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Analysis of mark edmundson Who are you and what are you doing here
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According to Mark Edmundson, in his article “Can Music Save Your Life,” he questions the effects of music in a person’s life. Edmundson found a connection in Bob Dylan’s song, “Like a Rolling Stone”. He states that, based off of Dylan’s lyrics, he can tell he had been betrayed and is letting everyone have it. Dylan’s music puzzled Edmundson. “Other music made me temporarily happy, or tranquil, or energized.” (Edmundson paragraph 5) After Edmundson over played “Like a Rolling Stone”, he went back to listening to music based off of his mood. His opinion on pop music was that it suggests life makes sense. He questions if music is what a person runs to, to hide from their feelings and fears. Edmundson shares the opinion of philosopher, Allan Bloom,
stating that he believes music just creates a false joy. “Music lovers feel alive only when they are plugged in to their tunes: The rest of the time they have only themselves and they are, in themselves, insufficient.” (Edmundson paragraph 18) In the article, it is stated that Plato feels there are three parts that can be harmonized by music. These three items are the spirited, appetitive, and the rational part. Edmundson believes that music causes drama in life. He states that it turns boredom into drama. “Does music save their lives? No, it preserves them, much as it did mine. Music allows you to tolerate dullness, muted, icy boredom. Music is a balm – a cortisone spread.” (Edmundson paragraph 26) Because of Edmundson’s connection with Bob Dylan’s song, it opened up a new door for him, he began trying to write. In the Comanche tribe, every warrior has their own song. The warriors would sing or hum their song from the time they woke up, until the time they went to sleep. Edmundson believes that music moves people emotionally, but it should also move a person from place to place. Also, he believes that music is about letting people feel your feelings for you. “Feel them for yourself, I say. Then shout them out loud. And sing them too. Do it for your own pleasure. It doesn’t matter whether anyone is listening.” (Edmundson paragraph 45)
Music can be traced back into human history to prehistoric eras. To this day archeologists uncover fragments of ancient instruments as well as tablets with carved lyrics buried alongside prominent leaders and highly influential people. This serves as a testament to the importance and power of music, as well as its influence in society. Over its many years of existence, music’s powerful invocation of feelings has allowed it to evolve and serve many purposes, one being inspiring change. American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel.” This fuel is the very things that powers the influence of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society, that author Glenn C. Altschuler writes about in his book, “All Shook Up – How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America.” Between 1945 and 1965 Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed American society and culture by helping to ease racial integration and launch a sexual revolution while most importantly developing an intergenerational identity.
...orgettable. Research shows that “There’s this unifying force that comes from the music and we don’t get that from other things.”(Landau) Bruce Springsteen is a great storyteller and has captured some of the experiences of the American working class. Even when the lyrics are dark or the subject matter is depressing, he manages to provide hope, too. For as long as I can remember, my mother has been playing Springsteen’s music. When I hear a song of his now, it reminds me of driving down the road with the windows down belting out a song with my mom. As Dave Marsh from Creem Magazine prophetically wrote in 1975, “Springsteen’s music is often strange because is has an almost traditional sense of beauty, an inkling of the awe you can feel when, say, first falling in love or finally discovering that the magic in the music is also in you.” (Bruce Springsteen Biography 2)
... how it became the pillar of popular music. Also, he illustrates how influential music is and the important role it plays in our lives. Musical events provide an outlet for people to socialize and make friends. Personally, I am glad Rock ‘n’ Roll raised expectations of music. Socialization was needed in America; society was becoming more prosperous, more culturally accepting as exhibited by the start of black and white segregation. Teenagers, who are going through the conflicts of youth also were impacted by the change in society and required a stabilizing influence of their own, also known as Rock ‘n’ Roll. In conclusion, Richard Welch accurately depicted the events, the complexity of music, and the young culture milestones that led up to revolution of popular music in American History.
Even though people listen to music just to hear the melody, music is a way to express certain feelings and think about what the song means to someone personally. 20th century pop artists including Dido, Louis Armstrong, and Garth Brooks reveal transcendentalist values of the 19th century Literary Movement through self-reliance, deliberate living, and importance of nature.
Everyone can say that music has become a major part of almost everything in our lives, but many argue about whether or not music is a luxury or whether we need it to survive. Music has been around for as long as anyone can remember, yes it has evolved, but there’s always been music it seems. From tribes performing their rituals with music, all the way to someone listening to it just for fun. But, many say that a human needs music to survive, that without it life would not go on. And like mentioned before, it has been around for many years and it seems like one cannot picture a world without it. In my opinion, I believe, that one does not need music to live, it is just something people like to do while studying, practicing a sport, or just for fun.
What is music? Where did it come from? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, music is defined as the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity (Music). There are many types of genres of music. Examples include classical, rock, rap, techno, metal, acoustic, pop and many others. Music is one of the most popular cultural aspects that we have adopted from ancient societies throughout history. Some forms of music date back to ancient civilizations of Egypt, China, India, Greece and Rome. Music can be used during every day activities such as working out, relaxation, for entertainment and also therapeutic uses. Many types of music therapy have been seen all over the world and also in different time periods. Music Therapy was used in the 20th century for World War One and World War Two veterans. Local musicians were hired to play in the local hospitals where veterans that were suffering both physically, emotionally and mentally were making progress towards recovery. Music therapy is still very common today. It gives an opportunity for a musical therapist to work with people of all different ages and varying disabilities. In order to become a musical therapist, a person must have some special qualities. Some of these include basic understanding of music, the willingness to help people, patience, creativity, empathetic and supportive. According to the Cancer Association society “ Music therapy may be used to encourage emotional expression, promote social interaction, relieve symptoms, and for other purposes.”
Rob says, “It seems to me that if you place music (and books, probably, and films, and plays, and anything that makes you feel) at the center of your being, then you can’t afford to sort out your love life, start to think of it as the finished product. You’ve got to pick at it, keep it alive and in turmoil, you’ve got to pick at it and unravel it until it all comes apart and you’re compelled to start all over again” (169). When music was at Rob’s center, when he was using it to define himself, it was a destructive force. The definition was an illusion, and this strained his relationships. But when he realized he was the one who needed to define himself, music became a symbol of understanding of himself and of his relationship with Laura.
Studies have demonstrated that certain sorts of rock music can heighten feelings. This means youth and adolescents who are inclined to negative, fierce, or depressive contemplations are more prone to have these sentiments (and follow up on them). By the same accord, youngsters who are characteristically content and happy are more averse to have the negative verses in specific tunes influence them in any capacity. To them, it’s simply entertainment (Kwan,
“F*** the police coming straight from the underground, a young brother got it bad cause i’m brown.”, musician Ice Cube raps. Marilyn Manson parades onstage dressed in women’s clothing and a burning cross in the background. Shouting lyrics about sex, religion, guns, drugs and violence. What emotions do you think it would invoke on most listeners after painting a picture in your head of all this? Today’s music industry is influencing society in a negative fashion. Although music can seem like an awesome innocent time, everyone should realize it causes violence because of the bad influence it can have on the listener’s way of thinking and behavior.
Music has incredible effects on the brain and body! Ever since the beginning of time, music has been around. It can influence the way a person thinks and behaves, and also social interactions. Teens are more susceptible to this (Revatto 1). Music can be used in therapy by helping people with depression, and can even be a more natural way to heal the body (“How Music...” 1). In some cases, songs and melodies can help or make diseases worse. Music is a powerful thing and can affect your brain and many other things in your body in numerous ways.
Music therapy is the use of music and or musical elements by a qualified music therapist with a client or group in a process designed to facilitate and promote communication, relationships, learning, expression, organization and other relevant therapeutic objects in offer to meet physical, emotional, mental, social, and cognitive needs. There are many things that make music therapy. A few elements that contribute to music therapy are tone, rhythm, harmony, melody, and timbre. There are many reason as to why people try music therapy. A few would be coping with illness, managing problems, and overcoming impairments. When someone is thinking about music therapy the first step is getting a bachelor’s degree. There is also places that will let you
In this writing assignment, I will focus on defining the meaning of music. By giving the meaning of music I will also express how the music will and can benefit a young child. I will also give my thoughts about the web site and how music, benefits to our young children. I will also address the different instruments and different sounds these instruments make in many different songs. I will address how creativity comes to play with music in the classroom.
In a study done by Schafer, Seldmeier. Startler, and Huron, 129 people were all asked to finish the following sentence, “I listen to music because” (Schäfer). Some answers were “because it helps me find my own way”, “because it calms me”, “because it can make me dream”, and “Because it gives me the energy I need for the day”(Schäfer). Music affects each of these people in such a way that it touches their lives. The first quote shows how music can bring out the real you and that leads you to making your own decisions and following the right path for you in your life. The quote that follows the first speaks to how music can evoke feeling in a person. This musical ‘happy place’ helps many through very tough times in their lives that they might have carried with them longer than without music. Quote number three also speaks to this ambiance that music makes for us. It gives a kind of high that can lift up anyone who needs it and that leads into the final quote, “because it gives me the energy I need for the day.”(Schäfer) Over 25 percent of the United States have a diagnosable mental illness.(Mkurz@ca-industries.com. "Mental Disorders in America.") Music is a type of therapy for many of these people and can quite literally
Think back on a time when you experienced something stressful. How did you cope with it? Recall a time when you needed to relax. What did you use to help you? Chances are your answers involve music. The desire to play music while working, studying, or even relaxing is universal. Whether playing the music, singing along, or just listening, music can have many positive effects that aren’t often recognized. Music is unique in its ability to stimulate more than just one brain hemisphere, incorporating both the right and left sides of the brain. Because both sides of the brain are being affected, there are both creative and analytical benefits to making music part of daily routines. It’s no secret that listening to or playing music is enjoyable, but studies have proven that music can boost more than just your mood.
Through music we are able to comprehend someone’s personality, their views, their culture, and who they are as an overall person. The music you listen to is a reflection of who you are and your own personal thoughts. As I reflect on the music I listen to I came to the conclusion that I gravitate towards songs that depict the emotions we feel through lyrics while being able to relate it to my own personal experiences.