Does Music Affect Teen Actions

Position Paper
Does Music Affect Teen Actions
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A Position Paper
Prepared for the Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
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TREX 1001 Mythbusters for Mr. Miller
Ohio Northern University
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by
Lex Brown
11/2/13

Society today is different than it was decades ago. Whether good or bad, it is evident. Culture is more centralized around media more now than it has ever been. It'd be hard to go a couple hours without being exposed to media and impossible to go a whole day. How exactly does media influence the population? Does the constant exposure make America susceptible to the messages artists and designers are trying to portray? Getting more specific how does music affect teen life? Music is something that is important and valued by many teens a crossed the world. It is possible the lyrics of these scandalous, rebellious, and/or M-rated pop artists are sinking into the cerebellum of curious teenagers. Teenagers are the targeted audience for many artists. The question is, does the explicit music people listen to affect behaviors when it comes to sexual activity, drugs, and alcohol. Digging deeper into one of media's most effective conveyor of message, there is research that puts some backbone into the argument. American adolescents are exposed to 2.4 hours of music per day and their weekly listening easily exceeds 16 hours (Primack, Douglas et al., 2009). Today’s artist paint pictures of teenager’s sexual fantasies, making it seem risk free and fun. Music portrays threesomes and girl on girl action to appeal to the young imagination of teenagers. With constant exposure to this sexual ‘dreamworld’ teens are propelled to try and experiment what is being repetitiously ran through their ears. In a recent study scientists grouped teens according to their sexual media diet or (SMD) which was weighted on their frequency of media usage. The individual’s SMD combined the overall amount of sexual content being displayed with the specific type of sexual content. This was then tracked over a one month time to give the subjects media diet. White adolescents (12-14 years old) in the top quintile of the sexual media diet were 2.2 times more likely to have had sexual intercourse when 14-16 years old than those who were placed in the lowest SMD quintile (Brown, L’Engle et al., 2006, pg.1018). White males in the highest quintile also reported using media more frequently than the other portion with their choices containing more sexual content (Brown, L’Engle et al., 2006, pg.1021). More than three quarters of the high quintile white males listened to rap music, whereas only one third of the lowest quintile males tuned in (Brown, L’Engle et al., 2006, pg.1021). A perfect example of the influences rap and hip-hop affect the adolescence sex drive. By the age of 16, 55% of the males in the highest quintile had performed sexual intercourse, compared to a shockingly low 6% of those in the lowest (Brown, L’Engle et al., 2006, pg.1022). However, because time order was not clear it is plausible to conclude that those who were partaking in sexual activity were also the ones most interested in the sexual content in the media rather than vice-versa (Brown, L’Engle et al., 2006). Music listeners may begin to believe the world’s artists and adopt their norms as their own. Such norms would be risky and unsafe sex habits, partying without consequence and partaking in illegal substances. After hearing so much, the listener of the music whether rock, rap, hip-hop or country becomes accustomed to the lifestyle and practiced norms of the artist. These songs also cast a very negative light on women. Music tries to connect the lyrics with a story the performer is trying to portray. In these songs culture teaches us the separate rolls of being male and female. Songs portray females as items, animals and sex thirsty all the time with men being overpowering, almighty, and powerful (Dreamworld; Despire, sex, and power in music, 2007). The music portrays women to be useful for one task and one task only-sex(Dreamworld; Despire, sex, and power in music, 2007). They do not include, for the most part, the female’s emotions, skills, likes, character traits, intelligence or compassion, only their sex drive (Dreamworld; Despire, sex, and power in music, 2007). And because of the constant repetitiveness listeners interpret that all females are like that. With this depiction male listeners get the idea that they are, in fact, superior and that they should treat females in such ways. On the other hand, females interpret the music by believing it is their job, as women, to sexually please males. Cannabis is the most commonly abused drug used by adolescents in the United States. More than half of US adolescents will experiment with cannabis, of those, one third will become regular users of the drug (Primack, Douglas, et al., 2009). A 2009 study by the Office of National Drug Control Policy showed that of the top 1000 songs, 18% referenced drugs (Primack, Douglas, et al., 2009). Cannabis being the most commonly mentioned. A study shows that adolescence who have four or more hours of daily music use were significantly more likely to have ever used cannabis (Primack, Douglas, et al., 2009). The study did not take into account whether or not cannabis was mentioned, only the total music exposure. The average adolescent hears a cannabis reference roughly 40 times per day, if listening to the Billboard top 1000 songs (Primack, Douglas, et al., 2009). Like in the previous paragraph referring to sex in the music industry, today’s music makes smoking seem care free and without risks. The music does not only increase the curiosity of those listening, but also gives a one sided view on the matter. Songs entwine wealth with alcohol and partying. The richer you are the more big named brands of alcohol you drink and the bigger parties you throw. Songs mention liquor names, parties, and getting drunk. Does all this influence teens when it comes to alcohol? A study by Denise Herd of Berkeley's School of Public Health showed that 77 percent of the rap music studied made references to drug and alcohol abuse (Negative Effects of Rap Music on Teens). Country music followed in second place with 36 percent (Negative Effects of Rap Music on Teens). Teens listening to this type of music were 1.5 times more likely to use drugs or alcohol (Negative Effects of Rap Music on Teens). The atmosphere depicted in the song seems care free and fun, reeling in unknowledgeable teens. Teens then want to experience, what the famous, rich, and successful people say they experience daily. Propaganda has been around since Hitler’s rule in 1941. Media is always going to portray their item their selling as bigger and better to get the buyers attention. There are some who disagree with the fact that media has such an influence on people. In response to a study M. Esther and Lourdes Villalustre conducted they found that out of 500 people surveyed only 28.5% of people say they have been influenced to go buy something after seeing the products advertisement on television. The other 71.5% were uninfluenced by adds they see on TV (Esther and Villalustre Fig.1).They argue that not enough people are influenced by media to make an impact on stereotypes or the image of women. Some also believe that it is common for businesses to portray their products using women. They argue that women sell products, sell albums, and games. Reichert, author of “Sex and Advertising” believes that sex and showing women in promiscuous clothing is fair game, and nothing but a common advertising tactic. Women acting in a sexual manner has been in commercials since 2003 and today, 10% of all ads elude to sex (Reichert Para. 2). Another argument that is made against media affecting the woman viewer is that she has her own choice and control over her actions. The problem with this argument is that when someone is exposed to that much propaganda, they are made to believe that what they see is “normal”. Although sexual appeal and advertisements go hand in hand it is not a fair assumption to say that the viewing of these ads and media don’t affect teens. The fact that ads don’t influence the consumers enough to affect them is ignorant. Even if you place television ads out of the equation, music and other media are constant factors in a person’s everyday life. This argument makes more sense because of the constant exposure one has with the media in today’s time.

The problem with adolescence and music influence does not fall in fault of the music industry. Although the music being produced is rather vulgar producers will continue to make it just as consumers are going to continue to buy it. Producers continue to supply it because suppliers support them by purchasing and broadcasting their songs. And because of this they are making money. A very music orientated capitalist system. The fault lies with the educators. Schools are restricted with their teachings. They are allowed to teach and preach sex education, health basics behind it, and abstinence. And this goes for drugs as well as sex education. The schools are so vague with their teachings the young population is not getting the full scoop. Many questions are left unanswered. Sadly enough, our music answers those questions but only with a risk free demeanor. Teens are then compelled to experiment and try what they hear. Parents avoid the ‘awkward conversation’ about sex, drugs and alcohol and leave the teachings up to the schools. One of the strongest protective factors against early sexual behavior is parental communication (Brown, L’Engle, et al., 2006). Teens then use music as their peer which encourages such risky activity. Music portrays the teen image as partying, drinking, smoking, and sex-addicted. This could make them feel as if they need to live up to the interpretation by performing as so. This is an example of looking glass self. The norm has strayed away from the ‘clean teen’ and drifted into a risk taking rebel. Adolescents see this as their role and are conforming to what the media interprets them as. Although, at times, music can get vulgar, it is a great luxury. We cannot even begin to try to clean up the music industry. Artists have the right to say what they want in the songs they produce. However, the songs can be avoided and the proper education can inform teens about the real truth about sex, drugs, and alcohol.
Works Cited
Brown, Jane, Kelly L'Engle, Carol Pardun, Guang Guo, Kristen Kenneavy, and Christine Jackson. "Sexy Media Matter: Exposure to Sexual Content in Music, Movies, Television, and Magazines Predicts Black and White Adolescents' Sexual Behavior." Pediactrics 117.4 (2006): 1018-1027. Print.
Dreamworlds 3. Dir. Sut Jhally. Perf. Sut Jhally. Media Education Foundation, 2007. DVD.
Esther, M & Villalustre, Lourdes. “Media literacy, participation and accountability for the media of generation of silence.” Oviedo (2013): 4."Negative Effects of Rap Music on Teens." eHow, Discover the Expert in You. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <www.ehow.com/info_7979107_negative-effects-rap-music-teens.html>.Primack, Brian, Erika Douglas, and Kevin Kraemer. "Exposure to cannabis in popular music and cannabis use among adolescents." Research Report 105 (2009): 515-523. Print.
Reicher, T. 2010. Sex in Advertising. Wiley International Encyclopedia of Marketing
Esther, M & Villalustre, Lourdes. “Media literacy, participation and accountability for the media of generation of silence.” Oviedo (2013): 4.