Censorship

“Should music video’s be censored”?

OFCOM is a government-improved regularity for broadcast and telecommunication. OFCOM lays down rules that companies need to comply with.  One of the new guidance issued includes any sort of visual or verbal explicit content should be played after the watershed which means after 9pm. 11% of parents had a great concern due to the type of material that was shown in music videos before 9pm. 

Rhiana music video “S & M” was broadcast before the watershed and it contained explicit visual imagery, which had lots of complaints by the viewers. OFCOM claimed that the video had “'significant sexual fetish, bondage and sadomasochistic nature''. In the video rhiana is seen “walks a man on a leash and whips him, adopts sexualised positions with blow-up dolls, and dresses up in rubber and latex fetish outfits in the video”. This can be inappropriate for children as it was played before the watershed. The video also had inappropriate lyrics such as “''sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me''. These can be inappropriate as WTF Tv broadcast this video at 11:30 am. OFCOM stated that it was a clear breech of OFCOM rules and stated that another guidance would be issued. 

There are specific artists in the music industry that have given performances that are clear breech of the OFCOM rules. In 2010 in the final of X factor UK in December certain performances by singer Christina Aguilera and Rhiana attracted 4,500 complaints from the viewers. As X factor is a family show the complaints claimed that the performances were inappropriate and “raunchy” as the singers wore tight revealing clothes and performed inappropriately. This sort of performances can be very inappropriate and OFCOM made sure that the protection of children is one of their main focuses. 

Another controversial singer/rapper 50 cent has also produced inappropriate videos with explicit content that has been slammed by the public. One of 50 cents music video that was played at 9am before the watershed included 50 cent dancing with two females who were topless in a sexualized manner. In the music video of his song P.I.M.P two females were shown walked like dogs with leashes. I was stated by OFCOM that the video was a clear breech of rules of the broadcasting code and therefore mushroom Tv who played the video was put “on notice”. This can be seen as very inappropriate as this image can be seen as very sexual as the females are walked like dogs with leashes. 

Eminem Debate 

In class we had a debate on Eminem as Eminem’s songs have inappropriate lyrics and he uses explicit language. In class we all had to adopt a role and speak against or for Eminem.

Eminem is one of the most popular rapper, who has received thirteen Grammy awards and an academy award for best original song. Eminem has had a hard life, he has expresses his feelings and wants the people to learn from his experiences and on how to overcome the difficulties and the obstacles in life. Eminem has a big fan following over 3o million followers on facebook. The fans believe that they can relate to Eminem and get educated and not to make mistakes Eminem made, the fans are very dedicated. 

Shady Records record that Eminem is signed to believe that Eminem’s songs are appreciated by so many people as in 2000 Eminem’s album Marshal Mather’s L.P sold over 10 million copies only in the first week. On top of that he has received range of awards because of his work. 

However some parents believe that Eminem’s songs are too explicit and it drives their kids to do things that are not morally right. This is due to his controversial lifestyle he writes about things he has experience and how sometimes he had dealt with it. Some of the things he has done maybe not morally right but at that time he felt it was right.

However some parents believe that Eminem’s songs are too explicit and it drives their kids to do things that are not morally right. They blame the music industry for the actions of their kids. However some parents believe that it’s not the media but it’s their own duty to teach their kids right from wrong. It is also up to the parents if they want their kid’s  to listen to that sort of music. Moreover, Eminem's songs also have positivity as they teach people on how to overcome difficulties.

MTV which is a very big music channel believes that Censorship is something positive and it supports as it’s a big company and plays to a big audience. MTV doesn’t want to offend any of their viewers.

However, a music channel like AKA doesn’t believe in censoring any music videos, as it believes that the Artist should be presented truly. AKA  is controlled by the Audience as its their choice what they want to hear and that is why AKA  doesn’t censor anything.

I agree with Eminem and how he says that he wants people to learn something positive from his music and not something negative. If Eminem needs to use explicit content then so be it. There are many artists that use sex, drugs and violence and promotes it which drives people to do things such as that. However, Eminem's
raps about using these stuff and the consequences of that and how he over came that.

 Summary
The song we have choose has lyrics that are very clean and doesnt have any sort of explicit content. The song is about 'heartbreak'.The music video will have scenes of the couple showing love however, I will make sure that I consider the target audience of the music video. I will also make sure that the content I show complies with the censorship rules.