I read an article recently about civic leaders in Australia being concerned about young people loitering in parks and public places and then getting unruly and out of hand.
They have now started playing piped music at the sites - they are playing Barry Manilow songs - in the belief that this will kill the atmosphere and encourage the kids to disperse!
Do you think it will work or will catch on in other areas?
2006-06-12 01:14:29 · 5 answers · asked by Sandroulla 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
We are doing about that in sociology at the moment!
We are doing about how youth in increasingly subject to preventative targeting and restriction from public space, and we have already tried the classical music treatment in England and it has worked really well!! Im not sure when exactly but it was about 2 yrs ago that I heard about it being played in train stations at night.
I think it pretty much does work....who wants to listen to Stravinsky at their favourite hang out place? Who would want to listen to Public Enemy over a romantic meal? I think the reasons it works are obvious.
I think its a great Idea and although most of the people on my course say it was an outrage and the result of unfair stereotyping..........they seem to forget that young ppl can feel intimidated by other young ppl and are the main victms of youth crime. So the interests its protecting arent some great opressive "force" hovering above about the descend at any minute to encapture us all, as some ppl seem to annoyingly and stupidly believe. I think I am the only one being honest in our seminars sometimes, the rest just follow whatever view is fashionable and non offensive to hold. It does my head in as you are probably seeing right now!!
When has it been the right to intimidate people and cause trouble? Its addressing a real and exisiting problem and it frustrates me that no one wants to say it.
2006-06-12 02:07:14 · answer #1 · answered by Zinc 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds as if, not only will the youth be driven away by the music, but everyone else will want to leave too!
Possibly it will work, but it could also spark different kinds of disturbance- the kids can always fight music by bringing a boombox and playing even louder music. Either that, or they could destroy the speakers. Even if they do leave the parks, there's not guarantee that they won't go and be unruly elsewhere.
All in all, it's a cute idea, but I'd be surprised if it turns out to be anything other than a short-lived gimmick. Nothing can beat actually getting people to go out and engage with the kids, actually give them options and something to do. A great recent documentary about Rio, 'Favela Rising', shows how youth workshops for dance and music helped to reduce participation and recrutiment in organised crime groups... The problems Australian civic leaders face are nothing like as bad as the ones in Rio, but they could still take notes from the Affro Reggae movement.
2006-06-12 08:31:58 · answer #2 · answered by Buzzard 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Piped Barry Manilow sounds pretty disgusting and would certainly encourage me to leave an area, although I might try suing for the unnatural cruelty inflicted upon me. If it doesn't work, they could always try showing Spurs games on large screens - this is guaranteed to drive away anybody who loves football and will either bore the others to death or render them comatose. Inviting me to preach might have a similar effect.
2006-06-12 08:31:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now i'm normally a chilled out guy but if I had to listen to Barry Manilow things would turn nasty!
Norwegian Black Metal calms me right down. No joke.
2006-06-12 10:14:38 · answer #4 · answered by Skull 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lmao thats hilarious. i dont think it will work because the people could just go to each others houses and hang out there. man those civic leaders are cruel
2006-06-12 08:18:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋