Theories! There are quite a lot of them that get thrown
around every day. I have come to the realization that most of the population
connects theories with opinion. Although there are similarities between the two
they do have slight differences that gives them the ability to become a separate
entity on its own. The theories or theory that I connect to music and the lyrics
that envelope, they would have to be stereotypes. After learning more about
stereotypes and the knowledge that I have of music, there is more “finger
pointing” toward the rock music community than any other popular genres. I have
concentrated more on the rock genre because, I am more of a fan of them than
others, but I do listen and respect a lot of the others that are available.
Lyrical stereotypes are focused on what some people think the music is saying
to the young, vulnerable minds of children. I would have to disagree. This is
where I have found the most interesting thing of language in music. The
feedback I have received from others is the same understanding as mine when it
comes to children and the influence music has on them. As long as there is a
strong communication between the child and an adult influence, in my opinion,
there would not be a misunderstanding of the lyrics. Teaching a child that the
words of a song is a story, sometimes fictional but may have a personal influence,
would require the same effort as teaching them their ABC’s. Music will always
be a part of everyone’s life, whether you’re a fan or not. My thinking of
lyrical content and the meaning behind it may slightly change because of my
analysis and from what I have learned about theories. I may not have any change
of thinking because of my personal beliefs toward music and what it brings to
my family’s life.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Assignment 1-4-5
The formula of Popular Culture can
be applied to the topic of music in so many ways. A formula in terms of popular
culture is a plot that is considered acceptable through values and beliefs of
the mass audience. Most music genres all follow the same formula. They all show
their beliefs and emotion in their music and tell a story. All of this happens
because we as American’s all love one, or all, certain genre of music in one
way or another. We enjoy seeing others perform and turn their passion into
something we can connect with. The general formula of music has been used over
and over because it is an element of entertainment that has been proven to work
and continues to work producing almost the same results every time. Some
musicians may use a different format in terms of how the story of their music
plays out in order to make themselves different from the other musicians. For
instance, Maroon 5 and Train are similar in genres and fans they put on shows
that are totally different in messaging. When it comes to a concert, musicians
create a song list and backgrounds to play to enhance the fans experience.
After applying the theory of formula to music
it has given me insight on how musicians use story plots to exchange their story,
making us, as fans, connect to them on a personal level. I also now have
insight as to what it is that I find entertaining and why. I now understand why people give us a look
into their personal lives to participate in an industry that produces multimillion dollars every year.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Assignment 1-3-2 Journal Article Analysis
We all know music is everywhere just like politics, so to
some it makes sense they would play a part in each realm. In this article there
are a lot of facts about how they (musicians) can be used to support or
influence an outcome in a parties favor. There has been a long history of
politicians using the celebrity of musicians to reach a certain race or age
group to encourage a number of voters during an election such as, President
Bill Clinton and U2’s front man Bono, and President Barack Obama with Jay Z and
Beyonce. These examples are only reaching the surface, in the article the
author lists many that are found overseas and ones that fight against the
government they live in. An example of this is, the East German state imposed
controls over popular music that didn’t stand for what they (German government)
wanted their society to stand for. Many artists and songs were criticized for
not portraying the life of Germany (Cote, 741) in the sense that the artists
didn’t say what the government wanted them to say. This type of critical
thinking could be seen as hypocritical in all essence because of the use of
celebrity during an election year. The question I have that hasn’t been
answered is, why is it okay to use the celebrity of a musician for a personal
gain, but show a degree of discrimination toward them when it doesn’t benefit? I was hoping this article would help me to
understand, but unfortunately it hasn’t, what it has done is given me a better
understanding of the use for either side of politics and music.
When a government puts restrictions on music
it opens the door for argument and judgment toward both sides. Although
agencies, such as Parents Music Resource Center (founded by a number of wives
of US senators) have tried to limit musical expression and the rights of the First
Amendment, a force of musicians, John Denver, Frank Zappa, and Dee Snider,
united in the 1980’s at the U.S. hearings fighting against these attempts of judgment
and limitation of music. State monopolies and art subsidies have also been
attempted by the state government in a way to control or restrict the
production of popular music, some of which have even tried to control the teachings
of music to young children and all of this is due to the government’s and their
fear of the antigovernment messages that could come back to them (such a
shame). As all of this comes together, I have learned that because of their
popularity musicians can use the gift they were given to reach out to the
public to “speak out” for or against a proposed idea that was set out by a
political hopeful. And the same can be said in reverse.
References
Cote, T. (2011) Popular Musicians
and Their Songs as Threats to National Security: A World Perspective. The Journal of Popular Culture. 44(4) 732-755.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Language in Music: Hero’s and The Cult of the Celebrity
It is a
difficult thing to describe heroes and their celebrity and how they relate to
language in music and, whether or not there is a cult environment attached to
it. There has always been a fascination about musicians and how they are able
to become great but, on the flip-side of it all we ask, what do they intend to
do with all of the greatness we
provide them? This is where their celebrity comes into play in providing a
great influence to their fans. The belief that musicians can be a hero is not a
common understanding because; most artists are not seen as a hero. When a
celebrity is attached to a charity this proves they are working for something
bigger than what they are and give a more positive outlook for what they stand
for and this is when they can be seen as a hero. On a more negative side of things if a
celebrity is always in the media for drugs, drinking and driving, or in a silly
sense, shopping for unnecessary items like cheetah print Lamborghini’s, shows
the small minded influence they have toward the rank they hold in someone’s
eyes.
Some say that devotion to a rock band can be
seen as a cult influence and a following based on the lyrical content of their
music. On the other hand couldn’t that be argued for all musical interests? A
cult doesn’t necessarily have to have a negative influence there could be a
positive look to them as well. A cult is defined as the object of such devotion
(dictionary.com) so to deem them to only a demonic following is a huge
stereotype. There will always be negative and positive lyrics in the musical
world so in order to label one group you would have to label them all. In
conclusion, heroes can be anyone who you look up to whether they are a super
hero, celebrity, or a family member. They become the hero for a reason that
only you can choose.
References:
Saturday, June 8, 2013
My Favorite
I will first start off by saying my favorite movie would
have to be Disturbia staring Shia LaBeouf.
This movie is about a high school kid who has a hard time facing the
fact he witnessed and feels responsible for his father’s death. In his final year of high school he suffers
from depression and when his Spanish teacher firmly asks Kale (Shia LaBeouf)
what his father would think about his attitude and lack of trying, Kale punches
him in the face, blacking his eye. After going to court, Kale receives house
arrest as punishment, this is when he meets a police officer who, is his
Spanish teacher’s cousin but, he also plans to make Kale’s summer one of the
toughest he has had.
While
on house arrest Kale discovers his neighborhood is full of “reality” TV. He is
mostly interested in one neighbor, who he thinks is a serial killer, after
seeing a similar car which he drives, on a news broadcast about a missing girl.
After enlisting a couple of friends, Kale finds himself fighting for the safety
of his mother, girlfriend, friend, and even himself against this serial killer.
What
stereotypes are hidden in your selection, implicitly and explicitly?
Some implicitly hidden stereotypes
hidden in the movie Disturbia are, Kale being a depressed teenager due to his
father’s death, a suspected serial killer living in his neighborhood, and Kale
fighting for his freedom. The examples of implicit stereotypes can also act as
explicit stereotypes because they are all about Kale working out problems he
comes in contact with.
What forces (social, religious,
cultural, economic) may have contributed to the emergence of this stereotype?
If I had to choose one of the examples that may have
contributed to Kale’s reactions in the movie is the death of his father. He
felt responsible because he was driving the car and he was the one who was
trying to pass another driver. From an outside prospective, I could see how Kale
feels this way just thinking about the “what if” that could have saved his
father’s life.
Are those stereotypes a positive or negative entity?
This
stereotype would have to be negative because it has a great impact on Kale’s
life. I
would also have to point out that all of the stereotype’s I
have mentioned would all be negative in nature
because of the position Kale has put
himself in. Although the outcome of the movie is a positive one Kale
proves to
himself that not all was lost with his father’s death.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)