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.
In some instances I agree with you, media can portray negative images. In most instances a music what we think of exceptionally odd or different can get million sold outs. Why I wonder why, is this because they are telling us who we are? The hidden man is wanting those sexual arousal wordings, rebellion lyrics, violent sayings instead of listening the covered-up music. And a musician that illustrates such odd ideas is blamed. But we must also not forget what such kind of musicians can do in order to have our attention. They go far beyond our social standers. At least we need innocence for our children. We don’t want them to be poisoned with malevolence ideas and doings. An immature mind can fill-up with all unwanted and destroying ideas. We must not forget our teenage suicidal acts, school mascaras, and violent doings. I am not solely saying those portrayed wrongly are the ones responsible for these acts, but there are many who promote such actions to be implemented in to reality. Coach your little ones with something which you think of it is wrong doing, you will get what you planted in them. How can we expect a teenager who is in turmoil, who can’t be able to be responsible by himself or herself be accountable for the wrong doing they have done, while we lead them with the promotion and advocacy of wrong doings. This must be the argument to be considered beyond belief or religious understanding.
ReplyDeleteI like how informative you were with your blog. I'm a classic rock junkie so I'm not very up to date on newer radical groups. But I do know that alot of classic rock groups created a whole new game with what they brought to the table in their music and their shows and even just the way that they dressed. Without their outragous ways and fresh view on music, the progression of music would never happen or be severly slowed. Because what some people now call outrageous, taboo, unacceptable or bad...might be tomorrow's new great trend. Think about Elvis shaking his hips on the Ed Sullivan show. People thought that was a horrible, shameful thing to do and he became known as the legendary king of Rock and Roll. In order to create true art in any form, you have to step out of your comfort zone and step on some toes. I love how well your blog captures that! Thanks for the awesome blog!
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