Why Metal Music Does Not Create Violence in Teenagers

Loud, aggressive, and fast, coat melody has been accepted worldwide as an acceptable genre of harmony. Yet, some deal flowerpotnot comprehend a genre of music that thrives on being the wickedness movie of music, and purposefully creates controversy at nearly every suit. The media has irresponsibly finger-pointed (Sterngold). One of the approximately recent examples of coat being charged for a national tragedy was in the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Here, a strain by Drowning Pool was blamed as the resole motivator for the shootings.However, the most prolific example of the media irresponsibly finger-pointing at metal music has to be the case of Columbine. After the Columbine shootings, the authorities placed sole blame on Marilyn Manson and his music for the shootings suggesting that Mansons music, or his fans, incite craze (Sterngold). The hardly problem with their claims was the fact that the two shooters did not listen to, nor where they fans of, M ansons controversial music. This brings the question of whether or not the claims placed on metal music for leading to uncivilized behavior ar true and discount be supported.An example of what those who think metal has a direct correlational statistics to hysteria say that Mansons music promotes hate, violence, death, suicide, drug use, and the attitudes and actions of the Columbine amply School Killers (DAngelo). However, the separate side of the story tail be scoop stated by Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo when he utter, Were telling stories. Its not actions-its just music. Its fantasy stuff, just displace thoughts on paper, thats a crime? (Considine).Although metal is dark, heavy, and a good deal quantify inappropriate, it does not commence a prejudicious effect on an otherwise normal and productive listener, especially teenagers, because metal is just a contrary genre of music, meaning that its lyrics do not have a negative affect on an otherwise normal listener. To begin, artists atomic number 18 too a lot misinterpreted and bashed with claims that are stretched to the point of lies, creating the opinion that all of their listeners can be stereotypical into a select, cherry-red, group.One case of this can be with the band Slayer, wizard of the most popular thrash metal bands of all time. Slayer has been sued ninefold times and is mavin of the most controversial bands in explanation. The band was sued double by California parents who claimed their daughter was murdered in a religious rite inspired by Slayers music, yet both suits where ignore (Considine). It also really frustrates the musicians who work so hard to make music, unless to see themselves harmed because of it. As Lombardo says sarcastically, If they take my drums a flair, I guess I cant play every much.But I dont see that happening, unless Im living in a communist culture. (Considine). It also agitates the fans who feel that they are misconstrued and all used as su bordinate examples of what music can do to sight. Slayers fanbase contains more MENSA members than any other metal band (Considine). At this point in time it is also safe to say that people know what they are getting into and what to expect from a band named Slayer. No, this is no band for virgin ears, notwithstanding this does not give reason for it to be said that they this instant turn everyday human beings into monsters.Slayer knows that where they go, controversy will naturally follow, and this for old age has been a successful marketing tool (Considine). Although Slayer is only one example, this melodic theme spreads all the way to people trying to explain violence, and determination scapegoats through stunned the media with similar attributes to metal. Also, violence in the media has a great deal been exaggerated, and statistics are often inaccurate to the point where a consistent thesis is no eternal possible. According to James K. Fitzpatrick, a former teacher at a Catholic school, his former students who listened to metal went on to lead successful, calm, lives, which in his opinion, be that the lyrics of songs do not have long term effectuate on the listener. It also brings to mind exactly why kids in an environment homogeneous this would choose metal, when it is certainly not conthroughd or accepted. It can be inferred that they chose this because of the idea that it would offend adults and others in their lives. According to Fitzpatrick, perfectly normal kids listen to haze rock.There are certain types of kids who like being associated with music that offends some adults (Fitzpatrick). There is an emphasis with Fitzpatrick that lyrics are not detri kind to listeners in the long term and that they are in the end generally meaningless in the quality of a persons life. He states that I have seen fans of other rock groups that caused great anxiety to parents in the 1980smature in a similar way. (Fitzpatrick) Another reason for the expl anation of why violence is often exaggerated can be the fact that violence is so often overstated since we see so little of it. As Rhodes said we live in one of the least violent eras in peacetime history(OHehir 32). Our society has surely changed in the way we view violence since we are exposed to so little of it. Out society has also changed because of the way we deal with violence. It used to be that we ensured we avoided it all times. Now it seems like we close react positively to certain types of violence. By viewing violent pleasure individuals will leave with pent up tendencies gone, and anger released (Sparks 115).It seems as though times are truly changing and that in fact violent lyrics do not make mad men, and violence can in fact do some good for certain people. Next, is the fact that metal music is often scapegoated for events where peoples emotions run high, and accusations fly because people feel a need to know a reason. Metal is often first blamed but a majority of these claims are fictive and without proof. A majority of these claims stating that metal lyrics lead to long term mental problems have been biased, in-conclusive, or accurate.As Harvard physiologist Steven Pinker wrote, Media violence research has been flawed and in-conclusive at best, and a great funding scam at worst. (OHehir 25). These claims are strong, and his claims have been backed up by other sources fighting against the claims of others. MIT Professor total heat Jenkins observed that the idea that violent entertainment had consistent and predictable effects on viewers was inadequate and simplistic. (OHehir 27). Another reason for the increased blame put on metal is the rise of the digital age, and with it the rise in metal music videos and horror movies.Some would go as farthermost to say that these videos alter the mind producing a mentally unstable person. Yet, as others would claim, media depictions of violence are inherently attractive to the masses, only truly affecting a few people, and are never the sole reason for any mental instability. This is called the Aesthetic theory of Vandalism or The Aesthetic Theory of Destruction. The theory states that the same things that account for the enjoyment associated with socially acceptable experiences are similarly responsible for the pleasure associated with acts of destruction.Not to mention the fact that from what express televised media there was in the 1950s and 1960s, a majority of it was uncensored, and unregulated. 50s TV was deeply routed in guns and gunfire, to a degree that would provoke outspread outrage immediately (OHehir 31). The explanations for blaming metal are not true and barely factually based. Furthermore, metal does not have an affect on the mental stability of a listener, and the there have yet to be a definitive solvent to explain that it does.In short, it becomes apparent that there is no correlation mingled with metal and violent behavior, and in fact anger can rel eased when hearing to metal. It is also true that metal being blamed for social problems can be generalized into the topic of media violence being blown out of proportion when in fact, our society is generally less violent and more regulated than in previous generations. The question becomes, what can be done about it? The gap between the fans of metal and those against it has always been a deep gap, and one that has rarely attempted to be bridged.First, it takes understanding that it is not very well to generalize fans and bands into a group of evil people, and understand also that a majority of the listeners understand that indeed the music they listen to is offensive, and that they enjoy that candidate of it. Certain people who want to listen to this music will, and if they like it, plain they will continue (Fitzpatrick). It is also important to truly know the person, and never assume that something like listening to a genre of music immediately translates into a personality characteristic or flaw. People like violent in your face things in spite of, not because of, violence only in rare circumstances where the media itself is too good for the violence to negatively affect the experience. (Sparks 115). When debating the human psyche it is important not to let emotions, biases and judgments deputise with rationale. It is important to listen, and look at facts, proof, and remember that those who appear like a metalhead would, are very different people than you may think.