Preview

First Amendment and Music Censorship Essay Example

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1324 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
First Amendment and Music Censorship Essay Example
The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights exists because the Founders of our country understood the importance of free expression. The First Amendment states "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press . . ." (Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution 17). One of the ways the American people use this freedom of speech and expression is through the creation of the art form known as music. Music's verbal expression bonds our society through our emotions and experiences. This fundamental right of freedom of expression is being threatened by public and governmental groups who believe they have authority to monitor and decide what others should experience. The censorship of music lyrics is a violation of our First Amendment right, and public groups should not be allowed to bypass this right to censor obscene lyrics produced in the music industry.

Through the decades, artists such as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones have raised controversy over their seemingly explicit acts that are now viewed as legendary. Parents banned their children from watching Elvis Presley and his outrageous hip movements though today these moves are copied by Britney Spears, pop groups, and dancers all over the world. In 1956, Ed Sullivan deemed Elvis "unfit for a family audience." However, in 1970 Elvis met the President in the Oval Office, and now his face appears on a postage stamp (RIAA; History 2 of 4). On June 15, 1966, The Beatles released their album Yesterday...and Today featuring a shocking cover with the foursome surrounded by raw meat and butchered baby dolls. Immediately the album was withdrawn from music shelves everywhere and returned only with a new approved cover, now the original copy is worth thousands of dollars. Today Beatlemania is considered an era of their own, which began in Great Britain and spread throughout the world. In 1964, The Rolling Stones catapulted to fame amid outrage and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The first amendment is about freedom of speech for all; the press included. This amendment is against prohibiting people from their free exercise of their religion. The first amendment can and have been violated; therefore lawsuits occur but is the amendment enough to win a case?…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This article was written by Heather Newton to address the issue(s) of music censorship. Newton shares a neutral point of view, meaning her standpoint does not favor pro-censorship or anti-censorship. She mentions her concern within freedom of expression and how it related to music censorship. “Since music censorship raises issues related to fundamental liberties and government intrusion, any efforts to quell musical expression are viewed by critics as being suspect and incompatible with civil liberties in the US.”…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Music Argumentative Essay

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “I'm too good to you, I’m way too good to you.” This is an excerpt from Drake’s latest rap album, with lyrics comparable to the way that music is beneficial in almost every way to the brain. Music has been and always will be one of the biggest pieces of human culture. People listen to music all the time, from jamming in the car to focusing on homework to creating hype for the next basketball game. It’s become an integral part of human lifestyle, to the point of affecting the way people think and act. Music is, in fact, highly beneficial to the brain and improves functionality in several ways.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Censorship is a controversial topic that has split people’s opinions, beliefs and arguments into halves. Since the 15th century, many forms of printing press have been subject to censorship and the same applies to movies, broadcasting, televisions and the internet in the 20th century. Censorship is mostly used to impose moral values on the society, as to censor material that are considered aggressive. Censorship is considered by some people as a form of prohibition and punishment, while others consider censorship as a tool to prevent corruption due to harmful, sensitive and inconvenient words or actions. This tool doesn’t only mean that one party blocking certain materials from the other, it may also result in editing some parts of the content.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    There are now limitations of free speech that were not put in place before because they have evolved as a problem of our society in this day and age. These limitations that "Fall outside of its protection are obscenity, child pornography, defamation, incitement to violence and true threats of violence," (Richards) "Even in those categories, there are tests that have to be met in order for the speech to be illegal. Beyond that, we are free to speak" (Richards). The Supreme Court of the United States of America fully supports and condones the First Amendment in all aspects and cases that don’t fall under any of these categories. This law is held to the highest importance because our country is run off of the human rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and without freedom to have a voice this would not exist. The limitations are set in place, but when the Founding Fathers passed this Amendment they wanted absolute freedom of speech, as they felt there should be no limits on what can be said and not said. Everyone has a voice or at least that’s how it started off. Present day issues, such as the items listed above, shouldn’t create a limitation on what can and cannot be said. That’s why we live in a free country unlike any in the world.…

    • 1792 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On 1st Amendment

    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages

    I am writing about the 1st amendment in this project.I am in the view of a lawmaker so I have to chose the best one for my prospective as of a law maker.And I thought the 1st amendment was the best. Also my team chose to Canada as our country where we are making are laws, but we only got to chose 5 amendments.We pick the 1st of course, the 3rd ,the 4th ,the 5th ,and the 8th.We have one teacher two lawmakers and 2 citizens in our group.To learn more keep on reading.…

    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Censorship is is the suppression or prohibition of any parts of book, films or news that are considered obscene, politically unexceptionably, or a threat to security. Censorship is needed for many different reasons and we all have our own views on what should be censored and what doesn’t need to be censored. Growing up I felt like suicide was not as publicly made out as it is today. When we publicize suicide it breaches the family privacy, and it gives young children the idea. We need to control what the release to the public.…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Should people be allowed to say and or write anything they want without recourse? Instead of answering the question the U.S. Supreme Court attempts to maintain a balance between the many viewpoints a free society is subject to. The power of judicial review allows the court to interpret the meaning of the Constitution; therefore 1st Amendment rights are subject to the courts interpretation. Obviously song lyrics have the potential to stir tremendous emotion among listeners, what some view as artistic freedom others view as evil.…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    private. It also includes the freedom to change or religion or not follow one at all. This is…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The First Amendment was written into our Constitution because our founding fathers were familiar with government suppression of political speech. Before the American Revolution, England imprisoned, exiled, and killed men and woman who spoke out against the “Crown”. This continued in the very earliest years of colonization of the United States until The Free Speech Clause of the Constitution was drafted to save those who disagreed with these policies, of a similar fate. Our U.S. Constitution gives us more freedom to voice our opinions than most, if not any other country. There are however some areas which is not equal under the amendment, they are as follows: Speech that incites illegal activity, subversive, fighting words, obscenity, pornography, commercial speech and symbolic expression.…

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first amendment states that 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. These rights are human given rights which all citizens of the United States are guaranteed, but in the past and still today these rights are being violated. Currently, the first amendment is at risk in our society because the government and people with power are trying to restrict the citizen’s rights of freedom of speech, religion, and the right to protest.…

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Understanding how or why the Government has compromised our rights as citizens is vital information when living in the United States. Let’s take the First amendment for example; Freedom of Religion. The First amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ...” But how far can our freedom go? Either if you are part of a religion or not. The Government can’t get involved with any religion party involving politics. What about the Muslim company case? What would the government rule in the case? Would they rule freedom of religion; or would they rule it as not freedom of religion?…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Before the 1950s, the racial segregation in society was very evident. However, the youth in America began opening up to change. One of the major influences in the changing America at that time was music. Jazz was the start of it all. Jazz triggered many different types of music, such as rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Jazz started the revolution of music in America, which prompted the racial integration of society.…

    • 1384 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    But that music is considered art in the musicians’ eyes. Also the artists are exercising their freedom of speech by singing these lyrics. Also, why do they not just let the music industry regulate this songs and albums, since they know the artists better than the PMRC…

    • 1307 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is said that it is necessary to infringe upon civil liberties during wartime. For example, Abraham Lincoln suspended the right of habeas corpus during the Civil War. Similar to that situation, there was a multitude of violations on civil liberties during the first world war. This is due to the fact that before being able to officially enter the first World War, it was necessary for the United States government to rally a lukewarm citizenry into a pro-war spirit. Once achieved, it was mandatory to maintain enthusiasm for the war until peace was reached. The United States government decided that in order to do so, it was necessary to violate the civil liberties of those who were perceived as public enemies: German-Americans, war opponents,…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays