16 weeks, already?

Intense work, alright! Haha, yes, this is in response to our assignment to give our final thoughts on “the topics we studied, the intense work we did, the community we shared, what we have learned”.

From the very beginning of this class, I realized how hard this class would be. Understanding the layout of Blackboard was essentially the biggest part- there’s no way to succeed in an online class if you couldn’t figure out how things worked on the main webpage! I won’t lie, it took me nearly the first three weeks to understand how to use the website so that it’s comfortable to me. It was much more difficult getting used to everything than I had thought, even as someone who can comfortably say that they are technologically up-to-date (may sound egotistical, but true!).  

Although I don’t like to sound whiny about it all, I have to agree that some assignments were a bit too much. This is partly due to my own poor management of time; I will not say that the workload given in this class is too much. Given proper time management and small increments completed throughout the course period, this class has an adequate amount of work. Again, I won’t say there’s too much, but I won’t argue that there’s too little either. Somehow, definitely, as mentioned above, getting used to the website was the biggest challenge and made work much more harder.

We go into detail with various aspects in academic writing, and without a doubt, taking this course will boost knowledge in this particular subject by introducing (or re-introducing) the basics found in essay writing. I found the Post-Draft-Reviews (PDRs) to be extremely useful, as it required participating students to think critically upon other papers, their own paper, as well as being cautious about others’ recommendations for changes on their paper. The Reading discussion board was very fun for me as well, I felt like it was a communication between students almost as if it were in person. They also initiated in some great discussions between students about interesting issues, and I always love reading and thinking about everyone’s responses.

Another challenging aspect which I felt needed to be considered about this course was the group collaboration and separation. This was extremely confusing and it was difficult for me to keep up and understand the idea of groups in an online class, at first. Within a week or two after its introduction, it was getting easier, and I soon found that it was actually really helpful and unique to have our own groups.

One disappointment, I thought, was the minimal (and I stress minimal) usage of the cyber café. I feel like the opportunity for students to really interact each other was presented, however, few took advantage of this. That’s fine, perhaps not many really wanted to express themselves out on the café; my guess is that this class was viewed as something academic, and couldn’t be something more fun, like a sort of social network thing. I feel like students should be more encouraged to participate in this section.

All other hardships aside, this was a difficult semester, but we’ve made it through! Congratulations to everyone!

English 101: Nearing the end...

Ever since I had taken an AP course in high school, my confidence in my writing had been really high; it was difficult to understand the concept, and how to be critical of one’s work, but it really paid off. I’m not saying this to disregard this class of English 101, I’m simply saying that the foundation for great essay writing had already been placed. To me, this English 101 class was a strong course which clarified many points on which I was unsure of, in regards to specific papers. One prime example is the compare and contrast paper- this is a particular type of essay which I had struggled in many aspects.

No matter what the subject matter is, there is no such thing as a waste of time. I understand this is my personal philosophy and outlook on things, but consider it for a moment. One may feel like they were simply wasting time in a course that taught material that was commonplace knowledge or something that the individual had already known. However, in doing so, they do not realize that they may pick up something subtle, something that hadn’t been noticed before. This is a commonality between any skill: with practice comes a step closer to perfection, and repetitive exposure to knowledge that one had already attained only helps reinforce it to a greater extent.

It’s not something that comes overnight, and with English, there are varying levels of expertise. I had expressed already that I felt my skills in writing essays were already proficient to a certain extent. However, I do admit that I am not very confident in my responses to topics. This may seems strange, but when submitting essays, I always have a sense of confusion on what I have written. My confidence in my level of proficiency stems from the string of higher end grades that I had received on a majority of my papers for their content during my educational life time.

There were additional benefits from this course, other than reinforcing my skills in writing essays. I was never really adept at reading, and the extensive use of the text Music & Culture within the period of this course had forced me to learn how to extract critical information from the text. I have never been a very avid reader, in fact, I had strayed away from reading for a large portion of my life. This is obviously really bad, but through patience and determination for the better grade, I had applied it and attempted, with vigor, to do my best.

The last portion in which I wish to emphasize is time management. This is a growing crisis within young adults in my generation, as well as the coming generations. There’s no dodging the truth, I had procrastinated nearly this entire term, as I do with most things in my life. I do have the ability to turn assignments on time, however, the deal of stress I go through in order to achieve that end-goal is unnecessary to a larger extent. If time was managed properly, I would not be pulling hairs out one day, and enjoying the next. They say those who manage their time properly, are those who succeed. I definitely hope I can continue to work hard on this, in order to make things better for the future.

"Economic Hardship"?

Censorship plays a large role in the music industry; this can be seen without a doubt. Many individuals have their favorite songs interrupted with “blanks” because of the explicit words that had to be removed in order for it to be aired. True, by censoring, they remove the actual words, but to what benefit or gain? Children still know what they’re saying nowadays, so it seems a bit pointless to keep it up.

To prevent a lot of censorship from occurring in their songs, artists find that they may be limited in choosing particular words to emphasize a stronger point (through use of explicit language) or express deeply or emotionally (with those particularly explicit words). Of course, other may argue that there are multiple synonyms within the dictionary to replace the words of expression with other, more meaningful words. Is it really fair to say that censorship limits artists’ ability both economically and professionally?

Artists tend to portray their feelings and outlook on life through their music, and a series of censorship can be seen within this particular category. Many artists that had songs involved with Bush and the September 11 attacks had been censored and or removed because of the effect it might have on the public. It goes without saying that this was a very difficult moment for all Americans, and in hopes to control outrage, censorship played a large role in limiting artists from speaking out against Bush and the government. Although this was limited to air-time radio, there could be copies that are not censored online. The various artists that had been affected by such censorship, obstructing their views both personally and professionally, consist of several well-known figures such as Notorious B.I.G. and Jadakiss.

“Economic hardship” is a very broad term that applies to nearly all individuals. To stop censorship would be to trample on all the efforts made to construct a more peaceful environment. It is true that the rules being applied to censorship are becoming more and more strict, however, this is not a limitation that cripples professional and economic growth of the music industry. Similar to what I said earlier, there are many synonyms- it’s a matter of word play that needs to be well structured (or differently).

To stop censorship would only cause a greater outcry from the older generation against the new stations. It had been reported in multiple instances where radio station DJs would accidentally play uncensored versions of songs, their station would be flooded with phone calls. They would be complaints about how they had played a song with uncensored lyrics; as unorthodox as one would think, this would be potential open grounds for lawsuits pertaining to children’s mental health. The sense of outrage arising from particular songs against national crisis may also be something that cannot be controlled if left uncensored, because of the mob mentality that may arise. Removing censorship because of “economic hardship” is more detrimental to both the artists’ well-being as well as the general public, and would do greater harm than good.

The Research Paper

Not simply for this particular research paper, but for most of the work that I do, I have a common recurring issue. Getting started is the biggest problem for me in almost every situation, because of the overload of information at hand, and trying to get things organized. Looking over the sources I gathered to figure out what exactly was going to be useful in the research paper took a bit of time as well. I just need a clear sense of organization before I go about working with things. It’s kind of like that habit with particular people who require a clean workspace in order to do their job; I need some sort of plan and organization in order to begin proper work.

Overall, I have a generally good plan in my mind as far as the structure for the research paper and the points that will be discussed. I had to determine what was important within the sources. They had great information, but not all of it was necessary to prove my point. I expect the sources I have selected will have a great impact on determining the course on which my research paper directs itself, as one would expect.

I had finished a little outline as of right now. Like I mentioned before, I have difficulty getting started. I understand there was plenty of time ahead to get things sorted out because we were given a heads up several weeks in advance, but even still, I take a lot of time for preparation to get started. The outline itself is already a great start for me because I know how to expand and build upon it, in order to make it look more presentable. The key points given to me from the outline are enough for me to begin work seriously. There is a guide in which I can follow, and this outline provides me with just that, to make it more simple for me.

I would have to agree that keeping a well organized time schedule would be necessary to complete this. In saying this, procrastination could be an issue that comes up with me. Hopefully I’ll be able to resist procrastinating on this to a large extent, if any at all. Nothing beneficiary really comes out of doing that, proven multiple times by many individuals all around the world.

I don’t think research papers are a waste of time however. I believe that it can teach you much more than the topic that you have selected or have been given. You can use the benefits of tactical researching in your future careers as well, regardless of your major or profession. Knowing how to research and gather the information that you need is vital to improving and expanding on your own knowledge. The ability to research properly is also key, because finding simple bits of information proves useless if it has little credibility to be fact. In other words, if the information you find is not the truth, you will only be wasting both time and effort. 

Pirates!!

Internet piracy. This is an ever-growing issue within the new and coming generations and will continue to rise to unimaginable levels. There is no way to fight against it: one can attempt to try and stem its progress momentarily, however, it cannot be stopped completely. Unless there is strict scrutiny on all web sources and their contents, there is no way to stop it in its entirety. The government would also have to provide surveillance nearly 24 hours a day to prevent this, so in short, a communism of sorts. This is both unfavorable for the good of the people as it inflicts on our liberty, our rights to free speech and privacy.

Through litigation, there has been a cut to illegal downloads online, however, this hardly made an impact as the support for lawsuits in this field had fallen. As anyone would expect, it’s hard to keep up with masses that support internet piracy- there’s just too many people to single out and file a lawsuit for.

There is no doubt that the musicians are the individuals, or groups, who take the fall the hardest with the growth of internet piracy. The train of thought remains: “Why should I buy music when I can download it for free?” The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the Music & Culture text quotes Frances W. Preston, President of BMI: “Ironically, those who steal music are stealing the future creativity they so passionately crave.”  Preston is referring to the musicians who simply cannot emphasize creativity because of the lack of funds received in their career as musicians. However, one can argue that the average consumer’s passion for music hasn’t died out, and lives on, despite the growing issue of internet piracy.

The music industry may have a loss in revenue, but this can be fixed through incorporation of their businesses into the growing technological age. There had already been multiple attempts that can be seen, in attempts to incorporate themselves with the internet. They had plans to make a monthly charge for an unlimited download of music. Although a terrible idea, the thought of attempting to conform to the inevitable, growing technological age is admirable and should continue to be improvised. Although not the best alternative, incentives should be placed; something desirable that pirates cannot attain without legal means.

Musicians have it even harder than the music industry because of the cuts between royalties. The Music industry robs them of money, when pirates are already doing damage, so it’s only common sense that the musicians are the worst off. The music industry loses money, but not as much as musicians. Like mentioned by Preston above, the passion for music may be lost because there is greater emphasis on making a living with other jobs, rather than having their “day-job” solely on music. The pirates are the ones who benefit the most- litigation amongst these individuals are not so common, individuals who are caught were most likely abusing the system to an extremely unreasonable level. This isn’t a matter on how we can stop piracy, but moreover, how we can develop a system that is favorable to all parties. 

Necessity of Reality

Reality television is a common past time between families and a great way to pass the time (or one of the worst ways). They offer many entertaining situations as seen by well known shows such as Fear Factor and Survivor. Though those shows may seem like a complete waste of time, it is amusing, without a doubt. Their primary purpose is to entertain, although some hold merits and benefits beyond the entertainment of others. As mentioned by Alessandra Stanley in her article “Here’s Reality: ‘Idol’ Feeds Hopefuls to a Shaky Music Business”, the “winner is given a recording contract with BMG and a management contract with 19 Entertainment”. This gives incentive for individuals, despite the sketchy background in which they may be entering.

Bait Car is a reality TV show in which cops stage an arrest, and leave a car unattended with the keys inside, in plain sight. With hidden cameras and radio signaling in the car, criminals are unaware of police watch. They take the car, not knowing that it was rigged and set so that they would be caught eventually, as the camera captures their facial image. Upon stealing, the car locks from the inside and shuts off, immobilizing the criminal to get arrested.

This show has many appeals; there is no doubt that many individuals enjoy watching shows where criminals get caught for doing unjust actions. The fact that it is real makes it even better. Wherever there is an accident on the freeway or on local streets, drivers tend to slow down to simply watch what had happened, causing traffic along the road ways. This is nothing different from that same event, both in the show as well as the viewers. The criminals observe the set up, the individual “arrested” by the cops before hand, and move in to take the car after the coast is clear. Most videos show criminals scoping the area out, several minutes after the arrest of the fake criminal, to check for cops to witness the theft. Television viewers simply love to watch criminals being taken out by the law, as any individual would love to see justice. Cartoons and movies are clear examples in which protagonists and antagonists are clearly seen, and in reality, criminals would be the antagonists and the cops would be the protagonists.

Bait Car is still being continued today, and cops continue to carry out arrests using this method, in several cities, namely within the Los Angeles county and Las Vegas. I think it’s very successful in the sense that it captures criminals using a smarter method, because it captures those who really had a criminal intent. Records indicate that many criminals captured through this method already had some sort of criminal record before hand as well, so this supports our law enforcement by weeding out criminals who deserve justice. This show will continue because of the many viewers who will tune in to watch “good old justice”. Who wouldn’t support shows that give us entertainment and justice at the same time?

Drugs, It's your call

Craig Werner, in the Music & Culture text, places his assumption that jazz players had been alienated and isolated from the world, and in order to escape from this reality, they turn to narcotics. This is a common issue found in many cases, not only musicians. Many resort to drugs and alcohol as they often help alleviate issues at hand for many individuals. The ability to act as a depressant (or stimulant) only increases the ever growing usage of alcohol and drugs.

True to what Werner had stated about being alienated and isolated, constant recurring thoughts of suicide would occur at an increasing rate. The solitude brought about by said alienation and isolation would drive an individual mad. Although physical avoidance leads to little interaction in person, this type of loneliness is not as bad as a mental case of loneliness. When one’s ideas and thoughts are unable to be shared and understood amongst the people, it creates a bigger gap of agony and despair than that which simple physical loneliness could incur.

There are many cases in which such solitude isn’t the main cause of the use of drugs and alcohol. Frequently, most often seem amongst adolescents, increased usage is seen simply because of the peer pressure and the need to feel as part of the group. Several young adults don’t admit to this, perhaps it’s an issue amongst egos as to who is following who, but it occurs at an alarming rate nonetheless. Many who are not grown into the environment may also become easily persuaded by those who are familiar with the substances, because it is something new that they had never tried. This is also a common occurrence in which several individuals would not admit to. It goes along hand in hand with the common cliché phrase, “curiosity killed the cat”.

Along with trying to fit in, it’s no surprise that the environment plays a large role in drug and alcohol use. There is a sharp increase of usage of illegal drugs within clubs or parties; distribution amongst party-goers (and under age drinkers attending the party) is nothing new and is continued to be fought against today. It is debatable who’s in the wrong, and who dictates what is allowed and what isn’t in concurrence with the law, however the facts are there- parties are often a great way for young adults to get their hands on substances and alcohol.  

Personal failures also spur the usage of substances. Constant degradation, inability to invoke proper self-confidence, a string of bad events- various things occur within our lives and the methods in which we handle our sources of outlets is the main key to determine whether we can be pro-active or settle with the use of drugs. I do not intend to degrade the usage of drugs, not do I stand in the defense to their use, however, often times many individuals would agree that the usage of drugs is counterproductive in dealing with situations. Likewise, it could lead to a better lifestyle; the use of morphine and valium within medical facilities is not to promote random drug use, it has a clear purpose. The method in which our outlets lie and whichever is discovered first; that’s the key in which drug use can be used primarily, or minimally, or not at all.

Sensibility to Authenticity

There is no doubt that music plays an essential factor within our daily lives and there is a continuing growth of support within this industry. Favorited rap artist, Eminem, is credited for creating lyrics based on reality, which had placed an impact amongst the generations of young adults today. Lynette Holloway speaks in her article in the New York Times of many children who had shared overwhelming interest and support for Eminem’s reality based rap songs. It provided insight both from the artist to the people, and the people amongst each other by sharing his own life experiences in the form of music.

Music and its lyrics can serve as a networking source in which other listeners can relate to. Others may also become inspired through lyrics found in music and it can serve as an empowering medium. Lyrics can also be seen impacting young adults with common phrases which soon become a motivating/inspiring factor. It does not necessarily have to be reality based, but it helps provide a clear sense in the idea that it gets people to behave differently.

There is always going to be a “gray area” in regards to anything that involves personal interest; lyrics that are strictly based on reality have their merits but aren’t necessarily the best factor in terms of music. There is an argument in which many different opinions agree or disagree for music as an educating factor as opposed to an entertaining factor, and vice versa. Surely, there is an extent at which all lyrics must be romanticized, otherwise it would behave particularly similar to that of politics, or simple self-grieving, or even lecture-based speech. Of course, the element of music has to be kept in-tact, otherwise it would obviously be anything but a song, however the amount of amount of realism and or romanticism found within a song needs an appropriate balance.

Music based on reality allows for a closer inspection, by the listener, in which connections can be made. A song can express and romanticize all sorts of dreams and ideas, however, in comparison to songs which express a commonality within the people, it will pale in comparison in both impact and sales. True, artists will attempt [to an extent] to cater to the people in an attempt to sell more, but it should not be the center of reasoning behind the music. Aside from the passion involved for the love of music, the consideration of the people [and their backgrounds] who listen to particular genres of music is important too. Artists also benefit from the expression of reality based music because of the amount of sympathy received, as well as the fact that it is already something that they had experienced- it should not be as difficult as fabricating an entire story on something that was not understood to begin with. It would not be improbable to state that artists have no benefit in personal gain through sharing their reality in their songs and instead, should be encouraged for the better of their mental health as well as others.

Rhythm Against Words

Words can be found in various places; it is often emphasized throughout the media in various forms such as music networks, blogs, news channels, etc. Personally, I’ve taken a great interest in music that Beatrice Aaronson had mentioned in her selection of the Peace Review. Techno, trance and rave music pertains a special likeability about the beats that it gives off- the examples in which she provides are common themes which I can relate to.

In her selection, Aaronson states that “rhythm and dance are fusional media that have no concern with social power”. This is a very strong statement as it asserts that the music itself can be seen as a binding medium with positive effects within many individuals, which allows them to congregate and share between each other the love and motion involved with this music. Many young adolescents carry this same notion today, as it can be seen in many public places. Individuals who share common interests in particular songs may end up conversing to each other because of the common interest and begin to formulate a friendship; this couldn’t be accomplished in other scenarios where awkward introductions are often misplaced and leads to separation.

This also pertains to the other question that inquired about whether “words are instruments of separation and social power” or not. Words definitely have the ability to make such an impact, as that is our main method of communication. Through understanding and speech, each and every individual is able to comprehend the fact that whatever one says, it is their own belief. More often than not, communication through words provides more emphasis on supporting what the out speaking individual believes in, rather than sharing and creating a mutual bond like the rhythm of music could. Examples can be seen often in the news, our very own political system, at a regular daily basis. Many individuals that possess higher authority within the government propose changes, declare actions, and express their explanations behind their actions or what their goals were in speeches. Naturally, the president, Barrack Obama, is higher in social power than the average American. In saying this, we can see that it is Obama that we always see in the television, making speeches, talking about changes that need to be made.

There is a stronger level of passion in which music enthusiasts can find deeper emotional meaning as well. Kurt Cobain himself had written in his journal that “WORDS suck. I mean, every thing has been said.” Through this, Cobain expresses disdain for conversational instances and supports music instead. An example of other genre of music that has few instances of lyrics is Screamo, which (as the name indicates) involves a lot of screaming of words, but these words in particular are spurts of emotion, rather than anything completely logical in the effect that it leads to a difference in social power or separation. The expression through music can serve its purpose as a unifier, but it is not its entire purpose. Words are undoubtedly an instrument that emphasizes separation and can be seen at higher levels as the social power is higher.

The Media and You: Whose Opinion Matters?

Earlier in the text of Music & Culture, many individuals had held their voice in defense or prosecution of music, namely the newer genres that include punk rock, heavy metal, grunge, etc. Deena Weinstein was an advocate of heavy metal, and elaborates on how the media blames the music for the change in the generations. Paul Cobley fights against arguments that support music that seem to assert negative influences. The ability of the mainstream media to distort our personal beliefs is a sure-fire system that can be seen nearly everywhere; even in times of Civil Rights movements, the reaction of the general public is clear. The people will sway to what the mainstream media projects and it’s up to the minority who want to fight for their beliefs that will continue to show a growing and fighting generation.

Many bands, specifically ones that partake in music genres such as the above mentioned, are easily taken into account because of their radical behavior that can be seen in live concerts. This eventually leads to stereotyping in which many of the writers in Music & Culture talk about. Whether it’s sexually explicit or deals with negative influences, the media puts the spotlight on these bands and brand them as some sort of evil in the world. Drowning Pool, a band that focused on alternative metal and grunge, had an unfortunate loss of a band member through a heart complication. The media, however, portrays it as a heart failure due to overdose of cocaine. Given the repetitive attacks against this genre of music, the general public accepts these accusations as truth without second thought. Another example is Malice Mizer, a band that plays pop-rock and goth metal: these band members dress in visual kei, a radical form of visual style. One can see these individuals and label them as homosexuals because of its unique outlook, as it seemingly looks very similar to a blend of gothic fanaticism and transvestites. Along with their involvement with familiar genre such as gothic metal, it again ties in with the media labeling them as nothing more than strange cross dressers. Another band that has very similar ties to Malice Mizer and its form of visual kei, is Orgy. Inspired by a drag queen that they had met they release an album dedicated to her, and again, this was negatively portrayed by the media as an issue within the music industry and the effects it has on the current generation of children. All this involvement with cross dressing can be seen like taboo by the older generation and the ties between families with a strong religious core.

Despite the radical names, lyrics, songs, background influences, and etc. that follows these bands, their love for music is all held in their own unique ways.  There are individuals who can support these bands despite their radical views as well as the way the media portrays them; this is the growth of a new wave throughout the generation.

Aside from the Music...

Hilary Rosen in “It’s Easy, but Wrong, to Blame the Music”, expresses few strong key points to emphasize that music is not the main cause for an increase in issues amongst the people. Rosen brings up statistics of bad examples in America, such as death from child abuse, gun deaths, pregnant teenagers, bringing weapons to school- all mentioned about adolescents in the effect that it would perk the attention of adults. Bringing to attention a call of emergency amongst children and/or young adults creates a sense of urgency within the older generations, for obvious reasons.

Throughout the text, Rosen elaborates that music does no harm, and is only an expression from the artist in song. She argues, “if an artist is angry and creates angry music, a listener who is angry will probably relate to that music more easily. Others will either shrug it off or listen with more dispassion.” From this quote, readers can understand that people generally disregard music they dislike and search for something that has significance or meaning to them, so that they can relate.

Rosen also states, “What can we learn from a kid who is profoundly affected by or addicted to angry or violent music? Whose obligation is it to pay attention?” This pushes the blame onto parents for managing their children. Using strong words to shift the blame as such, parents would be smart to keep a closer eye on their own children. Rosen supports her claim further as well as offering advice to readers that parents should monitor what the child is listening to in order to relate to what issues may be revolving around that child’s mind. This is an extremely effective tactic, as its use can be used in multiple ways: a parent showing interest in the child’s life shows that they care, creating a stronger emotional pull toward each other. Another benefit is that the parent will understand the child more and more, despite the constant changes that occur during the adolescent age. Commonly known amongst psychiatrists is that in most cases, broken families are the main cause for many issues, and this is an alternative that offers little backfire.

Rosen also mentions that the recording studios don’t simply sign in any artists or release any records that are presented to them. She states record companies “will spend money to sign and support an artist because the company believes that artist has a unique vision and a creative way to express it.” She continues to elaborate that this leads to a separation of voices that are within the young adults that can’t be expressed because it’s possible that the music “is sensationalist, but empty of meaning.” Record companies hold the power to release what’s heard around the world, and what they do is mostly for the benefit of the people. Suppose they allowed any artist to be signed off and allowed any song to be released. There would be extreme levels of unorganization, and there could be many amateur releases, preventing the true talent to be hidden behind the mass of people who simply want their work out there.

Inquisition: The Music or The People?

Music impacting youths on a deeper level is not an a fact in fantasy- many individuals today are seen wearing clothes with their favorite bands and their symbols written on them. Others choose to dress similarly and few attempt to change their body to become more and more like their idols. The idea of young adults looking for a role model is nothing new, in this generation, idols in music and movies are highly targeted. I’d rather shy away from personal conversation, however, I must point out that I had avoided popular bands that the media had targeted as “potential threats to teen heath.” Comparison of personal issues is absolutely ridiculous; every individual has their own way of handling issues that come up in their lives. Despite having said this, I had never reduced myself to self-inflicted pain such as cutting my wrists, a common trend amongst individuals who go by “emo”. I’ve had my share of seemingly unbearable difficulties; however, the idea of dealing damage to myself to get past it was never brought to my attention. This is where arguments begin, when professionals and experts speak of lyrics often found in heavy metal, death metal, and punk may emphasize these actions.

Deena Weinstein in “Heavy Metal Under Attack: Suicide and Aggression” explains with quotes from the songwriters that the intention behind their lyrics were not aimed at instigating teen suicides, self-damaging thoughts, or other ill-effected ideals. They had deeper significance such as the song “Under the Knife” by Twisted Sister, which was written for a friend who had to undergo surgery. It by no means had intentions to interlock with “sadomasochism” as Albert Gore’s wife, Tipper Gore, and the Parents Music Recourse Center (PMRC) had made it out to be.

Even though their intentions may not have been exactly what they meant to do, these song artists may have led the youth of today’s generation into a different path. Everyone experiences music differently, and it shouldn’t have been assumed that most people would understand the message that a particular song would give. Many young adults find it socially acceptable to do things such as drugs when they hear songs that glorify them. It’s also probable in the event that many fans search for other individuals or groups who also share this interest with the band: some of who may be well supplied in narcotics and other substances. Social acceptance plays a large role, and the inclusion of social groups and extortion of drugs amongst each other (assuming it is a group that deals with substances) is common; this ties in closely with peer pressure as well.

It can be viewed as an extremely controversial subject: music is an effort to express oneself in melody- genre is simply an attempt to organize it. How does one persecute against one another in law in a fight within each individual’s personal beliefs? Do we limit our creativity in order to conform to society and let the older generations’ beliefs continue, or can we be free and let changes occur as they come? 

Life without music?

There is no more powerful statement than to say that "It is their passion; nothing else excites them as it does; they cannot take seriously anything alien to music." Allan Bloom in “Music” writes of an inseparable connection between music and the youths of today’s generations. There are many moments, if questions were asked in classrooms of junior and high school students today pertaining music, that one would immediately notice that nearly every student shares an intensive bond with music that cannot be separated. Although not permitted, electronic devices such as but not limited to ipods, mp3 players, and even laptops, are all items that can be found within the backpacks of students.  There is an ever-growing interest within the music industry as more and more enthusiasts within the younger generations arise. This is not seen as a problem because it allows for a different source of revenue or career outcomes for students.

This also leads me to the idea that I don’t necessarily believe this is an overgeneralization because of the effects music has on people. Auto enthusiasts share overwhelming interest towards machinery and models of cars, and this is generally tightly associated with series of rock and roll music. Individuals with a great interest within the gaming industry show appreciation for certain techno-type related genres. These are a few of the common generalizations, but let it be known that people have often associated their interests with music; the impact is only stronger and more apparent in the current generations. With close ties with music such as the ones shown here, it can be seen that music follows the generations in their lives.

Despite my unbelief in an overgeneralization, it does not negate the fact that people do share stronger interests elsewhere. There are many individuals which can be found in many industries, most often found as geniuses in their specifics. My sister is a skilled artist, that has been drawing and painting for as long as I could remember are there are at times when she can be so focused into her artwork that any distractions, such as music, could lead to mistakes. This could also pertain to many scholars whose primary interest is in attaining knowledge. Music could be a distraction towards individuals who are attempting to stay focused and this could lead to passive resistance passion towards music, and possibly hostility against it altogether.

Bloom also asserts that “those who are interested in psychological health, music is at the center of education, both for giving the passions their due and for preparing the soul for unhampered use of reason.” He then compares the work of Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Aristotle, Plato, and others, to further his argument that music was a new growing form of education within the society. Bloom offers a contrast between politics and poetics from back in the older generations to today. He attempted to prove the point that even though artistry was limited to some extent in the older generations, it was present and continued to grow steadily until it came to be what it is today. 

More than a simple analysis..

In the Music and Culture by Anna Tomasino, Aaron Copland writes in “The Imaginative Mind and the Role of Listener” about talented listening. There is a strong connection between talented listening and analyzing music, both of which are vital to receiving the maximum mutuality with music. Analyzing music is an amazing method in which one could understand and relate with the song. Analysis of songs is relevant with Margaret Wolfe Hungerford’s commonly quoted phrase: the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Every song has its own significance to each individual, and whether minor or major analysis is done on the song, every individual is capable of conjuring their own thoughts on it, and recall different memories.

The firm belief that analysis creates a mutual bond with music allows individuals to gain more than one would have originally received from it. Analysis of music does not detract from the experience- it does quite the opposite and enhances it. There are meanings behind songs that one would not realize without an analysis, and this is a common occurrence because of many uses of sublimity in the current generation of music. Without taking time to apply and understand a piece, without attempted to be Copland’s “talented listener,” it is difficult to extract the true meaning behind a song. Music holds both the original artist’s and the individual’s own interpretation of significance- again referring to the eye of the beholder.

The action and attempt to further understand music is never a wasted effort, especially at our current generation where music is held in the highest forms of expression and form of communication amongst one another. In Music and Culture, Allan Bloom states in “Music” that “nothing is more singular about this generation than its addiction to music.” Bloom supports his claims through the exemplification of the passion from Wagner’s operas. He states that people “had a religious sense that Wagner was creating the meaning of life and that they were not merely listening to his works but experiencing that meaning.” This is a powerful statement that many youths of this generation completely agree upon. It is common for a first year university or college student to be found lacking funds for textbooks, but never for music.

Bloom also states his concern that this effect may have based on the fact that students have a higher interest in music. He expresses concern that the “issue here is its effect on education, and I believe it ruins the imagination of young people.” On the contrary, analysis of music allows for a broader and more creative outlook on situations for many youth found today. A student figuring out the correlation of a particular song with his or her life allows for a deeper understanding on their perspective on life. The ability to analyze music doesn’t come instantly, it takes practice and time. This is an important factor in education as well; students who are able to work creatively can think of other ideas and make relevant, personal examples in their work, when appropriate.

Analysis in music is ultimately a key factor in gaining a mutual relationship with music, and a deeper appreciation of its significance to you about yourself and its author. This should not be neglected, and should be used to gain the maximum potential out of music. 

Genres, Genres...

The past holds memories on which many individuals love to sit back and recall, for nostalgia’s sake. Music is one of the best methods to retrieve memories that we may have once lost. Although it may only be based on the sense of hearing, music allows one to accompany the sound with the other sense to allow us to remember what one had felt or seen in particular moments. This is a powerful impact through music in which it lets humans almost seemingly go back in time.

I’ve had a long journey with music, as I had explored nearly all genres in search of what I had favored. As a child, my mother had been a piano instructor for a part-time job, so I had grown up listening to many ballads and waltz type music. Classic music had also been frequented around the house. I didn’t really object to it, I suppose I didn’t mind. It’d be a lie to say I haven’t been influenced by friends at all, because there were moments in my life in which friends had impacted me in extreme ways. As I entered junior high school, many students laughed at the fact that I listened to classic music and not rock or alternative. Like any other child put into that situation, I began quickly researching for preferable music in genres that my friends liked. So for several years, I had dropped interest in classic music so that I could fit in with my groups. Although not healthy, it was absolutely normal to want to be accepted in school with friends.

Another particular example I can remember is in my sophomore year of high school: a friend of mine from junior high school expressed interest in a genre called eurodance, which consists of mainly a mix of house, techno, dance, and trance type genres. Initially, I thought nothing of it at first, but I soon came to appreciate it and even thought of it once as my favorite type of music. As a member of online gaming communities growing up, I found many other individuals had also liked this type of music. It was easy to network and find many other individuals who showed appreciation for this genre of music.

During these times, I had taken many looks at other genres, just to scope out if I had been missing out on anything. Country, alternative, R&B, hip-hop, rap, rock, metal, all of these I didn’t share a particular interest in; they just didn’t appeal to me as interesting forms of music. I never took an appeal to music with lyrics, the sound of the beats were all that I needed. With this realization in mind, I continued to share an interest in the more modern forms of techno, electronica, trance, dance, and house type of genres.

I thought I had finally settled with that particular genre, but then as I continued to scout out for more and more music, I came across many individuals who had posted videos of themselves playing short bits of music found in games on the piano. Knowing that I had played a bit of the piano as a child, this sparked a bit of interest so I began looking into it more and more… and soon I realized I was constantly searching for music found in games and thinking of ways as to how I could play them on the piano.

This concluded my search for my own favorite genre of music; I had found that I loved music particularly found in games and movies, original soundtracks. What made it all the more better was the ability to play these songs with consistent practice. Knowing I had the ability to play songs that I listened to was one of the greatest achievements of my life, even though I admit that I am far from a professional level. Aside from providing me with a new hobby and a realization of my newest favorite genre, this interest allowed me to be more insightful of the music around me, as I am now constantly listening for things to play. Being able to bring music into the world with your own hands is definitely a feeling that everyone should enjoy at some point in their life, and it all begins with finding what an individual likes most for themselves, not following what their friends like.

Measures Taken, Measures Achieved..

Music is everywhere. A life without music is comparable to not having lived at all.

There is a powerful impact which comes from music, whether the individual appreciates it or not. Deep within the mind, people remember the sounds they hear. Through the music, memories that were once long forgotten resurface, an essence of nostalgia can be attained, and a deeper appreciation of what has become can be seen.

The piano has been a lifelong friend of mine which I had foolishly neglected time and time again. As a child, my mother had enforced multiple piano instructors onto me, all of which had ended with my constant complaints and refusal to practice. Although it was fun pressing random keys here and there, I quickly dismissed it as nothing more than a waste of time, because nothing is more  important than... video games! Oh joy, I played hours of video games without a care in the world, thinking that this had to be one of the best things out there. Slowly, as I grew older, this was not the case...

There had been many dire situations where I had to endure many long hours of undesired work. Homework, washing dishes, vacuuming, sweeping, filing, house-painting, organizing, all of it! All completed in silence...

Some may argue that they may be fond of the way papers rustle, the way birds chipper outdoors, the sound of water running, and the way the vacuum cleaner blasts into a series of over-the-top whirring explosions. However, sounds without melody is not preferred amongst many individuals. Had I shown an appreciation in music earlier as a child, what I referred to as, "dire situations," may very well have wound up as an entirely different matter.

I quickly began looking into the many genres of music upon this realization, and it begun in the summer of my junior year in high school. Taking time out of my usual routine to try music that others listen to, I frequented YouTube. After months of figuring out what I thought was best, I stuck with it for a while then realized, this isn't what I really like. Then, as I began to follow my routine of playing more games, it struck me! Video games had held an extremely large amount of short bits which I found I appreciated. The music was easy to follow and kept the mood lively, very much like background noise that one would expect in their everyday lives. "With music like this, menial tasks would not be so painful!" I figured.

On this discovery for myself, I started to YouTube videos for the music found in video games without the extra sound effects. Sure enough, I found that many individuals had posted videos and tutorials for these songs- on piano. Almost as if to spite me, I looked over at the piano, and thought, "This pianist could have been me."

I spent a deal of time griping about my regrets, but shortly after, I joined multiple communities across the internet which dealt with the transcription of music found in games and movies into instrumentals. Not all composers release their music scores, and as such, many gifted individuals come together and help each other out to write sheets on these particular forums. I found interests amongst these groups and found out more and more about what I liked, rather than following whatever everyone else liked. I immediately began to pick up the instructional piano books again, and started to print transcriptions by fans all over the internet. I may have lost time but I have found what I had a strong interest in, and I have been able to take what I loved as a child into consideration of what I appreciate now.

Music is and will continue to be an aspect which deeply impacts me; I couldn't live a day without it. I take into consideration everything I hear wherever I go, and listen for key notes. In hopes that I may be able to play what I like whenever I want to, I continue to listen to everything around me and appreciate the melody. It wasn't easy to attain my own understanding of music and I'm still fairly inexperienced with the piano, however... measures must be taken for more achievements!