As I’ve stated before I personally think music is a wonderful thing. For myself, music does not influence any negativity towards my life or my moods and state of mind, I don’t let it. I also believe that music doesn’t influence many young kids in a negative way, that they use it as a scapegoat, a way to express themselves and just for the sheer joy of it. That being said I think there are exceptions. Some young people do let music alter their behavior and moods in a bad way. I don’t think that the music it’s self inspires some of our youth to act out, I think that they are already in that frame of mind and the music adds fuel to their fire. There are all different types of music to fit every mood, feeling, and desire, and it is up to the listener to determine how they will be affected by it. For example, a young teenage girl, who has low self esteem about herself and her body, can listen to a song about the pressure of being thin and beautiful and let it even lower her self esteem and image, or worse make her develop something like an eating disorder. An angry misfit can listen to heavy metal and it will make him in the mood to go mash mailboxes or start a fight with someone. It all just depends on the music and kids.
Certain types of music have different types of influences on different kids. I think rap has the worst reputation and is the most influential in a negative way. In my opinion rap sends out the most negative messages about morality and produces a negative outlook on humanity. Some rap music tells kids that it is cool to become a “thug”. It perpetuates racial differences and is constantly promoting disrespect to women. They glorify sex and drug in their music. I think certain rap music can influence a young kid from a bad neighborhood to join a gang, because they think that is who they are and it is the only thing they will be able to do with their life and this music is encouraging it. I’m not saying all rap music is like this there are some artists that promote the exact opposite but for the most part this is how it is.
I also believe that the youth in general are very impressionable. That as kids are growing up and they are constantly looking for things that will help them feel more like they belong. Music is always the first thing that society blames for ruining our youth. Even though I do agree that music can have a negative influence on our youth I don’t think that it is the only thing that can have that type of influence. Kids can be influenced by their friends, T.V., video games, and many other things. I don’t really understand why everyone’s first assumption is the music but that is just how our society is.
It does seem that we find music to fit our moods. I agree that when people are depressed or excited they will try and find the right tones to help them cope or big them up. So, you make me think, is music really a bad influence after all. If people are already in a bad frame of mind shouldn't they have an outlet for that emotion? It isn't fair to put the blame all on music for people's problems. Many times a song will be able to make it sound like it is speaking directly to you and often it will help you see the brighter side of your circumstances. I have also seen where music has been used in therapy and find it really interesting how it has such a profound effect on our states of mind. I think you made a good point of stating how young people are so impressionable. I remember when I was a youngster and thought musicians were so cool. One thing that does impress me about musicians is how they really value their fans. They do also take responsibility for their music by constantly providing music their fans will appreciate; it must be pretty hard to reach their fans emotions as well as they do.
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