Music Censorship

2 Pages 611 Words

Music Censorship in Today’s Society
Music is the most influential of all art forms. It can be expressed in thousands of ways depending on the artist. When music is censored, the freedom from the beautiful release of self-expression is confiscated. Thoughts and feelings are the most sacred possessions human beings have. The Constitution of the United States of America allows for all to asseverate these feelings and make them known to all who are willing to listen. The only barrier an artist should tolerate is one of his own creations. According to author Martha Graham, “Music, like art, mirrors the society that creates it, listens to it, and makes it a part of life…censorship follows the same principle”. When music is censored, America has become unjustified.
American children of today’s society know firsthand what it is like to feel powerless in a world where their voices often go unheard. Particular artists/musical groups use kids as their target audience. Whether it is through sexuality, lyrics in which teens feel they can relate, or other desirable aspects such as money or expensive cars and homes, adolescents are strongly attracted to them and the lifestyles that they portray. The question asked by many is “do kids become obsessed with these stars to a point where it may cause them to temporarily lose control of themselves?”
The United States Government will need to broaden its thinking before this type of censorship is effective or logical. Unfortunately, our government picks and chooses its battles based on the strengths of lobbyist and the cost of threatened re-election. The point is not if this thinking is right or wrong, the point is how authority is allowed to dictate what is appropriate.
Everyone is entitled to have and hold his or her own opinions. It is also their right to voice them to whomever, whenever. People are unwilling to support the concept as bi-directional. The common myth of society is th...