Script+-+Max+&+Lexie

[|https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VMXgUAYgOpg2k0SFMHXszBG0_olByIDhnTI2nTyt794/edit#slide=id.g2ea1824_0_29]


 * Behind new music styles lies controversy; it sparks a change in society. Examples of society forming to new music include rock and roll, hip-hop, jazz, blues, and so on. New life styles were presented and cultures developed. Younger parts of society supported the movement, while older generations were against the cultural changes. They thought it was a negative influence on culture and society as a whole.
 * The problem now is not music style changes, but interpretations and opinions of the music. Recent problems involve racy music videos, explicit language, and controversial topics.
 * People will always feel a need to evolve. No one should try to restrict social advances, especially through music and pop culture. The voices of our society are being persecuted for speaking their mind and acting on the change they feel is necessary.
 * Rock and Roll, a groundbreaking new genre in the 50s; it paved the way for many styles of music while incorporating past genres in its sound, such as blues. Rock was not accepted by parents because it “challenged mainstream American social and cultural traditions. The new music was loud, rebellious, sexy, and widely embraced by white youth, even though it was initially created by and for African American listeners” (Hajduk). Parents did all they could to stop the growth of rock and roll by censoring TV performances and radio music, not allowing their kids to go see their favorite artists in concert, and not letting them listen to rock and roll albums. These solutions failed to contain the scope of extent that rock music caused in society because kids went wild for the new genre; it caused society to take a turn for a rock and roll inspired era.

Transition: After this revolution came
 * ,“Hip-hop; a street art which emerged in the Bronx in the early 1970s". It began as an urban music style preformed on street corners, meant to be "a movement of free expression of ideas and beliefs through music. At first, this genre was widely ignored by radio stations. However, “Increasing mainstream attention was garnered by high record sales in the later 1990s, as the gangsta rap subgenre faded from its one-time prominence and a large variety of hip hop acts achieved success” (Hip-Hop in the 200s). As the hip-hop genre began to become more of an influence on society, societies also began to change. People began to embrace the glorification of inner-city heroes and the lifestyle that it presented.
 * More recently, some people have argued that music can lead people to do dangerous activities, or makes people less cultured. The common themes of popular music, such as the glorification of violence, drugs, and freelance prostitution is seen as a negative influence to younger generations. Usually when a new style of music comes out there is an older generation going against it; they like to stick to what is familiar and what they grew up with.
 * Generally, popular music today consists of explicit language, and usually shows little boundaries between what is and is not appropriate.
 * Artists should be able to express what they desire, limiting what should and should not be said is a form on censorship. Controversial topics should be allowed to be addressed without intervention from other parties, and social reform should be seen as a normal process of growing generations.
 * One type of solution to satisfy both parties ia to create an additional system of music ratings based on the content of each album or song. For example, If we had ratings as simple as how we have movie or video game ratings, we could prevent extremely inappropriate material being accessible to children. Although the Parental Advisory System has been in affect since 1985, it may seem reliable, but "only 44% [of parents] felt that it did a good job of providing them with adequate information about violent content in music". By creating an alternative system, we can set guidelines and standards for each rating, which would in fact give sufficient information about the content of the material. An ideal rating system would be based on a numerical system from 1 to 5, 1 being the most appropriate for everyone, and 5 being the most explicit.
 * This way, newer generations are exposed to greater perspectives on controversies and the world, as well as general exposure to real-world problems. this allows for different cultures to form, while giving a sense of community and understanding.

A recent music controversy was Britney Spears song "If U Seek Amy". \

Parents have always been protective of what their kids can see and hear. It has been taken a step further with the Parents Television Council (PTC). The PTC works with government officials and the media to make sure kids are not being corrupted by sexual images or violence on TV and the radio. When the song “If U Seek Amy” by Britney Spears came out parents put many complaints in to their local radio stations, “the PTC believes… the song… would violate the broadcast indecency law if aired between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.” (PARENT COUNCIL ARTICLE). The PTC wants for any and all songs like “If U Seek Amy” to be played after “prime time”, when kids are most likely to be listening. They get government officials involved in their protests’ with the media to ensure that they are able to get what they want, which is to keep sex and violence out of the public eye.

If we keep limiting what the radio is allowed to play then that means the same songs are going to be on replay throughout the whole day. Listeners do not want to hear the same song every time they get into the car; if a radio station has the same playlist of songs for month's people are going to stop listening, and that can threaten everyone at that stations job. Listeners want the newest pop hits and if parents are limiting what everyone can hear just because their kids may hear these songs then there will be a problem. It is a radio stations choice if it wants to play songs like this, not the parents of America. If a parent is in the car with their 10 year old daughter then they can easily switch the station, it is unnecessary to have the station cease to play “If U Seek Amy” or any other song like it. Having a warning come on before an inappropriate song allows the parent to know that it is time to change the station, instead of calling in to complain about the content of the song after it has already been played. Not allowing a station to play songs like this is a form of censorship and contradicts freedom of speech.

Lady Gaga’s music video for “Judas” has offended many Catholics. The music video is the story of Mary Magdalene, Judas, and Jesus. She used biblical stories, symbols, and references. Catholics think that Gaga did this stunt to attract attention. "Bill Donahue, spokesperson for the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights [said]... 'This isn't random, we are getting closer to Holy Week and Easter'" (LeClaire). Donahue says that she continuously aims "to shock Catholics and Christians in general" (LeClaire).

But Lady Gaga has a different opinion on the whole "Judas" music video controversy. She says "I don't really view the video as a religious statement. I view it as a social statement. I view it as a cultural statement" (Sun). Lady Gaga wants to set the record straight in saying that "the video really is just a metaphor" and not a "biblical lesson" (Sun). If people cannot accept the fact that artists have freedom of expression then they just should not watch her music video or listen to the song, no one is forcing them to watch the “Judas” music video. Music videos like these are played all the time on MTV because they are the current most popular song, if parents do not want to have their children watch videos like these, or watch them themselves, they can simply block the channel with the parental block. Everyone wins because Gaga gets to keep her freedom of speech and expression, while people that do not want to watch her controversial music videos do not have to.


 * rating system for cd's, but the song are still played on the radio. clean versions of songs should continue to be played instead of explicit versions on the radio and in the media.
 * Some may instantly turn down this rating system and claim that it a unjust system that goes against our freedom of speech or is a form of censorship.


 * The purpose of the system it to give greater understand of different content in music to not just parents, but everyone. Parents can still allow their children to listen to highly explicit material if they choose to, but giving more appropriate ratings to music is a simply a way of giving more of an effective warning to listeners. Just how we use in movie and video game ratings, this rating system would become just as normal.


 * Limiting creativity and the message of a song creates many problems, censorship for one, but in a bigger picture it does not allow music to evolve.
 * The bottom line is that we need to be more aware of what types of things are being put out in the open for everyone to see, and parents need to be more aware of what their children are listening to.
 * instead of censoring music we should put a rating system into action. This would allow music to evolve without upsetting those who don't want to listen to explicit music.