How does music effect our society?

Question

With the state of the nation the way it is you have to wonder what a possible cause for the downward spiral of our youth is... we've already attacked TV, but is the Radio 1-esque approach to the mainstream, the 'get them in and get them out' attitude, that's creating a lacklustre and uninspired generation?

The mainstream ideals of processing artists and building them up until the next 'big thing' comes along isn't creating the inspiring pop culture world we once had... and what's the effect it's taking on society?... We're not saying certain genres, i.e. rap etc are necessarily bad, rather the way in which the industry machine handles artists that is creating such a negative outward view on the youth of Britain.

Would you catch a New Order fan wielding a knife or gun? Unlikely!... So do you think the music we listen to, controlled mainly by Radio 1 has any impact on the restless, yobbish culture we now have?

Answer 1

Absolutely. Our brains settle into grooves, patterns of thinking, as a simple matter of efficiency. All aspects of our environment create those grooves, whether it's television, music, advertising, books, the people around us. Music is especially strong this way because it really gets into our brains -- i.e. that annoying song that won't go away.

So we put certain words into our brains, in highly repetitive and memorable forms, and they keep spinning there. Of course it affects us, even if it's indirect. More than that, the really simple, bland pop we're inundated with doesn't exercise our brains. Listening to complicated music stimulates us and helps us think more complexly. Listening to most modern pop puts our capacity to think carefully to sleep.

There's an unbelievably huge amount of music going about out there. The major label A&R execs have their pick. What they're choosing to give us is what keeps us docile and obedient.

They only get away with it because people buy it. We have more power than we realize.

Answer 2

Please note that this isn't an attack on genres, i.e. rap, as pointed out in the question... rather on the lacklustre approach to mainstream whitewash... that's giving the youth of Britain nothing to get inspired by. That's the question. Whether the Radio 1 approach is creating mindless, emotionless drones with no thoughts of their own.

Answer 3

Every singular thought which we process through our minds have very large impacts upon ourselves, and our societies.

Thoughts are things = real, tangible, constructive, destructive.

Thoughts are just as real and tangible as stones, however with regard given to thoughts, which are mobile with in our minds and lend functional motion to our body's, then unlike the stone which is immobile and motionless, our thoughts when cultivated in negative forms then lend credence to destructive behavior in there hosts.

I would say that our societies are being flooded with negative music, that is if you can even call it music.

Music to me is Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Strauss, Handel, Schubert, Vivaldi, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Etc.

By calling the garbage being put out today 'Music' then it only serves to degrade the accomplishments of those who worked so tirelessly and diligently making true music rise to greatness.

Yes to answer your question, I do believe that Garbage junk so called music is not only affecting our society today, but I know it is affecting it in a very negative form, and even to call it art is shameful.

P.S. I myself am not an upper class person, I am no better, or lesser than anyone else, I have been through a great deal of bad things in my life, more than most can imagine, I grew up with a vast many guns in my home, and in bad drug neighborhoods, I have walked through life with the best and the worst among us, and I will say that I do not like to hear, or sing about negative things, but even more so, If I were a singer, I would never ever promote negativity.

Answer 4

I think its bollocks about music having influences on peoples actions. I think some music is inspirational. Even tho rappers sing about guns and drugs, what ever its because thats wot they know, thats how they were brought up. I mean would u see an upper class person rapping about guns and drugs?? no cause they dont know about it. would u see 50 cent singing nella fantasia? nope cause he dont know nothin about it. i think its just people as usual categorizing others. hoodies?? they arnt all yobs. all people sing about is what they know, its ridiculous how people stick labels on others just because of a certain type of song they love, lots of songs that are out there, ie rappers are about things they have actually been through.

Answer 5

Look at the dick heads driving like lunatics down the road with music so loud they couldn't even hear the emergency services behind them. The youth of Britain are a bunch of w.....s

Answer 6

it messes with your mind and gives you bad habbits of doing drugs or smoking to early .back in the day we use to have nice and smooth music but know we have hard and violent music that influence you to do bad things

Answer 7

I'd say that music videos have more influence than the songs themselves, what with all the fighting and people arguing, lovers' quarrels, etc.