| Censorship of Music in America Thesis Statement: Censorship of music in America exists in a big way and is blatantly destroying the rights of the American people to enjoy the art that is music. I. Introduction A. Censorship destroys Americans rights I. First Amendment a. �Congress shall make no law respecting...� (I.) Religion (II.) Press (III.) Free Speech (IV.) Petition II. People try to block Americans rights a. This is unconstitutional II. Censorship and the Americans rights. A. �Censor� I. What is objectionable? a. Who decides this? B. Fourteenth Amendment I. extends the First Amendment to: a. State government b. Local government U.S. Supreme Court ruling a. The Amendment applies to all forms of speech. III. Music and Violence A. Pro-censorship view I.Music violence causes violence B. Anti-censorship view I. No scientific fact proves music causes violence. C. Ozzy Osborne I. Parents sued him after son comitted suicide a. Blamed the song �Suicide Solutions� II. Courts rejected this thery a. insufficient evidence b. Music lyrics can�t be held resposible IV. Corporate Censorship A. Wal-Mart I. Forces record companies to censor music II. Making a profit at the loss of the consumers rights III. Altering the marketplace a. Changing how music is: (I.) Produced (II.) Presented to the public. V. The PMRC and the RIAA A. PMRC - Parents Music Resource Center I. Joined with the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) a. Created the �Parental Advisory - Explicit Content� sticker (I.) Voluntary labeling system (II.) To be placed on albums containing: (a.) Explicit content (b.) Violent themes (III.) Legislation doesn�t explain what is to be labeled. B. Local governments I. Expanded the PMRC�s labeling system. a. Banned anyone under eighteen from buy labeled albums (I.) Deemed unconstitutional by courts. VI. Hypocrisy in Censorship A. Rock and rap is singled out B. �Boy bands� and pop singers I. Omitted from censorship a. �Clean cut� image II. Lyrics revolve around sex C. Prodigy vs. Britney I. �Smack My Bitch Up� a. Pulled from shelves. II. �Hit Me One More Time� a. Considered completely unsugestive. VII. Closing A. First Amendment exists to... I. Protect Americans rights II. Protect the unpopular III. Americas rights need to be kept intact a. People have the right to choose what not to listen to. next |