Lloyd’s thoughts on all this fucking censorship
posted in `Roids |By Lloyd Kaufman
The big flap over Janet Jackson’s breast (which is a big flabby flap itself), and Howard Stern’s banishment from some radio stations, is really merely a distraction, in my opinion. Janet Jackson sucks and Howard Stern only cares about how much money someone can make. The real censorship going on they don’t want you to understand is the giant media conglomerates, which are vertically integrated (but not racially or sexually integrated), censoring our news and art every minute of every day. The real censorship villains are the Time Warners, Viacoms and Rupert Murdochs of the world, who prevent us from getting any information except what they see fit.
I’ve asked Jim Cox, Troma Superfan from Middle America (Evansville, IL) to share this Lloyd’s Roid, about my take on censorship. Here it is (and thanks Jim, for being such a killer Cox!):
Dr. Conglomerate or How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love The Censors
by Jim Cox (as per Lloyd Kaufman)
And then one day in front of the entire world a horrible thing struck our God fearing United States of America. We sat at our TVs rapt in horror at the sight. How could this happen to us? How dear lord? How? How could we be exposed to Janet Jackson’s boob? At the hands of a former Mouseketeer® for that matter? A better question is why do we even care? Or why didn’t we get to see both boobs? Does her left one have the better profile? “I will only have green M&M’s in my trailer and only have my left boob shot at a 45 degree angle.”
Perhaps it was a diversionary tactic? A way of “cleansing” the world of choice, of free thought. I remember shortly before this incident, I had heard the toothless FCC was going to allow radio stations to say the word fuck. Now my local radio station is afraid to put thong photos on their website. Granted no one wants to see me in a thong, but that’s not the point.
Unlike Lloyd and his childhood pal O.S., I don’t see conspiracy in every dark corner. However, think about it. Who runs the media outlets? Who was it that exposed Janet’s natural talents? Justin Timberlake spent two years in Orlando with Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club. Coincidence or plan? I’m not saying that Disney engineered this chain of events, but it certainly didn’t hurt their money machine. First he was all man, and then later apologized so they’d let his ass on the Grammy® Awards show. Part of the plan? “Play along Justin, we’ll get you out of it. You’ll be bigger than ever. We control everything.” (Coincidentally, I was just about to look something up about Disney on the
Internet and Mickey Mouse appears before me on AOL. Was it a sign or was it a warning?) So now there is a catalyst to clean up America and show wholesome Disney movies.
But fuck all of this. Who cares about any of these “entertainers?” Why are we being diverted from what is really going on? The killing of diversity, freedom of speech, outlets for alternative art forms. The “Mart” doesn’t want your movie displayed or sold at their stores because it doesn’t conform to their view of what is right or wrong or tasteful. Fine, go to the independent local mom & pop store. What’s that? The “Mart” killed them off long ago? Then go watch an alternative movie at your local chain theater. That’s right, they’re owned by the big guys that show their movies or if not they will only play what they think will sell. You don’t have a choice and you didn’t even know it.
Some would call this censorship. To remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable. In some cases this might be true. I think in most cases it is about greed. Either for money (the love of money is the root of all evil) or power or both. Thus, those with the money and power censor those without, so they can have all the market, control all the outlets. In the end, you’re getting it in the end.
Lloyd suggests a boycott. Don’t watch TV during sweeps month. Don’t go to see the new blockbuster movie on opening weekend. Hit them in their pocketbooks. A noble idea, but difficult to organize. Then again Lloyd could have said a boy cot, because there was some mention of a sleep over and he talks rather fast.
I’m no expert. I’ve done no studies. All I know is what I read in the (R.M.) papers and according to them, there is no censorship. Is that good enough for you?
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