In a modern world, it may be hard to imagine one’s life without music since most people can easily access it using their smartphones. As music has become an inseparable part of people’s lives these days, it may be difficult to determine its exact usage, whether it is simply for leisure, making a statement, educational purposes, or something else. Therefore, research needs to be done to analyze the use of music in different cultures to see what it brings to society.
Firstly, one should look at the use of music in traditional Native American cultures. Native Americans are identified by their tribal affiliations, and their music can be represented by American Indian culture (Pyrillis, 2021). Native American artists are known to “embrace their identities through their music” (Pyrillis, 2021, p. 30). The composers from these cultures can be seen as role models with their music used to unite people (Pyrillis, 2021). For example, music by Native American classical composer Michael Begay is these days played in homeless shelters addressing social justice issues (Pyrillis, 2021). Music by traditional Native Americans has been used to express their cultural features and bring people together.
Secondly, there is a need to look at the use of music in contemporary American popular culture. Research shows that the lyrics for popular music have become increasingly simple over the past few years, showing a change in people’s preferences (Varnum et al., 2021). Music is becoming simpler because people these days tend to like repetitive lyrics that are easier to remember, making them more enjoyable and engaging (Varnum et al., 2021). Another reason is caused by the ways people interact with music, for instance, using it “primarily in the background” in places such as gyms (Varnum et al., 2021, p. 13). Music in contemporary popular culture is affected by the consumers’ demands and is used for leisure or as background noise.
Music and its usage between contemporary and traditional cultures have their distinctive features. The main difference is that traditional artists tend to use music to express the specific aspects of their cultures, while contemporary popular music focuses more on being simple and entertaining. The main similarity is seen by music uniting people, whether it is to discuss social issues or serve as a background for an action. Although it may seem that music is different in various cultures, there are many ways to use it.
References
Pyrillis, R. (2021). Native sounds. Symphony, 28-35.
Varnum, M. E., Krems, J. A., Morris, C., Wormley, A., & Grossmann, I. (2021). Why are song lyrics becoming simpler? A time series analysis of lyrical complexity in six decades of American popular music. PLOS One, 16(1), 1-18. Web.