Expository Essay on Music

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Abstract:

This essay will discuss the issue of modern music and its effect on a child’s development. This will include the influence of the lyrics that modern music has as well as its accessibility in the modern age. Parents who may be uninformed are not aware of how lyrics can have a long-lasting effect on their children, good or bad. This paper will show how the lyrics of popular music are harmful to children’s development at such a young age.

Introduction:

In this modern age of technology, music is more accessible than ever.

With free streaming platforms such as Pandora or Spotify, anyone with an electronic device has access to millions of songs at their fingertips. One issue many parents and child psychologists struggle with is if the lyrics in popular music can have an effect on a child’s development. In many popular genres like Rap or Hip-Hop, it is known that artists typically portray drug use, gang violence, and the over-sexualization of women, normalizing these negative attitudes and behaviors. Children are being exposed to this type of vocabulary at a very young age which can be potentially dangerous as they grow older. This language in popular music has been found to be harmful to a child’s development because it can lead to drug/alcohol usage, objectification of women, disrespect of authority or rules, and aggressive behaviors.

Influence of Drugs and Alcohol:

One area of concern for many researchers is that the influence of music can promote the use of drugs and alcohol in young kids. A recent study of music most popular in 1996-1997 was done and found that “nearly half (47%) of all rap/hip hop (hereafter referred to as rap) songs mentioned alcohol” (Roberts, Henriksen et al., 1999). With rap being a well-known and popularized genre to many kids this is why it is essential parents know what their kids are listening to. Many rappers talk about doing drugs with their friends or drinking, and a child listening to this behavior being done through music might begin to normalize it and even feel encouraged to do the same. Drinking alcohol at such a young age can have damaging effects on the body. Even when music is censored to be clean, oftentimes it is only sexual or curse words but never lyrics about drugs or alcohol. This type of music is readily available, even on the car radio on the way to the grocery store. Censored music can even be potentially harmful if parents are not aware of what is being said in the music. Not only can music influence those listening with parents, but it can be more of a problem with friends who may have access to drugs and alcohol at a young age. A scientific study published by Meng-Jinn Chen on “Music, Substance Use, and Aggression” states that, “Music listening and dancing are important activities for many young people and often occur in settings where alcohol and drug use plays a part.” (Chen, Miller, Grube, & Waiters, 2006) Young kids may be tempted to associate the use of drugs and music simply because of the many song lyrics that normalize usage. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between popular genres that talk about drugs and usage as compared to those that are not explicit. In the same study, it found that “Our data also showed that listening to certain genres of music were negatively associated with substance use and aggressive behaviors. For example, ‘listening to world music was associated with less alcohol and marijuana use, listening to country music was associated with less club drug use” (Chen, Miller, Grube, & Waiters, 2006) Music that promotes drug and alcohol use is bound to influence a majority of listeners looking for the same sensations their favorite artists are talking about. Another issue perpetuated in the lyrics of influential artists is the objectification of women leading to more concerning issues that arise from music and its influence.

Objectify Women:

Many popular songs heard today normalize the use of derogatory verbiage towards women that often objectify them. An article by Cundiff shows how, “rap music reduces women to objects ‘that are only good for sex and abuse,’” which “perpetuate ideas, values, beliefs, and stereotypes that debase women.” (Cundiff, 2013) Young children who are still developing their sense of morality will begin to accept these stereotypes that debase women as fact, without proper monitoring from parents. Many of the attitudes and behaviors depicted by “delinquent” children depend on the level of parental involvement to a large extent. The way children act when they are older is a reflection of how they were raised by the people around them. Children must have a grasp of what is morally right and wrong and when they are being told explicit things by their favorite artist in songs it can begin to influence them. In a similar article they quote how “This type of language is heavily prevalent in popular music.” (Armstrong, 2001) “This,” is a language that objectifies women. In a study conducted on the lyrics in music, Cundiff noted that they found, “of 490 rap songs from 1987 to 1993, in which 22% – 73 contained lyrics featuring violence against women including assault, rape, and murder.” (Cundiff, 2013) This is a significant percentage that contains lyrics that shouldn’t be promoted at all. Music artists do not realize the impact their lyrics have especially on young children. Listening to misogynistic content may also contribute to listeners, “expression of similar attitudes in their own lives, including accepting the objectification of women” (Dixon, Zhang, & Conrad, 2009, p. 348). This is very alarming to children who may look up to artists that speak this way. This is another reason popular music is considered to be dangerous for child development.

Delinquency and Lack of Care for Rules:

Music that promotes breaking the law may increase acts of delinquency and poor behavior/performance at home and in school. In a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics they say that “Heavy metal music-listening has also been associated with increased depression, delinquency risk behavior, smoking, and conduct problems.” (Media, 2009) These issues can critically deter performance in school whether behaviorally or academically. It is important for a child to be able to understand the difference between reality and music. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has also found that “In a study in which adolescents who preferred heavy metal and rap music were compared with those who preferred other types of music, results indicated that the former consistently showed below-average current and elementary school grades, with a history of counseling in elementary school for academic problems.” (Media, 2009) Studies show that clearly there is a factor in the music children are listening to that is not being addressed. Without supervision, it is up to the children to interpret how they feel or should respond to the lyrics in the music. In the same article by the AAP they say, “The preference for heavy metal music, rap, and associated genres among adolescents must alert us to an increased vulnerability and tendency toward risky behaviors. Adolescents at risk and with a feeling of alienation because of previous failures or problems tend to prefer these types of music, which might reflect their pessimistic view of life and the world.” (Media, 2009) Music is very powerful and truly does have an impact on development. The research is clear-cut and plentiful showing that parents need to take action.

Increasing Violence:

One major influence music has is a potential increase in violence. It was found in a research experiment by Western Connecticut State University that, “those who watched the violent music video acted more violently afterward when asked questions about hypothetical scenarios regarding women, families, and morals.” (Tropeano, 2006). Violence can be appropriated at a young age if not addressed, which is why language, especially in music, has so much power. It is important for young minds to be able to distinguish what is morally right. In an article by NPR, they found that “Over half of the survey respondents expressed that exposure to popular rap/hip-hop songs moderately or significantly shapes audience attitudes toward the issue of domestic violence.” (Herd, 2006) This survey although not of children shows how influential music is to even adults. Music at a young age can potentially desensitize and appropriate this behavior in school or at home. In the research journal of Gretchen Cundiff, she quotes another article that says, “misogynistic music also serves as a means to desensitize individuals to sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, and violence toward women” and “legitimizes the mistreatment and degradation of women” (Adams & Fuller, 2006, p. 953). With radio and streaming services having this music so accessible it is inevitable that this music will be heard by young audiences.

Refutation One :

Even though research shows that music has the power to influence a child’s development negatively some say otherwise. Children who listen to more music are susceptible to hearing lyrics that could potentially influence them negatively. One researcher states that on the contrary people just don’t listen to the lyrics all the time anyways so it is not as influential. This study comes from SD Sousou from Le Moyne College. In her study, she states that “children and adolescents use music only for entertainment, that little or no attention is paid to the words, and if any attention is given, understanding tends to be limited and related to the experiences lived by the listener.” (Sousou, 2018) Although for some this may be true, this is not the complete truth.

Many people who are especially into a specific genre of music are more likely to listen to their favorite artists’ lyrics because of the way the lyrics make them feel. It is not fair at all to say that the majority of people only listen to the songs for the beat. Music is subjective and how it is interpreted is completely based on the individual. Some people listen to music because of how the lyrics motivate them, others like how the beat may excite them, but people do not realize how powerful the lyrics are especially. Unfortunately, some artists do not even understand their influence on their young audience. This is why the responsibility is on the parents whose job it is to clarify that just because something is said in a song doesn’t mean it should be done in real life.

Refutation Two:

In an article by a blogger mom named Jen, she shares her personal thoughts about her kids listening to explicit music in the house or car. According to her writing, she says that “It turns out that when art mirrors life, the language isn’t always clean. But it’s always useful.” (Jen, McBride, Wooten, & Roark, 2015) Although it is her household, thus her rules, many people can disagree with this philosophy. At a young age, children are so impressionable that they aren’t looking at music as an art form or how it mirrors life, they are mainly listening to what the words are telling them. From an adult’s perspective, this is a credible statement as to why explicit music is not bad for adults. Children at a young age should not be listening to sexual innuendos, cursing, and violent acts. Parents allowing them to listen to that type of music could be doing more harm than good. Many kids as they grow up can even go through a rebellious phase because of the music they listened to. By not making it clear at a young age that it is inappropriate, the child can begin to normalize it and be desensitized to the words. Words are more powerful than many people seem to believe.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, it is important to address the influence that comes from modern music. Children have continuous access whether it be through a car radio, television, or any streaming platform, this uncensored music is more available than ever to listen to. Studies show how music and media can negatively impact adults, so the effect on young kids can be far worse for these impressionable young children. It is important for parents to stay involved in what their kids are listening to because it most definitely can have an effect on child development. Kids nowadays are becoming younger and younger whilst gaining more access to technology than past generations. It is vital for a parent or adult to stay informed as to what’s new and accessible through technology. It is not wrong for a parent to want to censor what their child is listening to if they believe it will affect their development. This is because lyrics in modern music truly do have an effect on child development.

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