Censorship of violent and sexist ideas in music
Written by Megan Campbell
Most commonly, the issue of music censorship is centered around the censorship of certain words. Some curse words are always censored when they appear in mass media while others are censored based on their context. A growing issue in the music industry is the increase in violent or derogatory messages that appear in popular music; most notably in hip-hop. The problem associated with violent lyrics is that they are not as easily censored as a single word. The challenge of the music industry is typically to decide what is and what is not appropriate for all audiences, and then to stick a Parental Advisory sticker on the album on what contains "explicit content." But here is where the black and white label we are all familiar with enters a very gray area. While it is easy for the Recording Industry of America to go through an album, decide it is explicit, and put the label on the album and for the record label to release a "clean" version containing none of the offensive language, some find that the "clean" version- although void of the explicit words- still contains extremely explicit content in the form of the idea presented.
The emergence of an "anti-police culture" among a portion of the hip-hop industry is a prime culprit in contributing to the bad reputation all of hip-hop received as a result. However, it would be incomplete to place all of the blame on those inciting violence against the police. It is not simply violent artists attempting to undermine the police, but perhaps a response to discrimination. Hip-hop got its start in the 1970's, and the members of the movement were predominantly black. During its start, the hip-hop movement faced a lot of opposition and censorship, partly as a result of racism. There is usually always some form of resistance to a changing culture, but the hip-hop movement was faced with strong opposition from certain members of law-enforcement who were partial to their personal prejudices. From this, the "anti-police culture" was born. Although the purpose of music is to bring people together and to provide entertainment, in the case of early hip-hop, it drove a wedge between the musicians and authority. As a result, much of the censorship was an attempt to fight the movement, rather than the offensive content of the music, which became more offensive in nature as a response. Members of the community became less likely to cooperate with police officers and those who did were referred to as "snitches" and were often rejected by their peers. This attitude stuck around and some believe it is cause for concern, but hip-hop is currently a widely accepted genre that crosses races.
In the following videos of "Love The Way You Lie," a collaboration between Eminem and Rihanna, the issue of violence-sensitive censorship is clear. The first video is the uncut, "explicit" version released on Eminem's official Vevo youtube page, while the second video is the edited version that is considered "clean" and played on the radio across the country while the song was popular. While the music no longer contains the curse words, the question likely posed is whether or not the clean version should be considered as such. The phrase "If she ever tries to f*****' leave again, I'ma' tie her to the bed and set this house on fire." is changed to "If she ever tries to -- leave again, I'ma' tie her to the bed and set this house on fire," and suddenly the song is considered ready for the radio. It is clear that the most offensive component of that phase is not the word "f***," but the idea of an abusive partner threatening to set his girlfriend on fire for leaving him. But it is here where the issue of violence censorship lies: to censor the ideas contained in a violent verse threatens first amendment rights far more than the censorship of explicit words. This issue is more present now more than ever, and can be expected to be explored further in the near future.
Most commonly, the issue of music censorship is centered around the censorship of certain words. Some curse words are always censored when they appear in mass media while others are censored based on their context. A growing issue in the music industry is the increase in violent or derogatory messages that appear in popular music; most notably in hip-hop. The problem associated with violent lyrics is that they are not as easily censored as a single word. The challenge of the music industry is typically to decide what is and what is not appropriate for all audiences, and then to stick a Parental Advisory sticker on the album on what contains "explicit content." But here is where the black and white label we are all familiar with enters a very gray area. While it is easy for the Recording Industry of America to go through an album, decide it is explicit, and put the label on the album and for the record label to release a "clean" version containing none of the offensive language, some find that the "clean" version- although void of the explicit words- still contains extremely explicit content in the form of the idea presented.
The emergence of an "anti-police culture" among a portion of the hip-hop industry is a prime culprit in contributing to the bad reputation all of hip-hop received as a result. However, it would be incomplete to place all of the blame on those inciting violence against the police. It is not simply violent artists attempting to undermine the police, but perhaps a response to discrimination. Hip-hop got its start in the 1970's, and the members of the movement were predominantly black. During its start, the hip-hop movement faced a lot of opposition and censorship, partly as a result of racism. There is usually always some form of resistance to a changing culture, but the hip-hop movement was faced with strong opposition from certain members of law-enforcement who were partial to their personal prejudices. From this, the "anti-police culture" was born. Although the purpose of music is to bring people together and to provide entertainment, in the case of early hip-hop, it drove a wedge between the musicians and authority. As a result, much of the censorship was an attempt to fight the movement, rather than the offensive content of the music, which became more offensive in nature as a response. Members of the community became less likely to cooperate with police officers and those who did were referred to as "snitches" and were often rejected by their peers. This attitude stuck around and some believe it is cause for concern, but hip-hop is currently a widely accepted genre that crosses races.
In the following videos of "Love The Way You Lie," a collaboration between Eminem and Rihanna, the issue of violence-sensitive censorship is clear. The first video is the uncut, "explicit" version released on Eminem's official Vevo youtube page, while the second video is the edited version that is considered "clean" and played on the radio across the country while the song was popular. While the music no longer contains the curse words, the question likely posed is whether or not the clean version should be considered as such. The phrase "If she ever tries to f*****' leave again, I'ma' tie her to the bed and set this house on fire." is changed to "If she ever tries to -- leave again, I'ma' tie her to the bed and set this house on fire," and suddenly the song is considered ready for the radio. It is clear that the most offensive component of that phase is not the word "f***," but the idea of an abusive partner threatening to set his girlfriend on fire for leaving him. But it is here where the issue of violence censorship lies: to censor the ideas contained in a violent verse threatens first amendment rights far more than the censorship of explicit words. This issue is more present now more than ever, and can be expected to be explored further in the near future.
Violence isn’t the only key issue prevalent in the music
industry. A lot of modern music, especially pop and hip-hop, exude derogatory
words for women including “shawty,” “bitch,” and “ho.” The problem doesn’t
necessarily present itself in every instance these words are used. For example:
in “Erase Me” by Kid Cudi, a song about someone whose partner is avoiding him
for weeks as he tries to mend things with her, he calls her a “bitch.” While
this phrase is offensive, it is the equivalent of referring to someone as an “ass****,”
and is not specifically objectifying the women. The true problem lies in
situations where the words are used to replace the word “woman,” objectifying
her.
This past summer’s popular but notorious hit “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke is a prime example of sexism in the music industry. There are lyrics in the song that have contradicting messages. One includes the phrases “let me liberate ya’” and “that man is not your maker,” which seem to be empowering to women at first glance, truly complimenting their independence. However, these lyrics directly follow a lyric that goes “You’re the hottest bitch in this place.” Complimenting a woman after degrading her is not empowering, it is preying on her insecurities. Should she feel complimented? Yes, she is “hot,” but her womanhood has been reduced to the word “bitch,” and her sex appeal is limited to how she compares to the other women in her environment. Most young girls who have body image issues have them because they compare themselves to unrealistic media portrayal of women.
Aside from how their body looks in comparison, they may also compare how they act in comparison. In the video of “Blurred Lines,” women are represented through their bodies. In the censored version, bikini-clad young women prance around with various props while the music is performed by the artists. The only difference between this version and the uncut version is that the women are wearing nothing but thongs in order to keep the video slightly less than pornographic and can be seen here: http://www.vevo.com/watch/robin-thicke/blurred-lines-unrated-version/USUV71300526 (WARNING: NSFW). The video has no real plot or concept, so the message received is basically: naked woman, naked woman holding goat, naked woman with foam finger, naked woman playing banjo, etc. If a young girl happens upon this, will she think that she should behave in a similar way, and is that healthy? Perhaps the worst part about the song is the frequent interjection of the line “I know you want it,” which has clear ties to rape culture, entertaining the thought that someone can infer sexual consent. From this song and video, the music industry does not appear to be a safe environment for women, let alone one that is free of discrimination and objectification.
This past summer’s popular but notorious hit “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke is a prime example of sexism in the music industry. There are lyrics in the song that have contradicting messages. One includes the phrases “let me liberate ya’” and “that man is not your maker,” which seem to be empowering to women at first glance, truly complimenting their independence. However, these lyrics directly follow a lyric that goes “You’re the hottest bitch in this place.” Complimenting a woman after degrading her is not empowering, it is preying on her insecurities. Should she feel complimented? Yes, she is “hot,” but her womanhood has been reduced to the word “bitch,” and her sex appeal is limited to how she compares to the other women in her environment. Most young girls who have body image issues have them because they compare themselves to unrealistic media portrayal of women.
Aside from how their body looks in comparison, they may also compare how they act in comparison. In the video of “Blurred Lines,” women are represented through their bodies. In the censored version, bikini-clad young women prance around with various props while the music is performed by the artists. The only difference between this version and the uncut version is that the women are wearing nothing but thongs in order to keep the video slightly less than pornographic and can be seen here: http://www.vevo.com/watch/robin-thicke/blurred-lines-unrated-version/USUV71300526 (WARNING: NSFW). The video has no real plot or concept, so the message received is basically: naked woman, naked woman holding goat, naked woman with foam finger, naked woman playing banjo, etc. If a young girl happens upon this, will she think that she should behave in a similar way, and is that healthy? Perhaps the worst part about the song is the frequent interjection of the line “I know you want it,” which has clear ties to rape culture, entertaining the thought that someone can infer sexual consent. From this song and video, the music industry does not appear to be a safe environment for women, let alone one that is free of discrimination and objectification.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/arts/music/25hiph.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
http://www.riaa.com/toolsforparents.php?content_selector=parental_advisory
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/02/rihanna.man.down.controversy/
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/robin_thicke
https://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/reporting-rates
http://www.blackelectorate.com/articles.asp?ID=1068
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhy-RXkNo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VryXkOBCM5I
http://www.riaa.com/toolsforparents.php?content_selector=parental_advisory
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/02/rihanna.man.down.controversy/
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/robin_thicke
https://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/reporting-rates
http://www.blackelectorate.com/articles.asp?ID=1068
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhy-RXkNo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VryXkOBCM5I