Does Music Promote Violence?

Violence

Urge or Choice

(Watson, 2003)

Breakdown of Violence in Music

• Males are generally the aggressors in music videos.

• White women make up the largest group of victims in music videos.

• African Americans are disproportionately more likely to commit violence in music videos.

(Cronie,1998)

Video(Shakur, 2006)

Example of a Violent Song“Smooth Criminal” by Alien Ant Farm

• “Smooth Criminal” describes violence in graphic detail.

• “She was struck down”• “Blood stains on the carpet”• “It was her doom”• Makes a very serious crime into a form of

entertainment.

(Mitchell, 2001, track 12)

Example of a Violent Song“Delia’s Gone” by Johnny Cash

• “Delia’s Gone” is about a man who kills a woman who was unfaithful to him.

• “I shot her in her side”• “Delia died”• “If I hadn’t shot poor Delia”• “I tied her to her chair”• Displays violence as a viable means to solve

unfaithfulness in a relationship.(Cash, 1962, track 7)

Violent People VS Violent Music Like Violent Music Makes People Violent

• Can music make a person act violently for no reason other than the rhetoric of the music?

• Are people with an aggressive personality more likely to listen to violent music?

(Lee, 1940)

Violent Lyrics Cause Aggression

• In a study of exposure to violent lyrics it can be shown that violent music can increase “feelings of hostility”

• Study also showed an increased recognition of aggression in language after exposure.

(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)

(Shankbone, 2009)

Short Term Effects of Violent Music

• Increases the amount of aggressive thoughts.

• Influences the perception of aggression in social settings.

• Can cause more aggressive responses.(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)

Long Term Effects of Violent Music

Direct Effects

• Contributes to aggressive personalities

• Can cause aggressive reactions where none would have been without influence.

(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)

Long Term Effects of Violent Music

Indirect Effects

• Can create a more aggressive environment due to expected response of aggressive person.

• Can endanger personal relationships

(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)

Violent Music Comes from Violent Experiences

• Criticism of violent rap music rarely take into account the society that rap was created in.

• In many cases the music depicts everyday events including violence.(Richardson & Scott, 2003)

(Schyler, 2006)

Violent Music Comes from Violent Experiences

• Rappers like Tupac who died a violent death lived a violent life full of hard decisions.

• Tupac’s life decisions more than his music lead to his death(Richardson & Scott, 2003)

(Makaveli)

Criticism of Violent Music May be Racially Motivated

• The most widely criticized genre is Rap which has African roots.

• The “white” country songs with violence are rarely blamed for violent outbreaks.

• Rap has demands for censorship, when country and rock do not. (Richardson & Scott, 2003)

(Bowdich, 1817)

Conclusion

While it can be seen that violent music can cause an aggressive attitude, however; there is no proof that violent lyrics directly cause violent actions. In most cases the violence that is blamed on music is really a cause of life's circumstances that cause some one to lash out at society.

References

Anderson, C., Carnagey, N., & Eubanks, J. (2003). Exposure to violent media: The effects of songs with violent lyrics on aggressive thoughts and feelings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(5), 960-971. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.5.960.

Jeanita W Richardson, & Kim A Scott. (2002). Rap music and its violent progeny: America's culture of violence in context. The Journal of Negro Education, 71(3), 175-192.  Retrieved July 4, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 278467731).

Cronie, W. (1998). Music videos promote adolescent aggression. Harvard University Gazette, Retrieved from http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1998/04.09/MusicVideosProm

Cash, J. (1962). Delia’s Gone. On The sound of Johnny Cash [CD].           Nashville: Columbia.

Mitchell, D. (2001). Smooth Criminal. On Anthology [CD].          US: Dreamworks.

Shakur, T. (Producer). (2006). Ballad of a dead soulja. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DamWU0dAWCE&feature=related

Watson, A. (Photographer). (2003). Tupac amaru shakur. [Web]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tupac_Amaru_Shakur.jpg

Schyler, . (Photographer). (2006). Bloods - gang sign. [Web]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bloods_-_Gang_Sign.jpg

References

Shankbone, D. (Photographer). (2009). Ice-t at the 2009 tribeca film festival 2. [Web]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ice-T_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival_2.jpg

Lee, R. (Photographer). (1940). Manshooting. [Web]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Manshooting.jpg

Makaveli, . (Photographer). Tupac shakur. [Web]. Retrieved from http://media.photobucket.com/image/tupac/Makaveli-tupac/tupac-thug-life- 4900917.jpg

Bowdich, T. (Photographer). (1817). Ashanti yam ceremony 1817. [Web]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ashanti_Yam_Ceremony_1817