Is music destroying social ethics?

Question

In what ways do you think music is destroying ethics? Can you be specific?
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Here are my thoughts
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Music is a vehicle. It is a means of expressing inner thoughts and desires. Sex sells..there is research out there to prove that. So...you have a vehicle....and a product.... now all you have to do is sell it.

Get some guy who can carry a tune (now a days - can rhyme on off the sleeve) and give him a beat.

I think our country has followed Puritanistic ideals for a while now. Over the years, people want more freedom. not everyone believes in the same things. Where one person may see nude art paintings as offensive - another sees it as art and a way of life.

Its all about perspectives. This is where ethics play in I think. Ethics are determined by social groups. As Americans we are part of one large social grouping and within our group are sub groups. Each sub group has its own set of ethical standard

Answer 1

Facinating. Since puritanism deals with the idea of being born either saved or cursed and sex follows a similar pattern (IE if you're not born looking sexy, particularly concerning facial features, your voice does not get heard equally to those who are in many artforms: acting, music, etc.)

Each sub-group, as you noted, indeed has it's own moral standard. And if, say, 10% of the population likes a certain type of music (regardless of the looks of the singer) ideally 10% of the music should be of that type...it should not be a voting game IE if 51% of buyers will not buy from a musician who's not considered sexy it should NOT be a premise for making nearly 100% (IE an election) for that type of looking musician.

This does more than stifle morallity but also creativity and gives many would-be ingeniously creative musicians a reason to give up early based on image (think about American Idol, for example: for crying out loud their age limit is, I believe, well under 26 and the past champion, Taylor Hicks, would not even qualify by new standards).

I agree wholeheartedly...something needs to be done about this...the music industry is becoming, indeed, very far from ideals such as freedom of speech and democracy among social sub-groups.

Answer 2

Personally i don't think it has destroyed social ethics. The thing is, most music is a product of the circumstances of that moment. What i mean is, for instance: (theoretically) if there wasn't war, we wouldn't have bands like Rage Against The Machine or System Of A Down, if we didn't have governmental issues, there wouldn't be bands like Marilyn Manson, no disease or famine means no bands like Tool or A Perfect Circle and so forth.

Most music is written about the here and now. The outcome, however, is usually misinterpreted and then blown up by the media. Let's use Marilyn Manson as an example again: he sings about his views and thoughts about government, religion, social standings and such, yet he does it in such a way that people take offense and then target him because of his 'unethical lyrics'. In retrospect, people say his music is destroying social ethics, whereas he is merely singing about the current state of social ethics (makes you think, don't it?)

I will say this though: compared to 20 years ago, the bar has been raised mightily. What's acceptable now would have been grounds for a stoning back then. Bands like Amen (who i happen to LOVE) would not have been allowed to do what they do then.

So yes, ethically today's artists get away with much more and they often exploit that (some rappers for instance). BUT, what's acceptable (in a sense) to me, is not acceptable to the person standing next to me, so it's also a matter of opinion. Where i think Rage Against The Machine is one of the most politically important groups of our time, other people may think they were a bunch of rap-wannabes who ranted about nothing at all.

My point overall is this then:
Music has nothing to do with the fall or deterioration of social ethics, music is shaped by the social ethics that occur daily. (that's my opinion anyway).

Answer 3

I agree to some extent, however, you discredit yourself with wide sweeping accusations. Atheist and or liberals may argue that the powers at be are conservative religious 'nuts'. Who is right if both sides claim the other side is the bad guy? I don't believe that this is a left vs. right or religious vs. atheist issue. There may or may not be an organized power structure behind the scene manipulating society. But despite their efforts and all their power thay are not in complete control or we would already be mindless drones. There has always been people with a lot of control and influence. In this society people can give them the power or take it away. Being well informed without ideology is the best perspective to take, or else you are the very thing you accuse others of.

Answer 4

Regarding your thoughts, I agree with all of them.

Some music is destroying social ethics but that is a person's choice. If they don't like the music, then don't listen.

I love music so it is hard for me to answer this question. I believe music is a way for people to understand and develop a common bond. Without music, I cannot imagine what the world would be like.

Answer 5

It's not music the one causing those things.

As You said, Music (and all Art as well) is only a vehicle, that's mean some one is driving it. A Car won't hit something if no one is driving it, right...

It's the people that to be blame, they use music for their own ambition... well, who is the people? I think you can figure it out you self.

Is it Music that destroy ethics, or the people with corrupted heart that destroy ethics then use media - including music, for their ambition and destroy society and culture?



Hope this help
Bless You

Answer 6

TV and Movies are doing more damage.

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

yup

Answer 9

no