The topic of censorship has a strong grip on my attention, and it should on yours too. Imagine a world with no music. Or imagine a world where you are told what to play, sing, and listen to in the privacy of your own home. No need to imagine. This is the world we live in. Some of us are unaware that we are part of the on-going cycle ran by the government. Through music censorship we are forced to listen to and hear music that is chosen for us. Do we really have freedom of choice? The answer is no. As talked about previously in class, we only have the freedom to chose between options that are provided to us. Music censorship lays a huge threat to musicians and composer, and this threat is growing. South African musician Johnny Clegg has said: “Censorship is based on fear.” Music is a free expression of ideas. Therefore, musicians express their hopes, aspirations, joys, and sorrows through music. These expressions may conflict with those of people who are in power. The ideas may be disrupting the idealistic cycle, sparking thoughts in listeners' minds. The answer to diminish this threat is censorship.
What idealistic cycle? and what types of thoughts?
ReplyDeleteBut you're right, radio stations filter what songs they want their audiences to hear. That's why so many listeners are now going through other channels (internet radio, underground shows) to find the type of music they want to listen to and the types of messages that music might support.