User:Janemwestcott/Music censorship

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The ideas that make up censorship differ greatly from country to country. However, even if no pattern can be observed, it is normally set about through power. Censorship as a whole terminates unwanted messages in hopes of keeping the targeted listener's vision and actions in check. It is known for being dependent on three different conditions. The first being that the censored body or subject is not authorized. The second being that censorship takes place to avert the object of what is restricted. Finally, it is put in place to deny existence of the censored issues.

The motivation behind music censorship is associated to the circulation of popular music through numerous mediums. Reasons for why music may be censored include that music is deemed contentious, aggressive or disrespectful. Music censorship therefore aims to minimize the exposure to controversial topics such as sex, drugs and the challenging of social norms. Constituting to restrictions to one's freedom of speech with the goal of shielding society from detrimental expression.

Music censorship was impacted by the religious influences on governments before the modern nation-state. The Catholic Church’s Index Librorum Prohibitum is an early sign of censorship, later translating into the music censorship of the 21st century.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Frame Drum - Daireh or Daf

Instruments were demolished, celebrations were banned and all that was played on the radio were chants glorifying the Taliban. The one and only instrument that was excused from this ban, was the frame drum, also known as the Daireh or Daf.

China

In addition to criticism of the government, there is also censorship for drug use, over sexualizing and misogynistic content. Chinese artists, such as PG One, have faced scrutiny from various institutions for having lyrics that contain misogyny and drug-related activities, seen as promoting what the Chinese government sees as inappropriate behaviour.

The Chinese Musicians Association, developed in July 1949, was established to recruit and train socialist musicians to strengthen the socialist ideology in the new generation.

South Africa

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) developed a record libraries, where all record companies were forced to submit their records to have their lyrics reviewed. Records that had banned lyrics, including those that influenced public opinion, were destroyed. in 1980, the SABC banned Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," as it contained the lyrics "we don't want your education," which were seen as influencing public opinion. The SABC also banned "Cry Freedom" written by George Fenton and Jonas Gwanwa due to it's association with Nelson Mandela, and Roger Lucey's "Lungile Tabalaza" and "You Only Need Say Nothing."

In 1985, a group known as Artists United Against Apartheid comprised of various artists in the west formed together to protest the apartheid in South Africa. The group produced the album Sun City, expressing their support for the boycotting of Sun City luxury resort where artists performed frequently. In the song "(I Ain't Gonna' Play) Sun City" (1985), featuring artists such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, the lyrics encouraged other artists not to perform at Sun City during the apartheid, calling for justice. The artists involved in the Sun City album partook in self-censorship, boycotting Sun City throughout the apartheid.

Music group "Freshlyground"

In Zimbabwe, 75% of the content that took place on television and radio airways were legislated due to the government. The governments ownership of music impacted the control of broadcast and more. In 2010, a South African music group by the name of Freshlyground generated a video mocking President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. After the release of the music video titled Chicken for Change, the music group was banned from Zimbabwe for the following eight years. The experience that the band underwent, connects to the concept of cross-border censorship. This concept in turn is what prevented Freshlyground from performing in Zimbabwe for nearly a century. In 2018, due to a change in presidency, the band was no longer prohibited from Zimbabwe and they finally returned to the country to perform.

Myanmar

In 1962, General Ne Win banned all Western music and dancing to preserve the culture of what was once known as Burma. The emergence of rock music posed challenges for the Western music ban, as the new genre promoted the rejection of discipline and encouraged cultural freedom.