censored is by Travis McCoy- Billionaire ft. Bruno Mars. There are two versions to this song one which is a radio version and the other which can be downloaded or bought by consumers who have the choice to listen between the two.

I will now be analysing what music channels think about censorship when it comes to Eminem’s music. I will be using the main music stations that promote rap artists, these include MTV and AKA. MTV has chosen to censor all of Eminem’s music videos due to the level of explicitness. This is due to the reason that MTV is a very well known music channel and do not want to offend anyone who watches their show as they main gain negative press as well as a bad reputation from viewers. On the other hand AKA is a less well known music channel and is known for playing mainly Grime and Rap music videos. In this case AKA do not censor their videos because it is up to viewers if they want to watch the music channel or not. It can also be seen that Eminem is not a star but an artist who uses music as a way of expressing himself, in which case he should express himself how he knows best which is through rapping. Finally, the audience have come to know and expect what kind of music Eminem produces as well as the types of words he has within his lyrics so it should come as no surprise as to what content can be found within his music.

Different rules and regulations will need to be followed within music videos as there are laws that need to be abided by if a music video is shown to a wide audience. Censorship comes under the category of rules and regulations because some of the content on display to the audience can be seen as offensive. This means that for an artist such as Eminem all of his music videos need to be censored due to the use of language and referencing he uses within his work. As well as this when making my own music video I will also need to follow different rules and regulations of censorship so that consumers can feel comfortable when watching something. For my artist, ‘Shani’ some of her lyrics may be seen as offensive which is why I need to carry out research on what consumers have come to expect from a reggae artist.