The effect of music on ones social life - Essay Example

Task: Music paper Music plays an immeasurable role in individuals’ lives. It is worthy that music can immensely have effect on one’s social life. Among the roles played by music in one’s life can be the indisputable influence it has on one’s character. This includes the behavior of the listener of the music. In pursuit to find an insight into the role of music on shifting the behavior of the listener, one can take consideration of diverse genres of music. A study of the individual genres conducted reveals the extent and nature of influence it poses on the listener. A study is set on the different types of behaviors that the listener attaches each the genres of music studied. Of importance to look into is the scope with which the genre of music chosen has influence on the behavior change and influence of the listener of the music. There are a considerable number of music genres. Among the several genres are rock, and roll, Hip Hop, soul, and rhythm and blues. Each of the aforementioned genres has different origins. They evoke different and diverse influences on the listener’s behavior. Listeners of every kind of music mentioned attach different levels of enthusiasms towards listening to their genre of preference. In finding out the influence of the genres on their listeners’ behavior, one needs to embark on a study of personality traits of the listener. Every genre would influence every personality trait in a special and unique manner. Of importance in the study is to find out the importance that listeners of music attach to the genre of preference in question. Rock and Roll dates its origin to a long time back in history. This notably was in the 1940s and 1950s. The genre found its invention from African Americans. This genre of music most probably roots its foundation from the United States. The genre often attaches its caliber to the elites. It is more popular among the high-class individuals than to the lower class individuals. The elite class tends to listen to the genre more than the other classes of people. Many concerts and entertainment scenes featuring rock and roll music receive a high turnout of the elite class than others classes in lifestyle. The word “rock” that the founders of this genre used to refer to it was a disguised manner of quoting the word sex. Hip Hop is a major known genre of music among the youth. Its acknowledgement and spread is significant among the black Americans. The genre of music roots from the, black American, people. Its sole purpose was to address the plight of blacks in America. It is associated considerably with the low-income class and the poor. Its origin dates back to the period of history during the 1970s. Many of the artists of Hip Hop are characters who at one moment in time had experiences with the effects of black supremacy. They might as well be descendants of former victims of the historical atrocities the black underwent. Among the several themes, this genre of music that address mistreat experienced by the blacks. The victims underwent the inhumane experiences during the slavery period. This genre of music tends to inform the authorities of the various problems faced by the black Americans. Sharp criticism of betrayal and neglect by the power holders is among the diverse expressions of the message from this genre of music. Soul music dates back to deep early ages in history. This is notably the time between the 1950s and 1960s. The origin of this genre of music is from the U.S. This genre of music explores a more seductive way of presentation than rock and roll music. It is common among individuals who feel the touch of romance with the songs. It plays on a cool and sentimental tone. The overriding theme in a remarkable numbers of soul music is romance and feelings of love that the characters attach to each other. The main associates with this genre of music are the elite class. Soul music is mainly played in instances of paying and merrymaking. It helps show romance and togetherness of parties involved. Rhythm and Blues (R n B) genre of music is a common type of music with the blacks in urban areas. This genre dates back to the period of the 1940s. The music played is smooth and sentimental. Their theme revolves romance and affection. The music is slow and touching. The fans of this genre are people who have little hard issues to solve and at their peak of life. Every one of these genres of music evokes unique personality traits to its listeners. This consequently affects the listener’s behavior. Rock and roll music evokes hard feelings in its listeners. Listeners of rock and roll music show signs of violation of traits of humanity. They are more inclined to feelings for self and not the world. Listeners of this genre of music are violent and conflict oriented. The listeners of rocks and roll music dress in a seductive manner. They tend to have long hairs that imitate artist in of the music of this genre of music. The listeners of this genre of music show tendency of anti-social behaviors. They dance in gestures suggestive of sexy positions. The themes in a significant number of the songs are sex related. Considerable portion of people listening to this genre of music show their desire for hard drugs. Drug abuse is rampant among fans of rock and roll music. Hip Hop genre of music is associated with violent lifestyle. The violence, though not physical, is a reaction towards human injustices. Fans of Hip Hop music do not display sexy kind of dressing. Hip Hop artists dress in buggy kinds of clothing. They tend to preach peace, goodwill, and compassion for neighbors. Hip Hop, therefore, nature the trait of love for each other and observance of the rule of law. They tend to channel for cooperation and togetherness in addressing societal problems. Hip Hop music does not promote anti-social behavior. They rather promote soberness in life in order to cope up with solutions to life’s challenges. Listeners of Hip Hop, however, tend be under the influence of drugs. Soul music promotes desirable characters. It does not promote hard drugs or alcoholic consumption. The music promotes feelings of romance for one another and for humanity. The music evokes a smoothening feeling in its fans. The dress code of a significant percentage of funs of soul music is recommendable. The dressing style is ethical and admirable to many. Listeners of soul music display humility and non-violence. They feel a touch of the romantic world and therefore treat life from a romantic perspective. Soul music does not evoke anti-social behavior in its listeners. Rhythm and blues genre of music does not promote anti-social behaviors. Listeners of this genre of music tend to embrace humility and satisfaction of life. They show feelings of romance for the world and humanity. The manner of dressing of rhythm and blues fans is ethical and recommendable. They do not show traits of heavy drinking. Fans of this genre of music show traits of non-violent behavior. This genre on the music, therefore, evokes desirable characters on listeners. Themes in songs have a direct bearing on the behavior of listeners. Listeners of different genes display different behavioral aspects of life. Listeners of rock music, for example, display behavioral traits that are violent. Hip Hop listeners also display behaviors that are reactionary to mistreatments. They evoke behaviors meant to protect the listeners from exploitation. The effect has great magnitude in young vulnerable listeners. Such listeners imitate the cultures set by the genre of music proffered. There is notable abuse of drugs and in such listeners who fall victim of the side effects of drug abuse. In case of soul music, the message contains romance and evokes feelings of seduction. Listeners are remarkably non-violent, calm and contained. They show characteristics of good character and social ethics. The messages in music initiate related characters in listeners. These include alcoholism and smocking (Parker-Pope 1). Artist, in several occasions, set the behavior of listeners to follow. Many of the listeners follow the social life of artists of their preferred genres of music. Hip Hop listeners, for example, put on buggy clothing. They tend to follow cultures as regards to dressing set by the artists. This mainly influences the young listeners. They tend to detach autonomy in decision making that help them reject to be carried away into such behaviors. There are diverse effects of social integration of such artists’ characters into the lifestyle of listeners. Despite the behavioral influence of music on listeners, the autonomy of listeners of music to resist the influence is a remarkable factor. Though listeners may be swayed away by music, they can practice control over themselves. Listeners’ conduct largely depends on the ability of listeners’ to practice the aforementioned autonomy of conduct. The autonomy initiates responsibility among listeners to gain control over their behavior and conduct. Responsible listeners have the ability to scrutinize the message in the songs and have the right way of conduct. They, therefore, are able to nature conduct that is ethical and acceptable to the public. The psychology of music has influence on the behavior of individuals. The listeners mind and the influences and behaviors depend on the message of the music. Traits of the listener affect preference for music genres. Liveliness of the listener can affect the subject’s preference for the music. The subject’s social boldness has a bearing on the preference of the music genre. The listener’s extraversion also affects the stimulation for music. Difference in music genre preference brings difference in behaviors of listeners. Worth noting about preference of listeners of music is their inspiration level on their behavior. Listeners, however, have the option to control the level of stimulation from musical influence. Music, therefore, has great influence on the behavior of listeners. Works Cited Parker-Pope, Tara. Under the Influence of…Music? The New York Times. February 5, 2008. Web. May 8, 2012. Read More