When does art become obscenity? From poignant protest songs to fluffy Top 40 hits, music has always defined our culture. This film looks at how the censorship of music has shaped how we view art, how it's made and who we are as consumers.
Freedom of expression is a human right that is recognized by the United Nations and is one of the most important pillars of a democratic community. But what if that expression doesn't line up with the general public's personal ideologies? From poignant protest songs to fluffy Top 40 hits, music has always defined our culture. With such a powerful influence on all aspects of society, the messages and themes portrayed by musicians have long been considered dangerous to some. This film looks at how the censorship of music has shaped not only how we view art and how it's made but who we are as consumers and free-thinkers.
Music is possibly the most ubiquitous art form in existence and is the borderless language of the world. Even before recorded music, the powers that be have always sought to control this language. How we talk, how we dress, even how we think is all influenced by music and the people who create it, making it a powerful and concerning art form. Whenever there is a clear movement bubbling up in the music industry, whether it be the rise of jazz in the 1920s, the Satanic Panic of the 1980s or explicit hip-hop of today, we can always see a public outcry questioning the influence these musicians have. Often anchored in race relations, religious viewpoints or political leanings, the suppression of music goes far beyond lyrical content or stage antics. From Elvis Presley shaking his hips on The Ed Sullivan Show to rappers shaking their hips on TikTok, how has society and the government regulated what is deemed offensive?
Never before have we been more connected as a species but somehow we seem more divided than ever. This film helps turn a mirror to one's self for answers to why rather than pointing fingers at the side that doesn't agree. A catalyst for critical discussion, Cover Your Ears raises questions the viewer must ask themselves. Can I separate the art from the artist? What are the dangers and benefits surrounding both free expression and censorship? What does the future hold for the regulation of art?
