Parental Advisory: Music Censorship in America
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, VACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.