Rock as a Part of Music Art Essay

Introduction

Rock, as a separate style of music, appeared in the 20^th century. The history and the origins of that music show that the seditious features of rock were caused by various factors. These are protests against wars (Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan), protests against racial and sexual discrimination. From the point of a rock fan’s view, it may be considered harmful only as a protest to the official politics of states or the public moods (Cooper, 1997). Especially throughout the 1980s, the protest features increased, and the rock culture was marked by the increasing tendency of obtaining “ironic sensibility.” The irony was a kind of protest, as people became tired of continuing Cold War, arms races, the war in Afghanistan. Musicians just started mock at politics, international affairs, and so on (Bailey, 2003).

First of all, to define the harm of rock music, we need to get acquainted with the points of view of rock’s most inveterate antagonists, who are mainly pediatricians and Christians.

It is necessary to admit that rock experienced significant changes from the times it was heard for the first time. Now it attracts the attention not only of rock fans but also of young parents and pediatricians, as it often harmfully influences the infant minds of children. Specialists are worried not only about music itself; it could become a separate chapter of the discussion, but mainly on the lyrics. Rock lyrics often concern sex, alcohol, and drugs-usage. Some texts provide potentially destructive health messages relating to the mentioned above factors and also advertise suicide. These lyrics are the subject of the exclusive worries of today’s society. These factors are slightly described in the article “FM: The Rise and Fall of Rock Radio” and explain why FM rock radio stations appeared not so widely popular as it was expected (Ahrens, 2001).

Pediatricians’ point of view

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strictly contests censorship. According to the Federal Communications Commission data, the publicity has the opportunity to listen to the wide net of air-radio and TV stations, which are obliged to produce programs of high quality on the basis of public interests. Self-regulation by watches and listeners, good taste programs are the best solutions for that aim.

Suggestions of the AAP:

1. The public needs to be aware of sexually open, drug-oriented, or aggressive song lyrics.
2. Broadcasters and the music industry representatives must be stimulated to demonstrate good taste and self-control in the choice of musical composition.
3. Rock musicians need to be reminded that they may serve positive roles in growing up younger generations.
4. The AAP and other related organizations agree to stimulate parents to take a more active role in looking after their children’s music tastes.
5. Local pediatricians’, educators, and parents’ unions should dispute the impacts of the mass media on children and teenagers.
6. types of research relating the effect of rock music on the behavior of teenagers and children must be expanded and maintained. (AAP, 2005)

Christians’ point of view

Christians are considered to be the most ardent opponents of the rock culture. Here is the abstract from some Christian internet forums related to the issues of rock culture and music in particular. “Rock music is a subtle weapon. Hypnosis specialists consider that the series of repeating beats may cause hypnosis. Thus, people subjected to the nervous disorder are very receptive to everything that rock lyrics “preach.” Lots of people are persuaded that rock music is Satan’s weapon, which is able to eliminate a man both spiritually and physically. It violates the nervous system of the people that suspect nothing. The lyrics are usually amoral, anti-Christian, which tell of disobedience. Texts and thoughts which they provide accumulate in the minds of people because of their susceptibility to rock music. The lyrics propagandize the philosophy, which may be expressed in the following phrase “do, what you want!” The thoughts raised by these means ruin the person from inwards. That is why thousands of teenagers, who are quite normal in everyday life, behave crazily at rock concerts, sometimes making amoral actions, moreover if they subject themselves to alcohol or drugs. The music prepares the basis for the action; the lyrics push to performing the actions themselves. Rock music steadily becomes the food for lots of souls. Any musical stream in rock culture tells us that Satan’s and anti-God philosophies stay behind the musicians. We can observe the unrecoverable damages of morality within lots of young people at the rock concerts.” (Christianity board, 2007).

Scientific facts against rock concerts

Medical observations showed that loud music leads to nervous breakdowns. Arteries start contracting and prevent blood from reaching the heart at the loudness of seventy decibels. At the level of 120 decibels, the human feels physical pain. Rock concerts are recorded at the loudness, which is much higher than 120 decibels. Scholars trying to register the loudness at the rock concert had to move away from the building at a distance of 100 meters to fix the volume level equal to 90 decibels (Holert, 2003).

In our complicated world, any phenomenon can be directed to both positive and negative sides. Music is not an exception. It is a pity that music is often arrhythmic. Lots of music styles have appeared for the few recent decades, which affect organisms destructively. If classical music fastens the growth of wheat, rock music – vice versa, slows it down (Holert, 2003). Plants and animals prefer harmonic music. Thus, for example, dolphins listen to classic music, especially Bach, with pleasure. Sharks, hearing classical music gather from the whole oceanic shore; plants and flowers grow and flourish faster. Hearing the sounds of nowadays music, cows lay down and refuse to take food, plants wilt faster, and a human fills his/ her living space with chaotic vibrations. Western medics invented the new diagnosis – “musical addict.” Swiss scholars proved that people react to the irritants 3-5 times worse after the rock concert. Professor Raukh asserts that rock music listening leads to the secrecy of such called “stress hormones,” which erase the essential part of the information from the brain. American medics with the scholar R. Larsen at the head assert that the repeating rhythm and the low-frequency oscillations of the bass-guitar influence the condition of the medullispinal liquid and as the reason the endocrine glands functioning, which control and regulate the hormone secretions. Consequently, the insulin level changes (Glazunova, 2003).

Russian psychologist D. Azarov once confessed that he managed to extract the combination of sounds, similar to the sounding of some rock melodies. When he listened that for several times, a wave of somber mood overflowed him, and suicide thought appeared. He called that sounds “killer-sounds.” (Glazunova, 2003)

In conclusion, it is necessary to admit that the devil is not as black as he is painted. Rock is a part of music art, and like any art, it may be both destructive and constructive. Everyone chooses according to his/ her taste and understanding; that is why choosing rock people just need to realize that life is wonderful and worth living. Moreover, rock music itself may be wonderful, melodic, and romantic. Just let the suicidal, sexually opened, or drug-oriented lyric alone, and it will be possible to see the beauty of rock, especially instrumental and love rock.

Works cited

1. Ahrens, Frank (2001), “FM: The Rise and Fall of Rock Radio”, Magazine Title: Washington Monthly, Volume 33, Issue 11, p: 40-44.
2. Bailey, Steve (2003), “Faithful or Foolish: The Emergence of the ‘Ironic Cover Album’ and Rock Culture”, Journal of Popular Music and Society, Volume: 26. Issue: 2. Publication, p: 153.
3. Cooper, B. Lee (1997), “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me: Reflections on the Evolution of Popular Music and Rock Scholarship”, Journal of Popular Music and Society, Volume 21, Issue 1, p: 101-106.
4. Holert, Tom (2003), “Blood of the Poets: The Tribal ’80S’”, Magazine: Art Forum International, Volume 41 Issue 7, p: 235-244.
5. The American Academy of Pediatrics “Impact of Rock Lyrics and Music Videos on Children and Youth” Committee on Communications Vol. 83 No. 2. 2005, pp. 314-315
6. Christianity board “Satan and his Names” forum. 2006-2007. Web.