The idea that music does not directly affect the youth and culture of today is farcical, music has been the foundation of human civilization since the time of the cavemen. As long as there have been stories to share and cultures to pass down there has been music. While music was once a way to preserve that culture of a people, today it is paving the way to the destruction of modern values and culture.
“In our amusement obsessed culture much of our lives is spent in the pursuit of the next big media ‘thrill’” (Bass 1) and the most popular “thrill” currently being fed to the masses by the way of music is promiscuity. That is, the act of having sexual relations with more than one partner. While America and the world as a whole are suffering from this push of promiscuity, the group most impacted by the increased sexuality in music is today’s “young people who are steeped in the rock culture” (Bass 2). Everything people surround themselves has an impact on who they become; this is especially true for teenagers who are still in the developmental stage. Teenagers listen to specific genres of music for a multitude of different reasons, the most prevalent being social conformity. Teenagers need to feel like they belong to a group and music allows them to feel important, to feel included. So they listen to this sexual, explicit music because their friends do and whether they realize it or not, this music affects their behavior. They listen to this music that objectifies sex as just an act. This music promotes and socially condones promiscuity. It is not only the words that are sexually explicit, “the sexuality of music is usually referred to in terms of its rhythm- it is the beat that commands a directly physical response” (Bass 1). Teenage...
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Rock n’ roll gave people the voice they did not have in the early years. As the genre of music became more wide spread, people actually began to speak out. Altschuler touches on the exploration of how the rock n' roll culture roughly integrated with replaced and conflicted with preceding cultural values. Many of these values were very touch topics. Besides black civil rights, sexuality were one of the most sensitive t...
The story of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll has a mythical quality to it. It speaks of racial barriers bridged through the fusion of Afro-American musical styles with white popular music in 1950s America. Not only did white record producers and radio disc jockeys market Afro-American artists, but white artists began to cover their songs, as well as incorporate Afro-American style into their own song writing. The musical style was so powerful that the white audience was infected by it, despite the social stigma that listening to “race music” possessed. The common view of teenagers’ participation in the creation of rock ‘n’ roll as an act of rebellion runs parallel with the music’s legendary origins. Through rock ‘n’ roll, the teenagers of the United States created a generational gap that angered their parents’ generation. Teenagers rejected kitchy Tin Pan Alley, “Sing Along with Mitch,” and the sleepy crooning of Perry Como in favour of sexually charged race music. Historians have taken different approaches to the question of teen rebellion. While some consider their love of rock ‘n’ roll revolutionary, others argue that the music cemented teenagers within the conformity and materialism of the 1950s; what cars were to adults, rock ‘n’ roll was to teens.[1]
Most things have their beginnings in something small: a word, a breath, or idea; but not music. Music begins with a single vibration. It explodes and carries on, morphing worlds of unrelated personas. It lives rampantly in the mouths of millions of unruly and free-spirited teenagers, like a fever. The rock 'n roll trend that defiantly rose against the conformist ideology of the mid-twentieth century left remnants that commenced the start of a progressing society: a culture that redefined the rules of society and pushed social and moral limits while addressing social concerns.
There are many people who criticize rap music for its intolerance towards women and its effect on the youth of today, and those criticisms are warranted. Rap music has long had the “tendency to represent misogyny at its true best, capturing the essence of women in the oh-so-catchy rhymes of debased and objectified, crude animal forms” (Farooq 1). Rap music not only offers up ideas of disrespect towards women, but condones these actions! This music preaches using women as nothing more than objects of pleasure. In addition to the devaluing of society that misogynistic rap music promotes, the ideas presented in rap music are having a very negative effect on today’s youth. “Rap music and hip hop, with their particular emphasis on sex and demeaning depictions of women, were blamed for encouraging early sexual behaviour” (Rap Music Blamed 1). These lyrics are pushing sexuality onto children at a younger age each year. Everyone sees the pre-teen girls walking around the malls dressed up in mini-skirts and crop tops with more makeup than your average clown, drawing lewd stares from males of all ages. The over-sexualized attire and attitudes are the beginning of a self-destructiv...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2012). Refocusing national attention on the hiv crisis in the united states. Retrieved from website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/2012/AAAFactSheet-0712-508c.pdf
In closing, the undoubtable influence of music, more specifically of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society is responsible for a number of changes to the status quo. These range from sexual liberation and racial desegregation all culminating with other influences to create an intergenerational identity. Despite the desperate attempts of older generations to smother these influences, these changes ultimately shaped the years that followed, molding the country into what it is today. Along the way these changes as well as individual involvement in them has also eased the lives of many through empowerment and a feeling of community and purpose. Despite a lull and renewal Rock ‘n’ Roll continues to serve as an agent of influence and change in today’s youth culture and continues to burn in the heart of past generations of loyal fans.
Teenagers have for long been a constant bother to many parents, for many years. It is during this stage that a large number of individuals engage in rebellious acts and are anxious to try out almost everything they lay their hands on. It is clear from the illustrations that music does have a great effect on teenagers. Parents should therefore combine effort in instilling a sense of responsibility and good morals to their young ones since they are the future leaders of the world.
In conclusion this report has helped us understand the significance of Music in America. Also, the impact it has on music we listen too. Music is very much like a big chain reaction. Rock ‘N’ Roll, much like music today, stood out and was in a way rebellious. Parents now hate Rap and we love it. People in the 70’s loved Rock ‘N’ Roll and parents hated it. This shows that maybe no matter how much older people deny it, the time gap and generation gap is not too far apart. Without Rock ‘N’ Roll the World would without a doubt be changed. Any guess to that of which way would be a good one.
The most trending music genre gets a lot of listeners because of its the discrimination. As the songs and advertisements gain followers, it starts to become realized by the citizens. Pop culture artists sing about drugs, alcohol and women. The portrayal of women by these composers is dreadful because it degrades the significance and importance of their existence. Pop culture has always been a home for gender domination and discrimination. It is becoming increasingly “pornified.” As Valenti quotes, “After all, while billboards and magazines ads may feature a ripped guy from time to time, it’s mostly women who make up what sexy is supposed to be. And it’s not just sexy-it’s straight-up sex” (Valenti, 44). The pornography has been a part of the culture and has been accepted by younger women. Feminists have argued that this has increased the inculcation of “raunch culture” in the lives of younger women who fall into it as they feel it empowers them. However, it is a kind of faux empowerment. This illustrates that the media is promoting and utilizing pop culture to change the social norms in an attempt to instruct women on their role in the society. In essence, pop culture with its propaganda desires to change women’s view on nudity until it can become inherent in American culture, and thus eliminating opposition to benefit pop culture in the long run. Valenti persuades her readers by saying, “ the ‘show’ is everywhere. In magazines like Maxim and Playboy. And in the insanity of Girls Gone Wild, with teens putting on fake lesbian make-out sessions so guys will think they’re hot.” Levy also mentions a character, influenced by raunch culture and a reader of Playboy magazines, named Erin who is piqued her curiosity and provided her with inspiration because of this culture. Erin says, “There’s countless times in my life where I know I’ve turned people on just by showing off (by putting on a
Blues music was the voice of the black community during the early to mid 20th century. Blues expressed the angst many felt due to segregation and mistreatment by white society. Similarly, metal music is the voice of the frustrated and ostracized youth of the 1980's to today (Young). In Metal Heads: Heavy Metal Music and Adolescent Alienation, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett examines the effects of heavy metal music on adolescents and concludes that messages of violence, anger, hate and rebellion have created a brand of antisocial and hateful teen outcasts. However, this is false. Metal music, while it may occasionally have messages of violence, anger and hate, usually spreads messages of individualism, enjoyment of the present moment, and freedom. These messages, along with the energetic music, and instrumental virtuosity are what attract youthful listeners to this genre.
Heavy Metal music is a genre that has always been seen as music of the devil. This is due to the violence of the instruments and the supposed vehemence behind the lyrics. Heavy Metal music is a branch of rock and roll that began in the mid 1970’s with bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath. This style of music is known for an overpowering drumbeat, distorted electric guitar, and clean vocals, with some screaming on the side. Adults and parents have seen such sounds as loud, disruptive, and harmful. However, Jon Pareles wrote in an article for the New York Times that rock and “speed metal” tell teens the truth about the world they live in and shows them that they are not alone in it. “Speed-metal bands strike a chord with millions of teen-agers because they reflect what's on their minds - and the songs tell them they are not alone”. Despite its bad reputation, heavy metal does a world of good for teenagers: it speaks to the dark side of life that most media ignores, and really communicates to teens that they are not forsaken. Heavy metal has been seen as a poison that infiltrates the minds of the youth and cultivates their dark desires; however, the distorted beats and piercing vocals actually represent an asylum for these young adults.
Heavy metal music grabs a hold of rock’s most rudimentary elements; youth, rebellion, sex, fantasy, and a good time at all costs. It is directed towards the alienation and trauma that plagues adolescent life, particularly among the lives if teenage boys. They tend to see their lives as controlled by parents and teachers. For many others, it is a way to release frustration and anger. For instance, a heavy metal concert to those who like heavy metal, is not just a musical performance, full of elaborate costumes and settings. It is a community of teenagers who participate in a shared celebration of youth. (Ragland 1-2).
Martinez, Gladys, Joyce Abma, and Casey Copen. “Educating Teenagers About Sex In The United States”. CDC.GOV. Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 09 Feb.2014
HIV and AIDS are viruses that are very common in today’s society and an issue that has been very popular since the 1980’s. Millions of lives could be saved if the proper steps are taken to educate the less fortunate so they can learn about how to prevent these viruses from being transmitted to one another. It is also important to educate the youth of our society so they know the risks and consequences that could occur if they are not safe while preforming acts that are not part of the norm. When the proper steps are taken to educate, and treat those with HIV and AIDS it can prevent millions of people from dying from these horrible diseases.
The idea of waiting till marriage to have sex is no longer as effective with teens as it was in the past, due to the outcome of the “sexual revolution liberalizing social and moral attitudes toward sex” (Findley, Sarah, Chelsea Mageland, and Gabriella Pastor). For years the media has promoted sex in music, movies, television shows, and even with people. In the music industry we have many song with hidden sexual content that many teens listen to. For example, the song