Booty Shakin' Television

[Jared Kaufman]

MTV (http://www.mtv.com) is under attack by the FCC. You can read the full article here (http://rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=19374).

[GAD_guy]

i know it won't happen. but i would be so elated if MTV was taken down.

[Trainsaw]

Censoring the two girls kissing in the blink video is fucking retarded. While we're at it why don't we just turn our heads at poverty, racism, war, murder, etc...I think two women kissing should be the least of someone's worries. They'd rather block out things they personally don't approve than focus on the real problems of the world. I think they're going to have to face it there are lesbians, its a lifestyle its not like they're affecting anyone

[omegaX]

All I can say is that this was a long time coming. Yes, censorship sucks, but having to deal with these stupid channels trying to "push the envelope" just pushes any creative aspect of television programming to the back. Shock shouldn't produce results, interesting shows should. But sadly, this isn't the case, and maybe our cesspool of a society will start cleaning up a little bit.

And its really strange I'm saying this, because I'm normally against censorship in all ways.

[glassjaw420]

i thik it's good that mtv is being censored a little. Maybe now they'll pay more attention to what is important, the music, and not shitty vocalists who have no talent and should just become pornstars.

[fowruok]

There's a difference between pornography and "pushing the envelope". As much as I despise Britney Spears for her blatant sexuality used to sell records rather than talent I still feel she should be entitled to show her video with minimum censorship. However, I haven't seen it, never will and won't really comment on her.

However, I have seen the videos for "Megalomaniac" and "Feeling This". On the latter video, I find it disgusting that MTV is allowed to ban a video for a lesbian make-out scene. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and I find it stupid that they are allowed to do so. "Megalomaniac" on the other hand, is an even worse case of censorship. Bands should not be, and never should be, censored for their political views. In that video and that album in general, Incubus makes a decisive political stand. It's a shame the world can't see it in the video.

What's next? Banning System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, U2 or Springsteen? And who the hell is MTV to decide what forms of sexuality are valid and which are not?

Just my two cents...

[omegaX]

There's a difference between pornography and "pushing the envelope". As much as I despise Britney Spears for her blatant sexuality used to sell records rather than talent I still feel she should be entitled to show her video with minimum censorship. However, I haven't seen it, never will and won't really comment on her.

However, I have seen the videos for "Megalomaniac" and "Feeling This". On the latter video, I find it disgusting that MTV is allowed to ban a video for a lesbian make-out scene. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and I find it stupid that they are allowed to do so. "Megalomaniac" on the other hand, is an even worse case of censorship. Bands should not be, and never should be, censored for their political views. In that video and that album in general, Incubus makes a decisive political stand. It's a shame the world can't see it in the video.

What's next? Banning System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, U2 or Springsteen? And who the hell is MTV to decide what forms of sexuality are valid and which are not?

Just my two cents...

Nobody on here said anything about porn, just the article. And it ovbiouslly was being sarcastic in some way, as i think we all know it isn't REAL porn. But the bottom line, in Britney's case, is that she is using this new look to sell records, just as MTV has been doing for the past few years. Of course you do know what you're getting into when you turn on MTV, which is why this topic is so iffy. Personally, I'm just so bored of all this shit programming that is using shock value to reel in viewers. (Case in point, WAY too many "gay" shows. We get the point!)


And for your last examples, all those artists aren't using sex or shock to sell their records and gain popularity. The Incubus thing was wrong in all cases, any sort of political censorship is wrong. That's the only case that I could see your point as valid.

[tommyhaych]

Censoring the two girls kissing in the blink video is fucking retarded. While we're at it why don't we just turn our heads at poverty, racism, war, murder, etc...I think two women kissing should be the least of someone's worries. They'd rather block out things they personally don't approve than focus on the real problems of the world. I think they're going to have to face it there are lesbians, its a lifestyle its not like they're affecting anyone

I couldn't agree more, mate, I really couldn't.

It's stuff like this which makes me feel like someone is twisting my gut, it pisses me off when these people are so fucking ignorant, they just don't give a shit about anything else going on in the world. Heck, if they saw this post they'd try and sue me just for 'saying naughty words'.

Open your eyes! Politicians brick themselves when someone makes a valid point (especially incubus).....


Fuck you, politics...

[fowruok]

Nobody on here said anything about porn, just the article.

Ah -- I wasn't clear then. The pornography I was referring to was Janet during the Super Bowl. Obviously, that's what prompted all this censorship. I was just stating that I don't think that the new Britney Spears video is equitable to pornography -- Janet's "stunt" during the game. I think it's deplorable but still should be legal.

As for my final four examples that you called into question -- all four of them have political undertones in their work and videos. Obviously everything that System and Rage did was political (especially System's last video "Boom" which was also banned by MTV -- I think -- and commerical radio). Meanwhile U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" amongst others and Springsteen's "American Skin (41 Shots)" also were blatantly political.

I hate MTV too -- which is why I don't watch it. The only decent program seems to be "Subterranean" these days. I much prefer CTN, they have a much better variety of stuff that they show. But just the facts that MTV sucks doesn't give them a right to censor anything they choose.

[omegaX]

Ah -- I wasn't clear then. The pornography I was referring to was Janet during the Super Bowl. Obviously, that's what prompted all this censorship. I was just stating that I don't think that the new Britney Spears video is equitable to pornography -- Janet's "stunt" during the game. I think it's deplorable but still should be legal.

As for my final four examples that you called into question -- all four of them have political undertones in their work and videos. Obviously everything that System and Rage did was political (especially System's last video "Boom" which was also banned by MTV -- I think -- and commerical radio). Meanwhile U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" amongst others and Springsteen's "American Skin (41 Shots)" also were blatantly political.

I hate MTV too -- which is why I don't watch it. The only decent program seems to be "Subterranean" these days. I much prefer CTN, they have a much better variety of stuff that they show. But just the facts that MTV sucks doesn't give them a right to censor anything they choose.


Ah I see what you're saying. The problem I see though is that we know what we're getting into when we turn on MTV, this was primetime on one of the basic cable channels, and a program in which many small children watch. Is the superbowl family entertainment? Hardly so, especially with all the beer and the PG13 sex drive. But still, that's nothing compared to what we saw. I saw it as a stunt to pull the controversy away from MJ, but thats another debate. The bottom line is that it wasn't expected, and MTV producers dictated that these people would see this kind of stunt, not the parents or the individual, because it was so unexpected. If it was expected, I couldn't see it causing that much controversy anyway. :rolleyes:

[OurHeartAttack]

Wow. A middle aged black woman's tit caused all this damage. I think everyone should now realize the power of the boob.

[venus/bacchus]

We as a society choose our own collective morality (laws) and therefore feel that certain things should be banned. I'm not saying these things should be illegal, but the majority of the population thinks they are offensive and not acceptable for our society, so they aren't. And MTV is a privately owned company, they have every right to censor what they want.

[Snake]

"Can God make a boob so big, even he can't lift it?"

haha yeah but I agree cencership does suck. But I totally agree that using sex to sell records and everything for that matter is disgusting. But im really pissed about the Incubus video being taken of the air for a policitcal view. Doesn't suprise me one bit though. The American government can't have things againt there views (Madonna's video for American Life is the perfect example) and ithsi is just another step they'll take to control the people who live there. ......Fuck am I ever happy to be a Canadian.

[venus/bacchus]

"Can God make a boob so big, even he can't lift it?"

haha yeah but I agree cencership does suck. But I totally agree that using sex to sell records and everything for that matter is disgusting. But im really pissed about the Incubus video being taken of the air for a policitcal view. Doesn't suprise me one bit though. The American government can't have things againt there views (Madonna's video for American Life is the perfect example) and ithsi is just another step they'll take to control the people who live there. ......Fuck am I ever happy to be a Canadian.
The American government had no say about the pulling of the Incubus video, that was MTV's choice. The FCC only pulls things that are morally unacceptable. Know what you're talking about before you talk about the "oh so oppressive government" that you don't even experience first-hand.

[Snake]

The American government had no say about the pulling of the Incubus video, that was MTV's choice. The FCC only pulls things that are morally unacceptable. Know what you're talking about before you talk about the "oh so oppressive government" that you don't even experience first-hand.
Liek the FCC's decisions arn't influenced but washington and yeah I do experience the opression first hand because I gotta watch billions of people suffering everyday on the news. From probelems mainly caused by greed and selfesness.

[omegaX]

The American government had no say about the pulling of the Incubus video, that was MTV's choice. The FCC only pulls things that are morally unacceptable. Know what you're talking about before you talk about the "oh so oppressive government" that you don't even experience first-hand.

Actually, thats a really good point. As far as I know, this has all come about because of the scandal, and actions have not seemed to be taken place yet. MTV is kinda trying to save face and take off these videos, and I don't think the FCC demanded anything yet. The Incubus video was truly MTV's doing, as wrong as it was.

[CornerKid5]

It's almost ironic ....
they (the FCC) are censoring things that ... well, any 10 year old kid that I know of has seen (and sometimes done) much worse.

I might be horribly paranoid, and really left of center, but I really think that "they" are trying to take away the worries and the questions we have about the war and other political matters and place them in moral situations like this one.

Everyday I feel more and more like I'm in 1984.

[oldwirehands]

i think its all bullshit, drugs, sex, violence, and vulgur language is heard and seen everyday. just watch the news and all you hear about is who has been murdered in the last week. i can take a walk in my mall and hear at least one person say the word "fuck". drugs are everywhere in my highschool. sex is natural. i can understand trying to hide that stuff from 5 or 6 year olds but you can't hide all those things forever.

[venus/bacchus]

Liek the FCC's decisions arn't influenced but washington and yeah I do experience the opression first hand because I gotta watch billions of people suffering everyday on the news. From probelems mainly caused by greed and selfesness.
Let's follow your logic here. You experience something first-hand by watching it? Just trying to clear things up. I don't even know what you tried to say in the first part of the first sentence. The FCC's decisions are definitely influenced by Washington, I never said they weren't. It's a government-run commission, of course it's going to be influenced by Washington (if that's what you meant).

i think its all bullshit, drugs, sex, violence, and vulgur language is heard and seen everyday. just watch the news and all you hear about is who has been murdered in the last week. i can take a walk in my mall and hear at least one person say the word "fuck". drugs are everywhere in my highschool. sex is natural. i can understand trying to hide that stuff from 5 or 6 year olds but you can't hide all those things forever.
Because things are prevalent means they're acceptable? The FCC has no control over what people say while they're on the street. They do what they can to instill some morals in America through the only outlet they have. There are thousands of people who murder in America, if that becomes more popular do we abolish the laws against it?

[fowruok]

I have to say I do agree for the most part with Venus/Bacchus.

However -- MTV is owned by Viacom who also owns CBS. The FCC is putting a lot of pressure on Viacom and its affiliated networks because of the Super Bowl coverage. Therefore, the FCC is indirectly responsible for the pulling of the videos. So I don't exactly see it as a stretch to say that the Incubus video in particular was banned because of indirect political pressure from Washington. Although President Bush certainly could not care less about what Incubus thinks, this is not a time for MTV to be taking chances in its programming.

Not saying it's right in how MTV is handling the situation (it's obvious where I stand after reading my previous posts) - just how things are working right now...