About
a week ago, I came across the article "Rap and Violence: Myth or
Reality?" written by a woman named Leigh Langston. In the article,
she confronts the common misconception that rap and violence, more specifically
gang violence, have a direct relationship with one another. In society
today, many people draw the conclusion that due to the sometimes negative
contents and or references to violent behavior expressed in rap songs, these
songs are consequently encouraging violent behavior and are thus fueling the
existence of street gangs and magnitude of their violent activities.
While
it is not completely unreasonable for people to feel this way, it is a very
close-minded approach. Langston points out that "gangs have been in
existence much longer than rap music" thus the music cannot be blamed for
something that began before its own time. People have responded that it
has changed the nature of street gangs to have increasingly more violent
behavior. I think this is all very ignorant because the rappers
themselves are not necessarily engaging in this sort of activity themselves,
and if they are, it doesn't have to have a direct relationship to the music
they are producing. In other words, just like art of literature, music is
simply a form of expression. It is
a mechanism for artists to get their ideas out there and work through their
thoughts and present sometimes provocative or controversial feelings to the
public eye, which can allow others to have their own personal reactions and
interpretations to in a way that is tailored to their own personal
experiences. Langston states “Rappers
are sharing their experiences.”
They are just speaking the truth of what they have known or seen or
experienced. We cannot blame the
violence in our society based off the fact that members of street gangs may be
listening to this music and may dress similarly to the rappers they listen
to.
Acting violently is a personal
choice we are all free to engage in or not. No one can force an individual to be violent. We are all capable of making our own
decisions and forming our own identities.
We cannot blame violence on the media or musical influences that exist
in our society. Langston very
eloquently puts that the more appropriate perspective to have is that “the gang
activity influences the music.”
These songs tell stories of the violence the rappers have encountered in
their lives, and they choose to share those experiences with their
audiences. That does not mean that
they are attempting to encourage the continuation of such negative behaviors.
Article:
http://dangerouslee.biz/2012/08/01/rap-and-violence-myth-or-reality/
I'm not sure if I agree. Of course, music is a form of expression, and the artists who produce that work are merely expressing themselves. However, to alleviate all responsibility from artists who have enormous influence on our nation's youth is also somewhat naïve. While saying that rappers are responsible for all violence may be a stretch, I don't think that it's too much to say that many contemporary artist encourage misogynist attitudes, romanticize violence, and glorify drug use.
ReplyDeleteContemporary rap objectifies women in nearly every instance--calling them "bitches" and turning them into objects to be less-than-desired. 50 Cent, moreover, brags about how "hard' and "real" he is, having shot nine times--nothing about being shot nine times is cool, but 50 Cent and his fans would disagree. Finally, it's almost too-easy to see how rap music glorifies drug use: just look at Lil' Wayne. Children and teenagers often look to these artists to inform them on what is "cool" and "popular:" while you and I realize that these songs are merely artistic expressions, many other people do not, and consequently see drug use and misogyny as "cool" things. While it's true that this behavior is merely a reflection of the environment in which they were raised, many (not all) artists embrace this way of living as opposed to rejecting it as morally reprehensible--many artists brag about how violent they are and champion their violence as "real."
While it is true that we all make our own decisions, to say that we are somehow free of all outside influence, especially from popular culture, is naïve. We all dress in ways dictated by what is "hip;" we listen to what people find "cool;" and we act in ways that are socially acceptable, and therefore "cool." If violence is something that, in your particular area, has been labeled "cool" by someone you admire, then I wouldn't be surprised to see that person acting violently. Popular culture and social expectations inform nearly everything we do, and while you believe that it is "close minded" to view rap music in this way, I find it close minded to act as if popular music and popular culture have no influence on our lives.
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DeleteYou also compare rap to literature. If literature weren't at least somewhat responsible for the behavior of people, our history would be a lot less interesting. Think about the mass movements of human history and the impact that literature had upon them, particularly the French Revolution and revolutions in other countries. If literature and other artistic forms that were "simply forms of expression," they would not have had the incalculable impact on human history and human behavior throughout recorded history. Literature and other art forms sometimes advocate for particular ideologies, modes of behavior, ways of thinking, and an infinite number of other things.
DeleteRap music is the same way: like literature, music has the ability to influence the behavior of those who listen to it. If art weren't that powerful, why did Hitler burn books and ban particular types of visual art? He wanted to keep people from acting certain ways and believing certain ideologies. Rap music that embraces and glorifies violent behavior has the same effect: those who listen to it may be influenced to believe that violent behavior, misogyny, and drug use is somehow acceptable.
While violent behavior is, ultimately, the choice of the individual, it is close minded to simply ignore the enormously profound impact that art, music, and popular culture have upon the psyche of individuals. While it is ridiculous to pin all violence on rap music and art, it is naïve to act as if it doesn't have an impact at all.
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. My point was simply that it is ignorant to not acknowledge the fact that it is in fact close-minded to simply accredit the cause of violence in our society to the lyrics in particular songs. Many songs can be interpreted several ways and I don't particularly like the way you are generalizing the genre of rap music to songs that encourage misogyny and drugs etc. There is so much more to the hip hop/rap genre than these over-generalized themes. If that was all there was, it would not be as popular. People like to listen to music they can relate to. You also fail to acknowledge that music today is a reflection of our society, the media is all about "what sells." Drugs and violence and inequalities amongst groups of people are very relevant topics in our society today. If they weren't, they wouldn't be so "commonly" found in popular music.
ReplyDeleteRap music is also not the only genre where references of violence can be found or where women are referenced disrespectfully or where excessive drug and alcohol use can be seen as being "glorified" as you put.
I was not trying to say that we are never influenced by our society that surrounds us because that is obviously how our culture progresses and that would be a really stupid thing to say. Which is not what I said. In fact I was simply focusing on the proclaimed over-exaggerations made about rap music in relation to violence and street gangs. And I never said that literature did not have an effect on our society. I was simply pointing out other forms of expression.
You seem to generalize the way society functions in a manner that implies we are so dependent on being invested in our pop culture. If that were true and we were truly all as influenced as you seem to believe, there would be much less variety in our society. We are more affected by the people we are surrounded by and where we grow up and how we are raised than by what Lil Wayne said in his most recent album or what Jennifer Lawrence wore to the Oscar's. While we have a tendency to idolize celebrities, the way that they influence us is not as direct and obvious as you make it seem. My point was simply that at the end of the day, although our society can indeed put certain themes and ideas in our head and create areas of focus, at the end of the day we are the ones that choose to act on them. If someone’s moral compass is so ill-adjusted to compel them to kill someone and justify doing so, the fact that they may listen to whatever genre of music is completely irrelevant. Especially since these “street gangs” being referenced in the article are typically composed of minorities, as the author states. So when we acknowledged that it is the majority groups that have made this genre so popular, if the relationship between rap and violence was really so direct, our nation would have a lot more crime to deal with. It is also important to note that the article and my reflection on it was towards the specificity of the street gangs being referenced, not how media today affects children and teenagers.
Izzy, I really agree with your point stating that drugs, violence, and inequalities amongst people are very relevant issues in society today. Therefore, the use of those controversial topics in music is a mere projection of present day problems. The article "Rebels with a Cause" really tackles the same topics you discussed in your blog post. The article clearly recognizes that rappers and "ganstas" use and portray violence in their lyrics. Also, the article states the opposition many rap magazines and organizations have over those lyrics. However, their reasoning corresponds closely with your argument. Selwyn Hinds, the editor of the Sours, a popular magian wrote a letter to C. Delores Tucker. Hinds stated, "our culture revers figures of violence" and argues that there are deeper societal issues than the lyrics that are actually causing the violence (118). Later in the article, the authors brings your original argument to light. He describes that many people blame rap lyrics for the violence, but in reality, there was violence in America before there was rap music (121). The article is successful in providing arguments for both sides of the issue; it continues to describe arguments that hip hop supports and portrays a culture of failure (126). However, a statement concluding that argument is what really stuck out to me. The author is describing that rap music does contribute to negative perceptions of African American culture, however "even violent rap music cannot explain the vast institutional structures of white supremacy that pervade America" (127). I find that argument really powerful. It is true that society is so quick to judge and create irrational correlations between rap music, the culture of African Americans, and violence, when the real issues lie within the corruption within the quality between races in America. I do agree that some music does portray an inaccurate, but poor reflection on the African American culture, but that could be equally said for white culture. There are white music artist writing, singing, and rapping about the same subjects.
DeleteThe title of the article alone explains enough: "Rebels with a Cause". The institution and culture described in the article is the same institution that has overcome slavery and endless amounts of oppression and inequality. The ideas and topics expressed in the music is not CAUSING danger or crime. It is a form for a group of people to express themselves for other's enjoyment. Also, the white middle class is responsible for most of the music sales. So by the same ignorant logic, it would make more sense to say the white middle class is causing the crime and violence. Also, there are currently more African American students in college than there every have been, so obviously rap music is not "ruining" the black institution.