A Look at How Parental Control Advisories Happened in Pop Culture
By 1990, the now-familiar "Parental Advisory" label was being applied to albums with "potentially objectionable content".
Parental Control Advisories (PCAs) are now a ubiquitous element of pop culture, instantly recognizable as the "Parental Advisory: Explicit Content" label on music albums, TV shows, and other media.
This advisory system was designed to alert parents about content that might be inappropriate for children. The journey to its introduction is a tale of moral advocacy, political lobbying, and cultural change that reflects the evolving values of society.
The Early Days: Concerns Over Content
The 1980s saw a growing concern among parents, educators, and lawmakers about the explicit content in popular music. With the rise of rock and roll in the 1950s, there had always been a tension between youth culture and perceived societal norms. However, the explicit nature of lyrics in the 1980s, particularly with the advent of heavy metal, punk rock, and rap music, intensified these concerns.
Key Figures and Organizations
The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC):
Founding: The PMRC was founded in 1985 by four women known as the "Washington Wives": Tipper Gore (wife of then-Senator Al Gore), Susan Baker (wife of then-Treasury Secretary James Baker), Pam Howar, and Sally Nevius. The organization's primary mission was to increase parental control over the access of children to music deemed violent, sexually explicit, or promoting drug use.
Motivation: Tipper Gore was reportedly motivated by hearing her daughter listen to Prince's song "Darling Nikki," which contained explicit sexual content. This incident catalyzed her and the other founders to campaign for better content labeling.
The Music Industry:
Artists: Many musicians and bands opposed the PMRC’s efforts, seeing them as a form of censorship. Notable opponents included Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, who testified before the Senate to argue against the proposed restrictions.
Record Labels: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) initially resisted the advisory labels but eventually negotiated with the PMRC and agreed to a voluntary labeling system.
The Senate Hearings of 1985
On September 19, 1985, a Senate hearing was convened to discuss the issue of explicit content in music. The hearings were a pivotal moment in the debate over parental advisories and featured testimonies from both the PMRC and prominent musicians.
PMRC Testimony: Tipper Gore and her colleagues presented their case, highlighting examples of explicit lyrics and their potential impact on children.
Musician Testimonies: Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snider provided counterarguments emphasizing artistic freedom, the dangers of censorship, and the subjective nature of offensive content. Zappa famously likened the PMRC’s proposals to treating dandruff by decapitation, underscoring the disproportionate response to the problem.
Frank Zappa: An outspoken critic of censorship, Zappa argued that the advisory labels were an infringement on free speech and artistic expression.
John Denver: Known for his clean image and wholesome music, Denver surprised many by opposing the advisories, emphasizing the subjective nature of what constitutes offensive content and warning against the slippery slope of censorship.
Dee Snider: The lead singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, Snider defended his music and lyrics, arguing that they were being misinterpreted and that parents should be responsible for monitoring their children's media consumption, not the government.
These musicians were united in their belief that the advisories represented an overreach of censorship and a threat to artistic freedom. Their testimonies were instrumental in shaping the public discourse around the issue.
Implementation and Impact
Following the hearings, the RIAA agreed to a voluntary system of labeling records with explicit content. By 1990, the now-familiar "Parental Advisory" label was being applied to albums with potentially objectionable content.
Effect on Sales: Contrary to initial fears, the advisory labels did not negatively impact album sales. In many cases, the label became a mark of rebellion, appealing to young listeners.
Cultural Influence: The advisories influenced other media as well. Television shows, movies, and eventually video games adopted similar content warning systems, contributing to a broader culture of content awareness.
Legacy and Continuing Debate
The introduction of Parental Control Advisories remains a significant milestone in the history of media regulation. It sparked ongoing debates about censorship, artistic freedom, and the role of parents versus the state in protecting children from potentially harmful content.
Modern Context: Today, digital platforms and streaming services have adopted and expanded upon these advisory systems, tailoring content warnings to a global audience with varying cultural norms.
Ongoing Advocacy: Organizations like the PMRC have evolved or been succeeded by other advocacy groups, reflecting the changing landscape of media consumption and parental concerns.
Conclusion
The history of Parental Control Advisories is a testament to the complex interplay between culture, politics, and commerce. It highlights how advocacy and legislation can shape the media landscape and underscores the enduring tension between protecting young audiences and preserving artistic freedom.
The legacy of the PMRC and the advisory system continues to influence how content is consumed and regulated, ensuring that the debate over explicit content remains as relevant today as it was in the 1980s.
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