Licensed to KillJul 14 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line This question has been continually asked since the 1920's... So you don't want your kids to hear offensive music? They're going to hear it somewhere! First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Do Artists Have A Social Responsibility To Uphold? I am personally torn by this highly debated issue and therefore I do not hold strongly to either side of the argument. However, I will agree that artists do need to understand the repercussions of their lyrics but that freedom of speech is one of the most fundamental attributes that separates the United States from other nations. The social responsibility of artists The only social responsibility that an artist should really have is that of not allowing themselves to restrict their own free thought thinking about the social implications, repercussions, or backlashes that may occur. But that would be the case in an idealistic America. So let's get real. Artists whether or not they want to admit it, they are role models for today's youth. Our children are so readily tractable to what they hear and see that and I don't think musical artists are particularly ignorant to this. I feel that many artists, particular in the rap industry are so concerned with expressing their lives, and their struggles in their music that they forget who is really being affected by it. These artists are being selfish at least, and just plain ignorant at worst. I do concede that homosexuals, and women are continually offended by music. However, the damage that is done to our children will be forever personified in their character while adults will soon forget about being offended by a song. So what about music that is using free speech to bring light to political or social issues in America? I feel that it is the artists responsibility to inform people of injustices because music reaches so many people. Unfortunately, many acts of aggression, oppression, or subjugation are not nice, so why should the music that depicts these acts be nice or censored? Let's look at the most contraversial expression of free speech in music ever... Ice-T's Cop Killer. This song from his album BODY COUNT, was highly criticized for a track entitled Cop Killer, where Ice-T is depicting acts of violence on the Los Angeles Police department. This retaliation to all the brutality was so highly debated that Ice-T had to remove his track from the album. This song was Ice-T's way sending a message to urban neighborhoods and America as a whole that citizens are no longer going to accept the vicious brutality that was starting to characterize police work. The obvious Rodney King beating was not nice or rectified or censored, so why should Ice-T be reprimanded for his music that reflects the same violence. At least he isn't actually doing it! Well some would say that the promotion of killing police is just wrong... Well I agree but at the same time, people used to promote the Jim Crow south for years before the problem was LEGALLY solved but the materialization of true equality has yet to be realized as well. Do you think if the song had been made by Duran Duran or Madonna that it would have been less contraversial. Of course not because no one was afraid or suburban kids getting guns and killing people until recently. Now what about artists that are just being vulgar? There are many artists that are exercising their free speech but without any purpose. An example of this is Luther Campbell and his group 2 Live Crew. Now I am a fan of 2 Live Crew but at the same time, his lyrics do absolutely nothing but portray women as sexual objects. Period! I feel that he was negatively affecting youth but it's not his responsibility of whether or not your child listens to his music... It's a parents! Parents have a social responsibility to their children to uphold! When artists are questioned about their social responsibility, they are usually the artists that break the norm, the status quo that is demonstrated in suburban America. It scares people to think that their children would listen to anything that contains violence, drugs, or sex. But let's take a look at this. You're children are going to see the same things on television, in books, the internet or anywhere they have social interaction. I have grown up around all of these things but it hasn't affected my lifestyle, goals, and dreams because no matter what your child may or view, they will spend most of their time around you! You are the most influential person in their lives and you can guide them to be a responsible adult even if they do come in contact with these media. Let's stop trying to blame music for what are really family flaws! It is a parent's responsibility, not to raise their child in a bubble away from knowledge of these things, but to talk to your child and have them understand how the world really is. Don't have your child grow up in an idealistic dream world because you are only setting them up for a very harsh awakening... to the Truth. The Point is... Overall I think the only social responsibility that artists should have is to themselves...to maintain free speech in its most pure form. Remember that when American's spoke of independence from England, it was considered treason. So let's raise children correctly and stop blaming music for parenting mistakes.  |
| Read all comments (14)|Write your own comment |
|
Ads by Google
|
