Literature Review Carib 2
Literature Review
Music has always played an important role in the communication of culture. In the Caribbean people listen to many genres of music, but dancehall is the most prevalent. The Trinidad Express (2013) states that, “Jamaican dancehall music dominates the airwaves of the Caribbean.” It is heard frequently through various means which causes children to be immensely affected. They highly esteem dancehall artists and view them as role models. Therefore they learn from what their role models do and say which concerns parents. Unfortunately as the children grow older, they continue to pay more attention to the music and videos that capture and hold their interest.
According to the Jamaican Gleaner (2007), “Dancehall music could be viewed as one of an organized set of values that influences behaviour, that is common to the criminal elements in society through the messages of violence and the glorification of the gun promoted in the lyrics of certain dancehall songs, in addition to the public and hateful behaviour that some dancehall artistes display towards each other.” Dancehall music promotes negative behaviours and has a powerful influence on society; in particular teenagers who are directly affected by such music.
In addition, Dr. Niaah in The Herald (2014) suggests that “Dancehall music can be viewed as a portrayal of cultural decay amongst youth in the way that it glorifies violence, promiscuity and drug abuse.” Indeed dancehall music listened to throughout the Caribbean negatively affects its people because of the vulgar messages being promoted through negative and destructive themes. Themes such as “drugs and alcohol abuse”, “graphic violence” and sex which focuses on masochism, are featured prominently in some lyrics and are glamorized. It is a phenomenon that flies under the radar as entertainment but is much more than that. There are messages in the music, encoded with instructions on how to live and how to survive in the world. Messages of
Music has always played an important role in the communication of culture. In the Caribbean people listen to many genres of music, but dancehall is the most prevalent. The Trinidad Express (2013) states that, “Jamaican dancehall music dominates the airwaves of the Caribbean.” It is heard frequently through various means which causes children to be immensely affected. They highly esteem dancehall artists and view them as role models. Therefore they learn from what their role models do and say which concerns parents. Unfortunately as the children grow older, they continue to pay more attention to the music and videos that capture and hold their interest.
According to the Jamaican Gleaner (2007), “Dancehall music could be viewed as one of an organized set of values that influences behaviour, that is common to the criminal elements in society through the messages of violence and the glorification of the gun promoted in the lyrics of certain dancehall songs, in addition to the public and hateful behaviour that some dancehall artistes display towards each other.” Dancehall music promotes negative behaviours and has a powerful influence on society; in particular teenagers who are directly affected by such music.
In addition, Dr. Niaah in The Herald (2014) suggests that “Dancehall music can be viewed as a portrayal of cultural decay amongst youth in the way that it glorifies violence, promiscuity and drug abuse.” Indeed dancehall music listened to throughout the Caribbean negatively affects its people because of the vulgar messages being promoted through negative and destructive themes. Themes such as “drugs and alcohol abuse”, “graphic violence” and sex which focuses on masochism, are featured prominently in some lyrics and are glamorized. It is a phenomenon that flies under the radar as entertainment but is much more than that. There are messages in the music, encoded with instructions on how to live and how to survive in the world. Messages of