Censorship in Music Videos

MTV's first banned video was the band Queen's 'Body Language' in 1982, because of its homoerotic undertones by showing lots of skin and sweat. It was viewed at the time as unsuitable for television audiences. Additionally, in the '80s the video for 'Girls on Film' was banned on Top of the Pops, as it featured topless women mud wrestling. However, MTV did air this video, but a highly edited version. Another video banned in the 1980s was the Sex Pistols 'God Save the Queen' by the BBC for calling the UK fascist.




Michael Jackson's 'Black or White' was banned in 1991, because it showed him touching himself "inappropriately". Madonna is renown for music video censorship. Many of her music videos have been banned, because she includes controversial images in her videos. One of her most controversial videos is 'Justify My Love', which included sadomasochism, homosexuality, cross dressing, and group sex. This video was banned on MTV.




In 2001 Bjork's 'Pagan Poetry' was banned by MTV because it featured sexual intercourse and fellatio. In 2011 Rihanna's video 'S&M' was banned in 11 countries, because it featured the singer whipping a tied up man, taking hostages, and kissing another woman. Katy Perry's 'Dark Horse' in 2011 caused offense to some Muslims, because Katy Perry turns a man wearing a pendant which says Allah into sand. However it was not censored.



Over the years more has become acceptable in music videos, with fewer being banned. For example sexual undertones are displayed in many music videos today, when quite a few of them would not of been deemed acceptable 30 years ago. Videos that have been censored have pushed boundaries, and are the reason that censorship is more lenient today. Additionally, this leniency of censorship is not exclusive to music video, but has happened to the media as a whole. Perhaps, this has happened because society has changed, becoming more accepting of once unacceptable features of music videos.

Censorship in music videos is becoming more difficult to enforce. The main reason for this is the internet. If a video is banned it may still be released online, for anyone to use. Also, if a music video is certified with an age rating on a website such as YouTube, anyone can still view it. Even if someone underage wishes to view the video they could simply pretend they are the right age in the check box.