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| The Imperial Orgy Fights Bigotry On Michigan TV. |
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The iconoclastic underground band Caeser Pink & The Imperial
Orgy is once again fighting for freedom of thought and
expression, and against discrimination and bigotry. The current
controversy is centered in the town of Portage, Michigan where
the local public access television station agreed to broadcast the
group’s television series, but changed their minds before the
broadcast date was set.
The reason given for the cancellation was that “Two girls were
looking at each other as if they couldn’t wait to kiss,” and that
“Portage is a Christian community and people wouldn’t like that
sort of thing.”
Of the cancellation the band’s singer Caeser Pink states, “This is
clearly a case of anti-gay bias. The people who control this
media outlet are using their position to promote their own
religious views. Such media outlets receive government funding
and according to the public access charter no one can control
that media for their own agenda or discriminate against other
religious or political views.”
“Almost all the country’s commercial radio stations, newspapers,
and TV stations are owned by one of six mega-corporations.
Public access television is one of the few outlets where artists
and activists can communicate directly with the public. That is a
right that needs to be protected.”
To this end caeser and the Imperial Orgy members have been
contacting gay rights organizations in the area, have petitioned
the town’s mayor and county commissioners to mediate the
dispute, and are using online networking sites to raise public
awareness and drum up local support for their cause.
The Imperial Orgy TV series is a 12-episode half-hour arts
variety show that features artist interviews, experimental films,
music videos, comedy skits, and documentary profiles. The show
was created on a show-string budget by the creative community
of people that work with the larger Imperial Orgy arts and
activism collective. No one got paid for their work and no one
earns profit from the show. Previously the Imperial Orgy TV
Show has been broadcast on dozens of TV stations across the
U.S. as well as in France, Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Caeser Pink & The Imperial Orgy has long history of social
activism and confronting prejudice and discrimination. Even the
group’s first concert performance was cancelled due to threats
from right-wing religious organization. Among their past works
are a street theater protest presented in front of the New York
stock exchange titled Our Daily Bread. Last year the band’s CD
“Gospel Hymns For Agnostics and Atheists” was banned from
many college radio stations.
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Cheers~ Just an idea, take what you like and leave the rest- I am
all for sticking it to 'them', however, instead of putting it in their
face, it is much more fun to approach it from the British point of
view and try to find a way to get people to laugh about it....
putting one of the 'women' as a man in drag and as he is
approaching the 'kiss' scene....make it blatant and that he (she)
kisses the forehead of the woman or just a flat out kiss but
finding someway to allow those who are uncomfortable to
explore themselves with a good sense of humor about it.
As much as it is important to expose people to other ideas it is
also important to note that there are a large number of people
who hold the bank and if somehow you can turn it around and
let 'them' come up with the idea that this is a brilliant show
show, then your point gets through and they feel lifted to a
higher level (which is where you want them to be).
33% of the people will love you no matter what you do
33% will hate you no matter what you do
and the other 33% really do not care one way of the other~
Good luck on your ventures~ Mimi
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While I respect anyone trying to make it in the music scene and everyone is welcome to their own opinion people need to understand that
with "freedom of expression" comes responsibility.
I personally think most people have had enough of musical material with a message that is angry, antisocial or messed up in some kind of way.
Reading the story here I see a pattern that isn't good at all.
If your material is getting banned then maybe it's time for a rethink.
You really can't go complaining about not having freedom - try doing something in a closed nation and see how far you get (probably executed).
Want coverage and a loyal fan base?
Produce quality you'd be proud to show to any community (and leave your agro at the door).
It's interesting to note that here in Australia the top six selling albums are actually orchestral works - proof that in the end most people always will gravitate towards family friendly music.
I follow this formula myself and have a publishing deal to prove that it works.
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It's quite simple, really: Whoever owns the medium gets to control the content. It's hardly "censorship" when a private entity chooses not to air one's material. It gets trickier when the medium in question (public access tv, publicly financed college radio) is owned by everyone, and therefore no one. Then politics inevitably enters the equation. When an artist opts for that route he should expect to encounter some hurdles. I have little sympathy for those artists who suck the public teat while insulting that very-same public. The best way is to do everything privately. Then, if you fail, you have no one but yourself to blame.
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| NOTE: If you need a reply you should email CD Baby directly instead of posting here. We don't often read old message board postings, and have no way of replying to them!
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