Parental Advisory: Music Censorship in America FROM OUR EDITORS
In the past century, music -- whether in the form of jazz, rock, rap, or heavy metal -- has been blamed for everything from promiscuity to school violence. In this intelligent book, Eric Nuzum outlines the history of censorship from the 1950s to the present, providing a framework for understanding what is truly at stake when freedom of speech is threatened. Well-chosen photographs highlight various aspects of the censorship battle, from banned album covers to images of book burning, and impart another layer of emotional depth to Nuzum's argument.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Music Your Parents Never Wanted You To Hear
Believe it or not, music censorship in America did not begin with Tipper Gore's horrified reaction to her daughter's Prince album. The vilification of popular music by government and individuals has been going on for decades. Now, for the first time, Parental Advisory offers a thorough and complete chronicle of the music that has been challenged or suppressed — by the people or the government — in the United States.
From Dean Martin's "Wham, Bam, Thank you Ma'am" to Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar; from freedom fighters such as Frank Zappa and in-your-face rappers such a N.W.A. to crusaders such as Tipper Gore, this intelligent and entertaining book shows how censorship has crossed sexual, class, and ethnic lines, and how many see it as a de facto form of racism. With nearly one hundred fascinating photographs of musicians, record burning, and controversial cover art; illuminating sidebars; and a decade-by-decade timeline of important moments in censorship history, Parental Advisory is by turns frightening and hilarious — but always revealing.
FROM THE CRITICS
Nina Crowley
Written with the voice and fervor of a true music fan, Parental Advisory is exceedingly readable, informative, and enjoyable.
VOYA
What do Dean Martin and Marilyn Manson have in common? According to this book, an informative and revealing history of music censorship in America, both performers were victims of efforts to censor their music. Nuzum's concise and well-informed history of music censorship provides both current and historical perspective to this issue, although the primary emphasis is on censorship of rock music. The book takes readers through the 1960s, when some album covers were deemed too explicit for teen audiences, and continues with the debut of MTV in the 1980s, adding a new immediate and visual dimension to the problem of censorship. The author also addresses the current controversy over rap music lyrics. Divided into two parts, the book first reviews controversial censorship themes, such as sex, drugs, and violence. The second part of the book chronologically documents music censorship. Nuzum does not attempt to hide his bias in the book. He is a fervent and unabashed foe of music censorship. Solidly researched and well written, this book reminds readers that too often censorship is based upon a misunderstanding of lyrics or artwork. Teens who feel strongly about the problems inherent in music censorship will revel in the book's compelling anticensorship arguments. Librarians might find the one-sided approach to the issue a drawback, but this book is still an important addition to both public and school library collections. Glossary. Index. Photos. Biblio. Source Notes. Chronology. VOYA CODES: 4Q 2P S A/YA (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2001,Perennial/HarperCollins, 349p, $15 Trade pb. Ages 15 to Adult. Reviewer: Jan Chapman
Library Journal
Nuzum, program director at WKSU-FM, Kent State University's National Public Radio affiliate, here offers a concise history of the censorship of rock'n'roll. After defining censorship as biased, myopic judgment, he describes the rise and subsequent activities of the premier watchdog organization, the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). In a series of brief, telling chapters, the author shows how critics blamed rock for the spread of drugs, the antireligious behavior of youth, and such violent tragedies as teen suicides and the Columbine killings. He outlines the racist attacks against African American rockers from Little Richard to Ice-T and the swipes made by the cultural right at liberal musicians armed with a political message. Nuzum also details the attempts to squelch any hint of sex in music from Elvis to Madonna, the censorship of album cover art, and the basic elements of the obscenity law. Fascinating interviews with representatives of the PMRC and another noted censor, Wal-Mart, as well as a chronology of music censorship from the 1950s to the present, complete the work. Though Nuzum unearths few new incidences of rock bashing, he weaves hundreds of antirock diatribes, accusations, and activities into a breezy and informative book, that should be read by anyone interested in U.S. popular culture. Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
Adult/High School-This book "should appear on the required reading list for every high school civics course," opines anti-censorship activist Nina Crowley in a cover blurb. Failing that, it should certainly appear on the shelves of every high school library. Its wonderfully thorough history of music censorship-case by case and fight by fight-focuses on the 1950s to the present, but includes incidents dating back to the 19th century. Part one is organized thematically, with chapters on the main hot-potato issues that music (especially rock, heavy metal, and gangsta rap) has drawn fire for: "excessive" violence, sex, and drugs; political protests perceived as threatening; and religious "blasphemy." A chapter on race asks some provocative questions: Why, for example, was there absolute outrage over Ice-T's "Cop Killer" when Eric Clapton's similarly themed "I Shot the Sheriff" not only created no controversy, but also went on to become a number one hit? Part two is a nearly year-by-year chronology, beginning in 1865, of notable censorship cases. Both formats make Parental Advisory ideal for reference and research. Nuzum's witty, well-thought-out prose and numerous anecdotes insure that it will also be read for pleasure. The author is clearly against censorship, but he doesn't rave against it. The book is a good demonstration of how to feel passionately about a point but remain cool when one argues it, backing it up with facts instead of froth.-Emily Lloyd, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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