Rock Music and Violence free essay sample

Of the social impacts that music is blamed for, violence is the most shocking. The assumption by the before mentioned groups, that music causes violence in American youth, is very debatable. Firmly believe that music doesnt at all cause violence. I on the Other hand, argue that music reinforces certain feelings and incites emotion in the listener as it is intended to do. Music cant be blamed for acts of violence, because it sins t music or the music industry that shoots up a school. It is the children who are committing acts of violence. Music is meant to incite emotion and convey meaning not to cause violence.Teenage Violence is a problem that plagues Americas children. Suicide and school shootings are two of the most visible and horrid forms of violence displayed by American children. Many parents have been quick to blame this violence on the music that violent children listen to. Although these songs may depict violent situations and feelings, the artists who are blamed for the violence intend the songs to incite an emotion in their listener, not violence. There are several cases in which a parent has sued a record company over an act of violence committed by theyre children.An example of this is the court case McCollum v. CBS, Inc. (1988) which was brought by the parents of John McCollum, who it was alleged, listened repeatedly to two Osborne albums, Blizzard of Oz and Diary of Madman, on the familys stereo before going into his bedroom and listening to a third album, Speak of the Devil, at which point he shot himself with a . 22 caliber handgun. He was found dead the next morning as the phonon cartridge sat on the still revolving turntable. McCollum had reportedly been listening to the song Suicide Solution before retiring to his bedroom.The plaintiffs contended that this song was the proximate cause of the young mans actions. The songs lyrics include the phrases, Suicide is the only way out. Dont know what its really about (McCollum v. CBS, Inc. 249 Cal. Reporter 187 (1988). 189-191). The truth in this case however is not that Oozy caused John McCollum death. The causes of his death are much more complicated. The song in question didnt glorify suicide at all. The song was written to point out the dangers of drinking alcohol in excess. The song related to Bon Scott Of the group AC/DC who had drank himself to death.The song Suicide Solution was an anti suicide song, and was being blamed for a childs death. John McCollum had problems that led him to suicide long before listening to Oozy Osborne music. Music is not a cause, but an outlet for the suicidal or violent feelings a child might have. Another example of the problem of music being blamed for violence happened with the advent of Gangster Rap in the early asss. In 1993 Ronald Ray Howard, an eighth grade drop-out, was convicted of shooting Texas State Trooper Bill Davidson. This teenager had been listening to the song Sister Soulful, by Outpace Shaker.The songs lyrics are: Cops on my tail they finally pull me over and I laugh. Remember Rodney King and I blast his punk ass. The jury remained unconvinced that Hoards listening to the song caused him to commit an act of violence. Howard placed responsibility in Shaker for pulling the trigger. He was convicted of the murder. Lyrics such as the lyrics to Oozy Osborne Suicide Solution and OPAC Shakers Sister Soulful arent the cause of violence, but they are listened to by troubled youths who commit violent acts, and they merely serve as a way of expressing emotion.Critics Of my argument against the correlation between music and causing violence would be quick to point to accidents and deaths that have occurred at concert venues. I, however, argue that it is the people in charge of the venues at which the concerts are held that are responsible, not the musicians themselves. I myself who go to allot of concerts at many different venues see this first hand. One place that go to often is Riverbed, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the security there is great.They allow no shoving, as am always upfront also, what they call the Pit Area, which is where allot of the mussing goes on, at this venue it is not allowed and they go through every extreme to make sure it does not happen. On the other hand, Nationwide Arena in Columb us, Ohio, s not quite as good, the security there is much lacked; Ive seen fights break out from people shoving and pushing past others and the security not doing anything. But a very good example of when violence erupted at a music gathering was at the infamous Woodstock 99.The festival was supposed to commemorate the original Woodstock of 1969 that promoted peace, love, and rock n roll erupted in violence. Woodstock 99 was transformed from a three-day festival of music and blazing sun into a night of violence. Concertgoers trashed much of the 1 00 acres on the former Air Force base used for the concert. The reason for the violence was not the music itself. It was a mixture of events that caused mass hysteria and tons of damages. The factors that led to the violence are clear. There were two days of 90 degree heat. Vendors took quick advantage of this by selling a 20 oz. Outlet of water for $4. Everything was commercialese from the expensive tickets to the outrageous profits being reeled in by greedy vendors. The heat and rain which led to mud and filth caused the 225,000 + fans develop hatred at the people that were profiting from the concertgoers. The results were disastrous. Seventeen fires were burning in the area of East Stage, explosions could be heard, 1 1 tractor-trailers were on fire, and the right tower was burning after concertgoers pulled it down. A mob looted the Tams and vending huts, and the New York State Troopers had to be called in to keep the peace.Overall, the concert showed that the commercialism and poor security caused the riot. The mob that did the looting and fire setting wasnt a product of the music itself but of the conditions and the hysteria that erupted after days of high prices and blazing heat. Have mentioned several times over the course of my argument that music s designed to incite emotion or display a meaning in its listener. Almost every child is exposed to various types of music throughout childhood. The messages displayed arent really comprehensible until we get older, usually in our teen years however.Music offers all kid an outlet for the feelings that drive them. It offers them more than a role model. It offers them a chance to be influenced by its messages. According to some, the influence is very negative and leads children to commit violent acts. This argument cant be substantiated. Music is Often up to the interpretation Of the listener. This enables a piece of music to touch all of its listeners in a different way. The interpretation of certain youths will reinforce already negative sentiments; it will not cause them to think a certain way. In The Social Impact of Music Violence Senator Joseph Lieberman (D. Con. Recently said, When combined with the all the murder and mayhem depicted by the whole gamut of media [music], they are helping to create a culture of violence that is increasingly enveloping our children, desensitizing them to consequences and ultimately cheapening the value of human life. I totally disagree with this statement cause music isnt cheapening human life. It is broadening the horizons of todays children. With so many genres of music available on the Internet today, a child can learn about different cultures through their music. Senator Lieberman is blaming the music for things that it alone is not powerful enough to do. Music isnt meant to incite violence. It is meant to incite an emotion with each of its listeners. It is meant to touch people on a personal level. Any violence acted out by a teen would be caused by various elements that depend solely on their own environment. Music cant be cited as a cause. Adjust isnt plausible. Senator Lieberman is not the only one to down music, The Parents Music Resource Center (MARC) was an American committee formed in 1 985 with the goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to be violent or sexually suggestive. The committee was founded by four women: Tipper Gore, wife of Senator and later Vice President AY Gore; Susan Baker, wife of Treasury Secretary James Baker; Pam Howard, wife of Washington realtor Raymond Howard; and Sally Envies, wife of Washington City Council Chairman John Envies. They were known as the Washington wives a reference to their husbands connections with the deader government. The Center eventually grew to include 22 participants. Who can forget, for those that love the rock music, them going up against Dee Snider?Dee Snider, frontal and lead singer of glam metal band Twisted Sister, testified that he [did] not support Mr.. Servitors unnecessary and unfortunate decision to agree to a so-called generic label on some selected records. Like John Denver, Snider felt that his music had been misinterpreted. He defended the Twisted Sister songs Under the Blade, which had been interpreted as referring to sadomasochism, bondage, and ape, and Were Not Goanna Take It, which had been accused of promoting violence.