Kind Of Music And Lyrical Content example essay topic

There are various ethical issues in the production of songs with explicit lyrics. Music is believed to have an effect on a person's sense of self. Do people become violent because they listen to violence in music? It's a fact that explicit lyrical content in black music for example, does have a negative impact, particularly on young listeners and that explicit imagery in music videos devalues black music and black people by reinforcing racist stereotypes. Whatever is "cool" and in the playground will have an effect in one way or another on the views, language and attitudes of the listener. The recording industry has been doing a good job regulating itself and continues to strengthen its guidelines.

The recording industry releases over 36,000 albums each year. The vast majority of these titles contain no explicit content. Stores like Wal-mart will not carry an explicit album on its shelves. In response to that, the overwhelming majority, if not all of the titles that are explicit are also available in an edited version. Unlike any other entertainment industry, music lovers have a choice.

I think that it would be unwise and improper to assume that a record label knows what kind of music and lyrical content is "suitable" for whom. Like books or poetry, different listeners will take away different meaning from musical recordings and their lyrics, making a "one-size-fits-all" determination particularly unsuitable. I believe in personal censorship, and if I was a record producer, my decision of signing an artist will not be solely base on that artist ability to clean-up his / her lyrics, pure talents comes first and the rest can be discuss at a later time. I will censor the severity of the lyrics, put a warning label on that album but I won't deny that artist's ability to be creative. There are certain subjects like suicides, rape, premeditated murder, that should not be on any album. If my artist can't be creative without covering those subjects, then this is where I draw the line.

Censorship is there really just to protect those who need it, like children. However the rest of us should be adult enough to judge for ourselves, if I don't like something it does not mean someone else won't and therefore I have no right to say what should and should not go as long as that piece is not "harmful" in someway. As a record producer, I should not be in the business of making assumptions about the values or maturity levels of my customers. If a teenager commits suicide while listening to the music of one of the artists on my labels that suggests suicide, then I will feel morally responsible for my company's lack of censorship due to their insatiable desire for wealth. That artist should also feel guilty for ever suggesting suicides as an alternative to happiness. In this case, it's very clear who's responsible but I think the problem is a little bit deeper then the artist and their record labels.

I don't think that music will make anyone kill themselves or anyone else. I think if you get to that point in your life, you " ve got some serious problems that the music wouldn't make that much of a difference anyways. I would have to question the maturity of the listener. If you " re old enough to understand the lyrics and you " re mature enough to be able to handle them in a proper manner, then yeah I'd agree that taking them so serious shows a lack of intelligence. It depends on many other far more deep-rooted factors and it is these background factors such as upbringing, pier appraisal and cultural attitudes which must be tackled first if any serious change is to be brought about. Since studies have found that violent tendencies are less frequent after listening to violent music when parental control is high, it seems clear that if families encourage communication, their children may be less likely to act on aggressive tendencies.

Parents should also take an active role in their children's lives, taking note of what music they are buying and what radio stations they are tuning their dials to. Through this, not only will aggressive behavior hopefully decrease, but the family will hopefully become closer as well.