I posted this song in June 2019 with only a brief reference to the controversy around the song’s contents which evoke incest and rape.
But I thought it might be worth revisiting for FTRW, especially in light of the news that came out in August 2020 that the band’s bassist had subsequently been accused of (and admitted) to committing sexual assault on multiple women.
So, in my mind, there are a few different elements to this story as relates to Freedom of Expression:
– one is how songs are different than books in that we often don’t make a distinction between songs that are “fictional” (completely invented) or those that are based on facts or somewhere inbetween and whether that should even matter in how a song is received or considered?
– it also raises an issue about whether it should make a difference in how a song is treated if it’s meant to be “satirical” (which is what I think the band’s defense was when the controversy about the song’s lyrics first erupted)
– that leads naturally to a discussion of whether any topic is “off limits” or should be, especially in artistic works – whether its a song, a play, a book, a movie or whatever?
– if nothing is off-limits, should there be consequences when people do write offensive songs. For example, I think The Dead South had some gigs cancelled and definitely lost some of their reputation as well.
– one of the core issues around the nature of offense is “Who gets to decide?” Are all songs about rape offensive automatically? Does it matter who wrote the song or the context?
– I guess another aspect is how society’s mores and views change over time and how that may impact how a song or other artistic work is received.
– there’s also a question that comes up when controversies like this erupt about how/if people can ever be redeemed?
– finally, in light of the news about the bassist and his sexual assault, some would say the song and the actions of the bassist are the same thing. But for me, I think there’s a distinction between something that, though it may be offensive, is an artistic/satirical/fictional work versus an actual criminal act.
“Banjo Odyssey” – The Dead South
