Music and the American Culture

1632 Words4 Pages

Music has played a vital role in human culture and evidence based on archaeological sites can date it back to prehistoric times. It can be traced through almost all civilizations in one form or another. As time has progressed so has the music and the influences it has on people. Music is an important part of popular culture throughout the world, but it is especially popular in the United States. The music industry here is, and has been, a multi-million dollar business that continues to play an important role in American popular culture. This is also a art form and business that is forever changing as the times and more importantly, technology changes. Technology has changed the way music is made as well as how it is produced, marketed, sold, performed and other various factors associated with music.

Women’s rights have progressed over recent history as well as gender roles associated with both genders. The feminist movement has made great progress for the betterment and advancement of women in this country. Women are seen as equals at home and in the workplace because of this feminist movement and theory. Women are not content with being stay at home moms and are pursuing higher education and better professions, previously reserved for men. The feminist movement fights for women in all aspects and is not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Over my generation I have seen examples and conflict between music and the feminist movement in multiple instances.

The artifact I have chosen for this assignment is the recently popular Fat Joe and Lil Wayne song, “Make It Rain”. This song came out in 2006 but reached more popularity with the remix in 2007. This is also a song that was nominated for a Grammy award ...

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...roblem will continue or even get worse. The American culture and society needs to make a change and get their priorities in order to make a change for the next generations.

Works Cited

Adams, Terri, and Douglas Fuller. "The Words Have Changed but the Ideology Remains the Same: Misogynistic Lyrics in Rap Music." Journal of Black Studies. Sage Publications. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. .

Johnson, James D., Mike S. Adams, Leslie Ashburn, and William Reed. "Differential Gender Effects of Exposure to Rap Music on African American Adolescents' Acceptance of Teen Dating Violence." Sex Roles 33.7-8 (1995): 597-605. Print.

Martinez, Theresa A. "Popular Culture as Oppositional Culture: Rap as Resistance." Sociological Perspectives 40.2 (1997): 265-86. JSTOR. University of California Press. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.

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