Why Metal Music Does Not Create Violence in Teenagers

Loud, aggressive, and fast, surface music has been accepted worldwide as an acceptable genre of music. Yet, some raft ignore non comprehend a genre of music that thrives on being the horror movie of music, and purposefully creates dispute at nearly every turn. The media has irresponsibly finger-pointed (Sterngold). One of the most recent examples of metallic element being beatified for a national tragedy was in the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Here, a song by Drowning jackpot was unholyd as the sole motivator for the shootings.However, the most prolific example of the media irresponsibly finger-pointing at metal music has to be the case of aquilegia. 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 military group (Sterngold). The only problem with their claims was the concomitant that the ii shooters did not listen to, nor where they fans of , Mansons controversial music. This brings the question of whether or not the claims placed on metal music for pick outing to violent behavior ar true and can be supported.An example of what those who designate metal has a direct correlation to forcefulness say that Mansons music promotes hate, violence, death, suicide, drug use, and the attitudes and actions of the Columbine High School Killers (DAngelo). However, the other side of the story can be best stated by Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo when he said, Were telling stories. Its not actions-its just music. Its fantasy stuff, just putting thoughts on paper, thats a crime? (Considine).Although metal is dark, heavy, and often times inappropriate, it does not have a detri cordial effect on an otherwise normal and productive listener, especially teenagers, because metal is just a different genre of music, meaning that its lyrics do not have a negative affect on an otherwise normal listener. To begin, artists are too often misi nterpreted and bashed with claims that are stretched to the point of lies, creating the sagaciousness that all of their listeners can be stereotyped into a select, violent, group.One case of this can be with the mint Slayer, one of the most popular thrash metal rotarys of all time. Slayer has been sued multiple times and is one of the most controversial bands in history. The band was sued twice by California parents who claimed their daughter was murdered in a ritual inspired by Slayers music, yet both suits where dismissed (Considine). It overly really frustrates the musicians who work so hard to make music, only to see themselves harmed because of it. As Lombardo says sarcastically, If they take my drums away, I guess I cant play any more(prenominal).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 inferior examples of what music can do to people. Slayers fanbase contains more MENSA members than any other metal band (Considine). At this point in time it is also honest 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, but this does not give reason for it to be said that they straightway turn habitual human beings into monsters.Slayer knows that where they go, controversy will naturally follow, and this for years has been a successful marketing official document (Considine). Although Slayer is only one example, this idea spreads all the way to people trying to exempt violence, and purpose scapegoats throughout the media with similar attributes to metal. Also, violence in the media has often been enlarged, and statistics are often inaccurate to the point where a consistent thesis is no longer 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, proved that the lyrics of songs do not have long term effects on the listener. It also brings to mind exactly why kids in an environment like this would choose metal, when it is really not condoned or accepted. It can be inferred that they chose this because of the idea that it would overstep adults and others in their lives. According to Fitzpatrick, perfectly normal kids listen to shock 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 detrimental 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 1980s vaned in a similar way. (Fitzpatrick) Another reason for the explanation of why violence is often exaggerated can be the occurrence that violence is so often overstated since we see so piddling of it. As Rhodes said we live in one of the least violent eras in peacetime history(OHehir 32). Our cabaret has surely changed in the way we view violence since we are exposed to so little of it. go forth troupe 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 near react positively to certain types of violence. By viewing violent entertainment 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 predominate high, and accusations fly because people feel a need to know a reason. Metal is often head start blamed but a majority of these claims are false and without proof. A majority of these claims stati ng 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 Henry Jenkins observed that the idea that violent entertainment had consistent and inevitable 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 far 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 call ed the Aesthetic hypothesis 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 frolic associated with acts of destruction.Not to mention the fact that from what limited televised media there was in the 1950s and 1960s, a majority of it was uncensored, and unregulated. 50s TV was profoundly routed in guns and gunfire, to a degree that would provoke outspread outrage today (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 solution to explain that it does.In short, it becomes apparent that there is no correlation between metal and violent behavior, and in fact anger can released when listening to metal. It is also true that metal being blamed for social problems can be gen eralized 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 large gap, and one that has seldom attempted to be bridged.First, it takes recogniseing that it is not okay 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 aspect of it. true people who want to listen to this music will, and if they like it, obviously they will continue (Fitzpatrick). It is also all important(p) 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, violenc e 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 interfere with rationale. It is important to listen, and odour at facts, proof, and remember that those who appear like a metalhead would, are very different people than you whitethorn think.