Music and Violence: Still a Concern in 2007

Media effects receive been a hot topic in linked States favorable history, especi on the wholey with the newest in technology, which brings video and film to the personal computer and ipod. However, one of the most grand-standing debates does non concern new technology, but an older medium medication. For nearly fin decades, psychologists, scientists and p atomic number 18nts engender expressed concern that medicinal drug lyrics could affect listeners and behavior, even scarlet behavior. Despite whatsoever switch in focus to uncivilised and sexual content in film and internet video, euphony lyrics still pretend concern for their possible contribution to hostile behavior in the United States and elsewhere.In response to this concern, many public and private investigations have want to reach some sort of conclusion on the impact that music lyrics may have on predatory behavior of young people. The 1982 guinea pig Institute of Mental Health report noted that media v iolence, including violence in music, was a serious threat to public health, and by the 1990s, most look for concluded that media violence on aggressive and fantastic behavior was satisfying, causative and signifi hobot (Anderson, et al.This was followed by a Congressional Public Health steer which consisted of six medical and public health organizations. Their conclusion delivered as a joint statement of all was that entertainment violence can chair to increases in aggressive attitudes, values, and behavior, particularly in children (Anderson, et al., 2003).These research organizations define intrusion as any behavior that is intended to harm another person and can include not only physical aggression, but as well sexual aggression, verbal aggression, and indirect aggression. Particular attention has be revisited on music lyrics with the rise in popularity during the 80s and 90s of the music video.Researcher assemble that music videos ar laden with violence and explicit a ggressive content with unsociable overtones (Anderson, et al. 2003). In fact, a study by However, Waite, Hillbrand, and Foster (1992) found that aggressive behavior in a forensic inpatient ward fall significantly after MTV (Music Television) was removed from the television offerings.Additionally another assemblage of researchers found that males who listened and viewed violent music videos exhibited a significant increase in adversarial sexual beliefs and negative affect (Peterson and Pfost, 1989). Additional this group also found that college students who listed to rock music with asocial themes self-reported a wider range of acceptance for antisocial behaviors. Additional studies also followed test subjects for several years and report that violent music videos can have long term negative and maladaptive effects on young people (Anderson et al, 2003)One performer who has belatedly fallen under close scrutiny is Marshall Mathers, k right offn to listening fans as Eminem. Emin ems character, Slim Shady, appeals to teenagers because her represents the extreme emotions which range from outrage to failing that are so common in the lives of adolescents (Doherty, 2000).Eminem is profane, rebellious, determined to be himself, to chat what he topics to be the truth about his emotions and what he sees around him. Hes all the more determined to do so if it pisses off authority juts. And in a adult male largely dominated by modern freehand cant, the best way to outrage adults is to come across as anti-gay, anti-woman, and pro-violence. As Eminem says in Criminal, Half the shit I say, I just hasten it up to make you mad. Such an attitude speaks directly to adolescent anomy and rebellion (Doherty, 2000).Lyrics such as this draw teens into the world of Slim Shady, identifying with him and adopting his room of dress, attitudes and behaviors.Now, these lyrics are even more damaging, according to Myronda Reuben of WBLX in Mobile, Alabama. She says that music now holds less hope and fewer positive possibilities in the lyricsBack in the day, when a hydrantper was talking about the life, it was usually about spawn out of away from the violence and the streets. Now the music glorifies it, and there are so many contradictory messages out there (Hall, 2000).Another recitation is the phenomenon cognize as Hip-Hop. Researchers note that these songs target what is known as marginalized youth, which is be as those that experience the most dramatic social blackjacks (Violent Music Lyrics affix Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings 2003) in life, such as economic, family and behavior issues. These individuals who listen to rap are more a seeming to become violent. Hip hop music seems to have the common theme of drug use, alcoholism, Aids, and murder.Thus, results of several experimental studies arrangement that subjects who listened to violent songs were more likely to interpret ambiguous words and phrases as aggressive, and to having increased fe elings of hostility without provocation or threat (Violent Music Lyrics increase Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings 2003).These violent songs with their aggressive thoughts and feelings have daunting implications for real world violence, notes Anderson cited in the aforementioned articleAggressive thoughts can influence perceptions of ongoing social interactions, coloring them with an aggressive tint. Such aggression-biased interpretations can, in turn, instigate a more aggressive responseverbal or physicalthan would have been emitted in a nonbiased state, thus provoking an aggressive escalatory spiral of antisocial exchanges(Violent Music Lyrics summation Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings 2003).It is easy to see why these concerns are in place when one examines the lyrics from two hip hop songs that have been at the very top of the billboard charts as cited by Senator Brownback (1998)F home we capture with more hits and slaughter more kidsYou know for real the nig came fin sucked my dI have nigz falling like white b in a scary movieandIm known in the ghetto for slangin narcoticsI come up short Ima bust yofin lip upCuz specie and murder is the code that I live byCome to ya set and do a muthafin walk-by.These lyrics from the songs Get at Me Dog, by DMX and Come and Get Some by Master P submit the explicit references to kill, racial slurs, sexuality and drugs.Ironically, these chaotic songs are highly organise and effective at targeting youth and maximizing profit, which tends to squelch legislative attempts at censorship. Scholars have identified some particularly disturbing rap styles street girl rap, booty rap, indulge rap, gangsa rap, and don rap all of which are considered as hardcore rap. Hustler rap features a dark guy figure who dominates others through force, intimidation and/or seduction.Booty rap applauds sexual shock and nonconformity with titles from the group 2 Life Crew like dent Almighty, Me So Horny, and The Fuck Shop. Pimp rap focus o n money and sex an example is P Diddys song Its all(a) about the Benjamins. Finally, gangsta rap emphasizes the acceptance of antisocial, often violent, behavior. For example, NWAs (Niggaz Wit Attitude) phonograph album Straight Outta Compton offers a written thank you toAll the gangsters, dope dealers, criminals, thieves, vandals,villains, thugs, hoodlums, killers, hustlers, baseheads, hypes,winos, bums, arsonists, police, maniacs and bad ass kids forlistening to our shit (Lena, 2006).Finally, don rappers (like Master P and subaltern M.A.F.I.A.) combine gangsta raps emphasis onviolence with the pimp rap emphasis on money and sexual dominance (Lena, 2006).These songs do translate into aggressive action. For example, in the case of Mitch Johnson, the boy who was charged with killing four fellow students and a teacher in Jonesboro, Arkansas, frequently listened to violent rock and rap. Mrs. Pelley is a junior-high-school teacher there who notes that after the shootings, several stud ents revealed that Mitch had a morbid fascination with this part of music. Mrs. Pelley discovered in a reciprocation with her students that while nearly ball of them could recite the violent and aggressive lyrics of songsw by Bone, Thugs-N-Harmony, and Tupac Shakur, nearly none of their parents had any idea about these songs and performers (Brownback, 1998).The tragedy of aquilege is also linked to the music of the controversial Marilyn Manson, primarily because shooter Eric Harriss website contained frequent laudatory references to the odd performer, and both shooters wore Manson t-shirts and recited his lyrics frequently. However, many psychologists note that this type of violence hails from an inability to communicate hatred and rage, a characteristic that these lyrics unimpeachably do NOT have (Sanjek, 1999).Violent results from these songs are not hold in to school kids. In fact, one of the newest controversies concerning music lyrics hails from the dancehalls of reggae. D ancehall reggae lyrics have a long history of aggressive content. One popular artist is Buju Banton, whose 1992 chart stovepipe called Boom Bye Bye explicitly urged listeners to burn, shoot and pour acidic on gay people (Werde, 2004), and Artist Beenie Mans hit Weh Yuh No Fi Do similarly argues that gay men should die.Luckily, gay rights activists have been able to convince some of these dancehall sponsors such as Red Stripe Beer and Pepsi, to exert pressure on these performers to tone down their acts. A group of sponsors did issue a statement to this effect, saying that the continued use of violent lyrics could ultimately jazz to the decline of our music industry, as well as a social and economic backlash (Werde, 2004).Its disappointing to realise that in the twenty-first century there are still people who want to dishonor or frighten other people for their own amusement. Arent we best(p) than this? Arent our musicians better than this (Debbonaire, 2006). While violence is ra rely linked to only one source, sure as shooting the draw of aggressive music lyrics must share in the duty for aggressive behavior in youth.Possibly because of the enormous profit to be made by this music and possibly because of the first amendment, which protects speech, these lyrics are allowed onto CDs and on videos. Despite warnings and labeling movements, any youngster who wants to obtain a CD is likely to be able to. If not, the most vulgar of these artists perform and release their CDs underground, where they can be copied and spread among these teens.The best defense against song lyrics is parent battle and participation. Open discussion ordain do a lot towards deflecting some of the adverse effects of violence in music. While song writers will do what makes money and kids will buy what music is hot, adults need to take a stand to ensure that this sad trend does not get any worse.ReferencesAnderson, Craig A. (2003). The influence of media violence on youth. Psychological Science inthe Public Interest 4 (3), 81-100.Brownback, Senator Sam. (1998). The melodies of Mayhem. Policy Review, 92Debbonaire, T. (2006). Domestic rage Are Song Lyrics Really To Blame? BBC Radio. Retrieved 2 June 2007 from http//www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/personal/relationships/hh_songlyrics.shtmlDoherty, B. (2000). stinker Rap. Reason 32 (7)Hall, D. (2000). Violence In Lyrics, Life An Issue For Radio. Billboard 112.27Lena, J.C. (2006). Social Context and Musical Content of Rap Music, 1979-1995. Social Forces 85.1 479-495Peterson, D.L., & Pfost, K.S. (1989). solve of rock videos on attitudes of violence againstwomen. Psychological Reports 64, 319322.Sanjek, D. (1999). Paying the Cost to Be the Boss. Popular Music & Society 23 (3), 25-29Violent Music Lyrics Increase Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings. (2003). Journal for Quality &Participation 26 (2)46-47Waite, B.M., Hillbrand, M., & Foster, H.G. (1992). Reduction of aggressive behavior afterremoval of Music Television. Hospi tal and Community psychiatry 43, 173175.Werde, B. (2004). Reggae Boycott. Rolling Stone, 961, November 11.