It's the day after Imus, and lots of people are saying: let's not let Imus getting fired having been in vain - let's use this as an occasion to reexamine our culture.
There are at least two varieties of this: (a) let's see what we can do to clean up the language in the rap and hip-hop communities, (b) let's start holding other radio and media commentators to stricter account.
I don't see a need for either.
First, we don't need self-appointed guardians of our culture, or any part of it, however well-meaning they may be. If people enjoy the language of rap and hip-hop, if they like it to the point of spending money on it, then it will and should survive. Anyone who doesn't like it can ignore or walk around it. I don't know any place in the country where people are tied to a chair and forced to listen to any kind of music or lyric.
And the "damage" that this language is supposed to do to our society, our children? I doubt it. As I said in my previous posts about Imus, there is a world of difference between musical performances, general culture attitudes, on the one hand, and someone (Imus) hurling a racist, sexist insult to real people (college students) on the other. People can and do get hurt from insults specifically directed at them. Have you ever met anyone hurt by a piece of music?
What about the second lofty goal - holding our media personalities to higher standards.
I don't think that's necessary, either.
The standards we have now are working fine. They held Imus to account for his unacceptable conduct. They would do the same for any other media personality. We don't need a witchhunt on shockjocks or anyone else in the media. If anyone behaves the same as Imus, he or she should receive the same treatment.
In short, we can chalk up the response to Imus as, by and large, a job well done. MSNBC and CBS took a little longer than they should have to do the right thing, but they did it. People may look for greater meaning in all of this, but, in the end, a mean-spirited person who crossed the line with a microphone got what he deserved.
The fault was mainly in him, not in our culture.
Following comments from the original PaulLevinson.net post of 13 April 2007. Feel free to comment further right here.
Comments
Well said.
Fact: we own the radio spectrum. It is government property.
If you piss off the public, we are going to kick you off the property. Black or white. Conservative or republican.
My Statement: (finally, I have an opinion) This is such a farce that this much media coverage was completely unnecessary. Manufactured outrage. McOutrage. I believe that most of the public at large really didn't care. And still don't.
Posted by: Tone at April 13, 2007 02:36 PM
McOutrage! Good call, Tone.
Plus:
**ring ring**
"Hello. This is Mel Karmazin's office. How may I help you?"
"Tell Mel that Don is calling."
--- meanwhile ---
"Hello? May I speak to Mr. Smiley? Tell Tavis that MSBNC is calling."
It's all good.
Posted by: John Furie Zacharias at April 13, 2007 11:01 PM
"And the 'damage' that this language is supposed to do to our society, our children? I doubt it."
I disagree with you here. I feel that certain aspects of mainstream media (especially hip-hop) and music DO hurt our youth. Often times I've been witness to a young person trying to imitate the lifestyle they see glorified in the MSM, such acting "hard", throwing around profanity (even sometimes directed towards their own parents), and disrespecting others and their property.
Posted by: doctornine at April 14, 2007 01:38 AM
doctorine - thanks for the comment
But on whether rap damages anyone ... you know, this debate goes back at least as far as rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, which was condemned then as damaging the morality of our youth.
I thought then as a kid and now as prof that music and lyrics never damaged anyone.
Inequality and racist attacks hurled by people in authority at individuals do the damage.
Posted by: Paul Levinson at April 14, 2007 10:40 PM
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