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censorship of music
I've copied this from the Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies board. A worthy cause, methinks...
Copied from the Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies forum. A worthy cause, methinks....
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The following letter will be sent to the newspapers tonight, regarding Alex Salmond and Mezies Campbell's comments about introducing a classification system for music. If you agree with the sentiments of it, please post your name (your actual name, you bloody geek) and it will be appended to the letter when it is sent.
It'd be cool if we could get a good response to this. No one's speaking up for 'alternative' music in this debate so we figured someone had to take the lead. Cheers.
"Dear Sir,
We write in response to the disappointing comments made by the Honourable Alex Salmond and Menzies Campbell. Both gave voice to the possibility of extending the current systems of classification, as applied to films and video games, to music. We feel that this is a reactionary response to media, and, surprisingly, court, sensationalism regarding the influence that certain styles of music allegedly have, as stated in the tragic Jodi Jones murder trial.
To restrict the availability of music would be a gross breach of freedom of expression; controlling access to certain albums on the grounds that it may possibly unduly influence individuals is to make a mockery of our human rights, and authoritarian in the extreme. While we appreciate the system in place for films and games, we do not consider that there is a parallel with music; rather, we see music as being akin to poetry and literature, as we assume it is the lyrics which are causing displeasure. We are quite certain, however, that the honourable gentlemen would not wish to see MacBeth or the works of Edgar Allan Poe made inaccessible to young people.
Let us also not forget the debates of the past on this subject: Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and the Beatles have all been previously considered to have a negative impact on young minds, but today are revered, rather than condemned. We do not presume to infer that all music, particularly 'shock-rock', is of great artistic merit, but rather urge the honourable gentlemen not to condemn today’s alternative rock based on a similar well-intentioned but ultimately misguided morality, which is at best reactionary and at worst the thin end of a rather dangerous wedge.
Finally, we wish to draw attention to the negative manner in which those who listen to 'alternative' music have been portrayed in the recent press, particularly during the coverage of the recent, very sad, Jodi Jones trial. It is arguable that had the accused been known to listen to any other genre of music, this extremely difficult case would not have received the same manner of press interest. The parallel for this is the equally tragic Terry Lee Hurst case. With no perceptible differences such as musical and lifestyle to mark the perpetrators out, the level of column inches devoted to this case is conspicuously lower than the case at hand. We express grave concern about the glee with which the media leaps upon any hint of felony committed by a member of any alternative community.
It is easy to scapegoat that which is ‘different’, but do not let this impinge on our basic freedoms.
Yours faithfully,
Etc"
Copied from the Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies forum. A worthy cause, methinks....
----------------------------------------
The following letter will be sent to the newspapers tonight, regarding Alex Salmond and Mezies Campbell's comments about introducing a classification system for music. If you agree with the sentiments of it, please post your name (your actual name, you bloody geek) and it will be appended to the letter when it is sent.
It'd be cool if we could get a good response to this. No one's speaking up for 'alternative' music in this debate so we figured someone had to take the lead. Cheers.
"Dear Sir,
We write in response to the disappointing comments made by the Honourable Alex Salmond and Menzies Campbell. Both gave voice to the possibility of extending the current systems of classification, as applied to films and video games, to music. We feel that this is a reactionary response to media, and, surprisingly, court, sensationalism regarding the influence that certain styles of music allegedly have, as stated in the tragic Jodi Jones murder trial.
To restrict the availability of music would be a gross breach of freedom of expression; controlling access to certain albums on the grounds that it may possibly unduly influence individuals is to make a mockery of our human rights, and authoritarian in the extreme. While we appreciate the system in place for films and games, we do not consider that there is a parallel with music; rather, we see music as being akin to poetry and literature, as we assume it is the lyrics which are causing displeasure. We are quite certain, however, that the honourable gentlemen would not wish to see MacBeth or the works of Edgar Allan Poe made inaccessible to young people.
Let us also not forget the debates of the past on this subject: Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and the Beatles have all been previously considered to have a negative impact on young minds, but today are revered, rather than condemned. We do not presume to infer that all music, particularly 'shock-rock', is of great artistic merit, but rather urge the honourable gentlemen not to condemn today’s alternative rock based on a similar well-intentioned but ultimately misguided morality, which is at best reactionary and at worst the thin end of a rather dangerous wedge.
Finally, we wish to draw attention to the negative manner in which those who listen to 'alternative' music have been portrayed in the recent press, particularly during the coverage of the recent, very sad, Jodi Jones trial. It is arguable that had the accused been known to listen to any other genre of music, this extremely difficult case would not have received the same manner of press interest. The parallel for this is the equally tragic Terry Lee Hurst case. With no perceptible differences such as musical and lifestyle to mark the perpetrators out, the level of column inches devoted to this case is conspicuously lower than the case at hand. We express grave concern about the glee with which the media leaps upon any hint of felony committed by a member of any alternative community.
It is easy to scapegoat that which is ‘different’, but do not let this impinge on our basic freedoms.
Yours faithfully,
Etc"