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Violence in Music Blogquest
Cameron's Blogquest
Introdution
Music can play a large part in an American’s life, and is a world wide media that is used constantly. It is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, and this is due partly to it portability. With car stereos, home stereos, and MP3 players, an average person can listen to music at virtually anytime of the day for however long he or she wishes to. Another factor that adds to its popularity is the variety. There are an extremely large number of genres and artists with different beats, moods, opinions, topics, and stories. This allows music to be accessible and appealing to people of all ages, interests, and lifestyles. Music, compared to movies, TV, and videogames, is the only media that relies entirely on the person's sense of sound. It has no visual interaction (aside from music videos), and opens his/hers mind to that artist’s life, opinions, and feelings.
Music contains many elements that give artists their unique style and musical personality, some of which are negatively criticized commonly by conservative individuals. Some elements they express their concern for is sex, drug use, alcohol, profanity, the degrading of women, etc. One of the main issues is violence. This will be the basis of your bloquest. Many artists in various genres use violent lyrics and stories that come directly from their own life, used to prove a point, or included just as entertainment. There have been many discussions focused on censorship of music, and whose responsibility it is, if anybody’s, to monitor and regulate what lyrics become produced and distributed. There has also been controversy over the effectiveness of the explicit content warning labels on explicit CD’s.
Of the many genres, rock and rap seem to be the two that are singled out when it comes to violent lyrics. Many organizations believe that violent music is linked to violence and agression in the people listening to that kind of music, while others believe it has no relation. There are many artists who have been singled out as violent and offensive. Some include Marilyn Manson, Ice Cube, Eminem, Ozzie Osbourne, Ice-T, and more.
Music contains many elements that give artists their unique style and musical personality, some of which are negatively criticized commonly by conservative individuals. Some elements they express their concern for is sex, drug use, alcohol, profanity, the degrading of women, etc. One of the main issues is violence. This will be the basis of your bloquest. Many artists in various genres use violent lyrics and stories that come directly from their own life, used to prove a point, or included just as entertainment. There have been many discussions focused on censorship of music, and whose responsibility it is, if anybody’s, to monitor and regulate what lyrics become produced and distributed. There has also been controversy over the effectiveness of the explicit content warning labels on explicit CD’s.
Of the many genres, rock and rap seem to be the two that are singled out when it comes to violent lyrics. Many organizations believe that violent music is linked to violence and agression in the people listening to that kind of music, while others believe it has no relation. There are many artists who have been singled out as violent and offensive. Some include Marilyn Manson, Ice Cube, Eminem, Ozzie Osbourne, Ice-T, and more.
Task
Your task for this bloquest will be to hold a formal debate in which your group will discuss the influence of violent music on America’s youth. This will involve a group of four people: two will take a negative approach on the subject (team A), while two will be in favor of violence in music (team B). If you can’t decide who should represent which side, draw names out of a hat to be fair to all group members. The debate will focus on the affects and influence of violent music (if any), who is affected and why, the censorship of such music, the responsibilities related to music production and explicit lyrics, and any other relevant issues that surface during the debate. Each side will begin with an opening statement summarizing their stand on the issue. The debate will be held in front of the class, and questions from classmates will be addressed after the hearing has finished. During the discussion, you will be able to have a small note card outlining your main points, but full pages of notes will not be allowed. Make sure you know your information and facts well so that your presentation sounds convincing and legitimate. You should include your teams own opinion in the debate as well. You and your teammate should brainstorm additional points to present that come from your own experience and knowledge on the topic. Theses opinions should of course agree with the side (negative or supportive) that you are representing. Through the hearing, you may try to work towards a compromise that both parties agree to. Whether or not you reach a compromise will depend on the result of your debate.
Process
Team A
1. First decide which two members will be on team A.
2. Research the negative influence and affects that violent music has on adolescents. Use the following links as your source for this information. Both are written articles located in the “world and I” database.
a.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=18438
b.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=11970
3. Explore the following book to find additional negative affects and influence from violent music. The specific article is located on page 150, titled: “Heavy Metal Rock and Gangsta Rap Music Promote violence” by Barbara Hattemer and Robert Showers.
a.Wekesser, Carol. Violence in the Media. 1995.
4. Research who is influenced from violence in music, why, and the negative consequences from this influence. This following link will provide you with the necessary information. It is an article located in the “world and I” database.
a.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=11970
5. Read the following article that covered a hearing focused on explicit and violent content in music, and research whose responsibility it is to monitor and regulate these explicit lyrics. The following link is an article from The New York Times, originally located in ebscohost.com database (shown on www.nytimes.com).
a.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/washington/26rap.html?_r=2&scp=1 &sq=hearing+rap+music&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
6. With your teammate, brainstorm specific points that you want to address that come from your own opinions and experiences/knowledge of the topic that agrees with the side you are representing (not in support of violent music).
7. Create your opening statement for the hearing, and proceed to begin the debate when both teams are ready.
Team B
1. First decide which two members will be on team B.
2. Research how rap music, and violent music in general is unfairly blamed for society’s violence, and is nor responsible for violence in people listening to the music. The following book should provide the needed information. The specific article is located on page 169, and titled: “Rap Music Is Unfairly Blamed for Society’s Violence” by Tricia Rose.
a.Wekesser, Carol. Violence in the Media. 1995.
3. Identify who can listen to violent music without being negatively influenced. Also, research why they can safely listen to this type of music without experiencing any negative consequences. The following link successfully answers these questions. It is an article located in the “world and I” database.
a.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=11970
4. Read the following article that covered a hearing focused on explicit and violent content in music, and research whose responsibility it is to monitor and regulate these explicit lyrics. The following link is an article from The New York Times, originally located in ebscohost.com database (shown on www.nytimes.com).
a.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/washington/26rap.html?_r=2&scp=1 &sq=hearing+rap+music&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
5. With your teammate, brainstorm specific points that you want to address that come from your own opinions and experiences/knowledge of the topic that agrees with the side you are representing ( in support of violent music).
6. Create your opening statement for the hearing, and proceed to begin the debate when both teams are ready.
1. First decide which two members will be on team A.
2. Research the negative influence and affects that violent music has on adolescents. Use the following links as your source for this information. Both are written articles located in the “world and I” database.
a.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=18438
b.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=11970
3. Explore the following book to find additional negative affects and influence from violent music. The specific article is located on page 150, titled: “Heavy Metal Rock and Gangsta Rap Music Promote violence” by Barbara Hattemer and Robert Showers.
a.Wekesser, Carol. Violence in the Media. 1995.
4. Research who is influenced from violence in music, why, and the negative consequences from this influence. This following link will provide you with the necessary information. It is an article located in the “world and I” database.
a.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=11970
5. Read the following article that covered a hearing focused on explicit and violent content in music, and research whose responsibility it is to monitor and regulate these explicit lyrics. The following link is an article from The New York Times, originally located in ebscohost.com database (shown on www.nytimes.com).
a.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/washington/26rap.html?_r=2&scp=1 &sq=hearing+rap+music&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
6. With your teammate, brainstorm specific points that you want to address that come from your own opinions and experiences/knowledge of the topic that agrees with the side you are representing (not in support of violent music).
7. Create your opening statement for the hearing, and proceed to begin the debate when both teams are ready.
Team B
1. First decide which two members will be on team B.
2. Research how rap music, and violent music in general is unfairly blamed for society’s violence, and is nor responsible for violence in people listening to the music. The following book should provide the needed information. The specific article is located on page 169, and titled: “Rap Music Is Unfairly Blamed for Society’s Violence” by Tricia Rose.
a.Wekesser, Carol. Violence in the Media. 1995.
3. Identify who can listen to violent music without being negatively influenced. Also, research why they can safely listen to this type of music without experiencing any negative consequences. The following link successfully answers these questions. It is an article located in the “world and I” database.
a.http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail.asp?num=11970
4. Read the following article that covered a hearing focused on explicit and violent content in music, and research whose responsibility it is to monitor and regulate these explicit lyrics. The following link is an article from The New York Times, originally located in ebscohost.com database (shown on www.nytimes.com).
a.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/washington/26rap.html?_r=2&scp=1 &sq=hearing+rap+music&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
5. With your teammate, brainstorm specific points that you want to address that come from your own opinions and experiences/knowledge of the topic that agrees with the side you are representing ( in support of violent music).
6. Create your opening statement for the hearing, and proceed to begin the debate when both teams are ready.
Conclusion
After completing this blogquest you will have a deep and thorough understanding of the influence and affects (positive or negative) of violence in music on America’s youth. You will have also discovered exactly who is influenced, who is not influenced, and why they are or aren’t affected. Also, you will have a new understanding for the controversies involving explicit music, and who holds the responsibility (if any) in monitoring, regulating, and even censoring the music that is produced. Finally, through the debated, you will have given insight to the entire class on the topic that you have researched. This provides them with a new understanding of the topic as well. Some questions may have formed from your research not addressed in the bloquest. Consider how censorship and explicit lyrics today will shape the music produced years later. Also, consider the affects (if any) the music you listen to has on your personality, style, beliefs, and behavior. The following link provides further information on the censorship of music, and the controversies surrounding this issue.
a. http://decencyvscensorship.blogspot.com/
a. http://decencyvscensorship.blogspot.com/
Bibliography
1. Hattemer, Barbara. "Cause and Violent Effect: Media and Our Youth." 7 1994: 358. The World and I School. 24 Feb. 2008. This article provided very informative and useful information on the negative influence and affects of violent music, who is ifluenced, and why. This was a very helpful article.
2. Jipping, Thomas L. "Diagnosing the Cultural Virus." 7 1999: 80. The World and I School. 24 Feb. 2008. This article provided helpful and informative information on the negative influence and affects of violent music, and represented the negative side of violence in music very strongly. This article contributed nicely to my research.
3. Leeds, Jeff. "Hearing Focuses on Language and Violence in Rap Music." The New York Times 26 Sept. 2007. 24 Feb. 2008. This article gave thorough insight on the affects of violent music, and more specifically addressed the question: whose responsibiltiy (if anybody's) it is is regulate, monitor, or even censor the music that is being produced? This was a very informative and interesting article that convered the hearing very well.
4. Thompson, Priscilla. "Decency Vs. Censorship." New York Amsterdam News 4 Oct. 2007: 17. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. 24 Feb. 2008. This article provided useful and insightful information on the issue of censorship in the music industry, and the controversies that surround that issue.
5. Wekesser, Carol. Violence in the Media. San Diego: Greenhaven P Inc., 1995. 149-169. This book provided both views on my topic, which contributed geatly to my research, and gave deep and thorough insight on my topic. This was a very valuable and informative source.
2. Jipping, Thomas L. "Diagnosing the Cultural Virus." 7 1999: 80. The World and I School. 24 Feb. 2008. This article provided helpful and informative information on the negative influence and affects of violent music, and represented the negative side of violence in music very strongly. This article contributed nicely to my research.
3. Leeds, Jeff. "Hearing Focuses on Language and Violence in Rap Music." The New York Times 26 Sept. 2007. 24 Feb. 2008
4. Thompson, Priscilla. "Decency Vs. Censorship." New York Amsterdam News 4 Oct. 2007: 17. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. 24 Feb. 2008. This article provided useful and insightful information on the issue of censorship in the music industry, and the controversies that surround that issue.
5. Wekesser, Carol. Violence in the Media. San Diego: Greenhaven P Inc., 1995. 149-169. This book provided both views on my topic, which contributed geatly to my research, and gave deep and thorough insight on my topic. This was a very valuable and informative source.