[wpaudio url=”http://LetsTalkSocial.com/wp-content/uploads/Audio/Week15.mp3″ text=”Week 15″ dl=”0″ autoplay=”1″]
So I think we have all become accustom or desensitized to seeing controversial music controversial music videos. Artists like Madonna, The Prodigy and, more recently, Lady Gaga [explicit links] have released videos that have offended many viewers,
All of these are a far cry from Michael Jackson’s Thriller video released on December 2, 1983 which got banned by the BBC, for being linked to the a-cult.
Are we using Social Media more and more for a vehicle for free speech, or is it about time more regulations and internet advisory polices come into affect?
But British band M.I.A seems to have gone a step farther than most both with its political message and its extremely violent imagery. The video is still available at M.I.A.’s website (miauk.com) and at Vimeo. Embedded is the Vimeo version below, but be warned that it includes very disturbing images, including full-frontal nudity, exploding bodies and — perhaps most shocking of all — a child executed by a bullet to the head. Needless to say, it’s not for everyone.
M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.
[via @mashable.com ]
So there are two trains of thought here:
These artists are making shocking music videos, actually more like mini vignette movies just to be controversial and thus increase a viral following and thus popularity. – Lack of clothing seems to be the driving factor of this.
Or as I think with the M.I.A video using Social Media more and more for a vehicle for free speech.
The Music industry has always been one of the most influential mediums. It’s always hard to decide if the music affected the people or the people and the times affected the people. Punks, skinheads, 60’s flower power etc
But they never had the influential power of the Internet to go with it. You may see the occasional really offence T-shirt that said “Frankie says Relax, don’t do it” 😉 but I don’t think that was going to cause to many issues, perhaps the day suspended from school or something.
One comment we received yesterday stated this is called creative freedom, saying if you don’t like it don’t watch it. (via @Mmm_Cherry_Hill).
But the M.I.A video was online on Youtube for the world to see for a few days before finally being labeled with an age restriction. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/m-i-a-video-for-born-free-is-pulled-from-youtube/
In its community guidelines, YouTube advises that videos can be taken down from the site for violations like excessive violence, and users can flag them if they believe videos are in violation of these guidelines. YouTube declined to say if any versions of the M.I.A. video were taken down due to its violent content.
So what is too excessive? Does (uncensored) in brackets – cover all the multitude of viewing sins.
If you happen to stumble upon a pornography site on the web, you kind of know what to expect.
However a music video, is just a music video correct… no children being executed by bullets, how do you know the content until you press play. Is that not why a coffee cup comes with a warning ‘contains a Hot drink’ so everyone knows… you don’t have to scald your mouth first.
A listener directed my attention towards a comments regarding the movie trailer ‘the human centipede’
which says: “I no longer feel shock. Perhaps the internet_ has ruined me…”
When you purchased a video or computer game it comes with a reasonable rating system sometimes a description of offensive content.
These could be hilarious for a rap song… may contain 250 offence words, 75 alone in the repeating chorus. And a lot of booty shakin 🙂
But the Internet does not come in a package, with a nice warning label on it
So is it time more regulations and Internet advisory policies come into effect?
Or are we shutting down an avenue for free speech?
Youtube seems to be encouraging people to discuss more political and controversial topics, and you do notice it is becoming less of a platform to share your holiday movies and more of a this is what I have to say about that.
Perhaps the t-shirt for today should say ‘Youtube say Relax… don’t do it’ and I am copyrighting that idea right now.