Preview

Propaganda in Rock Music

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2508 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Propaganda in Rock Music
ROCK MUSIC IN PROPAGANDA

This essay will explore the claim that Rock music has a significant and big role in propaganda. The claim derives its sources from the history and today’s social events. The essay begins by summarizing the social situation of 1950s and how Rock music occured. Then, it continues with the usage of Rock music in forms of propaganda, which are black propaganda and white propaganda. In addition to this, the essay talks about in which fields Rock music is used for propaganda and finishes with summarizing the whole essay in brief.
In 1950s, the world was broken to smithereens after the wars, especially WWII. People wanted no war, they wanted to live in peace, they wanted brotherhood and love. However, nations could not reach to kings, queens or masters individually. The demands of society were not important for the masters. Finally, the angry societies started to throw up their angers to the system by picking hard-volumed guitars, brutal vocals and aggresive-toned drums. First, it was an underground music that could not be done everywhere because of its anarchic message. However, governments could not hold on that music underground because all of the world wanted freedom and peace and that music was announcing their demands to all the world. There is a message still alive today is freedom, peace, love and brotherhood. Taking these names under a roof, rock music is used for propaganda, especially for white propaganda. What the white propaganda is according to Jowett and O’Donnell(1999), the correct usage of propaganda like right sources and truthful. Musicians propagate these ideas with lyrics and hard-volumed instruments so, this kind of music is used for people wanting to live in a free and peaceful world as Ellis Amburn (Newsweek reporter) said in 1969 “From Buddy the burgeoning youth culture received rock’s message of freedom, which presaged the dawn of a decade of seismic change and liberation. … Buddy Holly left the United States for

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    . Some songs of the period were inspired by the Vietnam War with even the most popular musical artists being influenced by the plight of the soldiers forced into battle. Some of the music written during the 1960s and 70s characterized the discontent of American youth with the escalation of America’s involvement in Vietnam. The rhythms, raw energy, and screaming guitars of rock music reflected the chaos and confusion of the jungle warfare. Since Rock music was the most popular genre at the time with American youth it was also popular among the young American soldiers. To a degree Rock ‘n’ Roll music became an anthem of the American youth demonstrating their anti-establishment anti-war sentiment. Sometimes music defines a generation and the U.S.…

    • 166 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Popular music in 1950s might have been an epitome of a ‘mass culture’ of consumption in the 1950s as called by Adorno and Horheimer, but musicians and performers were never far away from politicized discourses about region, race, sexuality and class…

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rock for me has stronger messages than the traditional Rock and Roll format; you see a lot of repetitive messages in the early 50’s and 60’s when it came to rock and roll music. Rock and Roll was basically telling stories about past experiences about sex or drugs or music that you couldn’t forget because the chorus was catchy. Rock, as stated before is a subculture of rock but for me with Dylan being an example had a lot of raw emotions infused into it. When I think about Rock and Roll I image sex, or to procreate without intention of reproducing, partying without consequences. Rock music is sort of like a political party, encouraging rebellion, power or to have strength within one’s self. Bob Dylan, is an example of all of these things, while listening to his music I got a sense of urgency and emotion. He made you feel that you belonged to a community larger than yourself; he himself encouraged diversity with the world and even with himself. He crystallized the notion of social protest as a cultural pursuit for a…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Songs had a political and societal meaning behind them, then songs in the past. The messages of progressive rock songs in the late 1960’s were important in making change in the American culture. Spreading messages of equal rights, love not war, and enjoying yourself through music, are not bad messages to sing about. America still faces issues like this today, but progressive rock helped start the conversation of change in America and lead to much more active change than ever before seen.…

    • 1793 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Economy: In order for a band to share their music, they need to rent a hall space, stage, buy or improve their equipment. Nowadays, customers are not buying CD’s which affects the music industry because that band may not make a profit nor will their publisher and everyone involved. They either get their music for free online which leads bands having to come up with a different way to make income. This relates to how popular culture of music is decreasing the amount of people listening to Rock because now that everyone has to listen to the norm, Rock bands are struggling with having their talented work known. The origins of Rock which was in the 1940’s-1950’s, there was immigration of African-Americans where they went to Chicago, this affected the economy and they wish for a more peaceful life than what was happening in the south. This affected music because it eventually created another genre and many were inspired by the African-American blues music.…

    • 2305 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rock soon began to articulate that separate sensibility that youth wished to express, a world view that rejected the values of establishment and embraced a new. (Jennings Brewster 392) People wanted a change in the rules and establishment. But they believed things werent going to get any better. So they had to make them seem better, or completely forget about them. Thats where the drugs came into play. It was commonly believed that the governments drug enforcement apparatus was an instrument of repression and a truly democratic society would legalize drugs. (Brewster Jennings 392)The lifestyle of many musical phenoms resulted in tragic deaths (300) that had a huge impact on the listeners. Stars like Jim Morrison never even made it into their thirties. Because their rock…

    • 596 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Swing Music Essay

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Music, a defining aspect of Human culture for centuries, is influenced heavily by the social institutions of the time. This can be most evident in “pop”, short for “popular”, music. Music is a demonstrative language of culture. It tells a story, conveys ideas, opinions, and emotions of life experiences. Music has the power to link generations. In recent history such themes include Jazz and blues, the Big Band era, country, rap, and various other genres of music. Each of these classes of music are drawn from and represent the particular culture and time of the background of the artist or the events that inspired it.…

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Counter Culture Movement

    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages

    It was often associated with rebellion and a rebellious period, particularly among the youth population. Rock n Roll, first attempted by artists like Elvis Presley and Jimmie Hendrix in the early 1960’s, was unusual and was one of the first influences of the rebellious life style teenagers were seeking. The introduction of drugs and swearing in music, alike TV shows, In the modern era has changed the face of our music, and just about every song nowadays would be rejected in the 50’s and previous decades, including styles just like, rap. The music of that time explored the concerns and interests of the ongoing social changes and a number of social influences changed what popular music was and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today. Musicians experimented with what was considered “black music” which made more and more black musicians popular throughout the decade, reflecting the social issue of civil rights. That has had an effect in our era because, most popular artist are of an african-american culture. R&B, Rock n Roll were two popular genres in the mid 60’s, they promoted freedom which helped form the hippie movement, promoting freedom, sexual liberation and drug use as well as the rebel against previous norms. Although the style of music is different to the 60’s today, their are still a…

    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Elements Of Country Music

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Music, a defining aspect of Human culture for centuries, is influenced heavily by the social institutions of the time. This can be most evident in “pop”, short for “popular”, music. Music is a demonstrative language of culture. It tells a story, conveys ideas, opinions, and emotions of life experiences. Music has the power to link generations. In recent history such themes include Jazz and blues, the Big Band era, country, rap, and various other genres of music. Each of these classes of music are drawn from and represent the particular culture and time of the background of the artist or the events that inspired it.…

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    On a research done by doctor Craig A. Anderson and Nicholas L. Carnagey states that music with violent lyrics increases violence thoughts and it effects is related to aggressive lyrics. The author states that according to a report in MVC by Robert, Christenson, and Gentile about twenty present of males and sixty percent of females that are fans of heavy metal rock have tried to kill or harm themselves. According to the author’s periodical, each music s is carried by its sound instead by its lyrics that can create a profound effect. In the case of heavy metal music, the sound can signal an aggressive plan. The author states that individuals that criticize heavy rock stars have strengthen the power of impulse; increase rebellion, anger and other negative effect on young people. The author states that rock is basically not meant for participation, instead it is intended for expressing the exaggeration drama ego of the artist. Mr. Duke identifies what young individual…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The author emphasizes that people displaced and victimized by war use music use music as platform of communicating views and creating awareness that cannot be expressed through speech.…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Protest Song

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the article “The Return of the Protest Song”, Tillet writes about the turnback of protest music after their downstrend in 1960s and the redenifition of the kind of music. The coming back is the responsibility of the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. They use music to say and express their aspiration of Civil Right. In the same time, hiphop was seen as a new form of political music, and it has an important influence and spread quickly. Before 1960s, writers wrote music lyrics base on political issue; however, recently, they have been writing from their inside that base on what they think, what they want to say. The protest music is not only traditional music, it also can be rap, or hip hop. In his article the message that the most important is that “"Protest songs don't have to be boring or ready made for the next Olympics. They just have to speak truth."…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Influences of Music

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages

    According to social statistics (n.d.), 52.17 percent of people listen to music every day and 26.63 percent of people listen to music almost every day. It implies that music plays a vital role in society. Due to human’s creations, such as televisions and radios, which make music be heard more easily. Unsurprisingly, it becomes a huge part of people’s lives. It has a connotation in itself. Therefore, this essay will illustrate that music can influence people in various ways: feelings, thoughts and behaviors.…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Under the rule of dictators many forms of art developed to promote propaganda, and many more that were deemed ‘corrupting’ were destroyed. Ades et al propose that, “In Hitler's Germany, Stalin's USSR and Mussolini's Italy, art was used to reinforce the strength of the political rulers, to shape and influence, to celebrate and demonstrate the seductive nature of power.” For example, under Hitler’s rule of Germany during the period 1933-1945, music played an integral role in daily life under Nazism as there were many pro-war and anti-war songs made. Therefore, music was also used as propaganda because it was widespread and influenced social and political attitudes. As a result, some music types and composers that were deemed ‘un-German’ were banned during the Nazi era. These artists, musicians, and actors were persecuted; they were exiled, fired from any teaching positions they had, books were burned, artworks were removed, and music was banned. Basically, anyone who did not fully comply with the parties ideology, especially the Jews and communists were ‘un-German’. Those who were not persecuted by Hitler had to flee to other countries. Hence Hitler’s rule had led to the demise of some artists and musicians, whilst also influencing propaganda art and music in Germany at the…

    • 1645 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Are you aware of the music nowadays? How does the band affect the lives of young people today? Well, different bands and songs had already flourished in the world. They had grown into new ideas and captured the hearts of the people, especially the teenagers. They sometimes play songs for dancing, singing, recreation or listening. People use them to express feelings and ideas and also a way for them to relax. It is an unavoidable element in everyone’s life. It has always been a part of every culture, big or small. Music is often a major part of a teenager's separate world. Most of the young people enjoy listening songs without even recognizing its lyrics as long as they were pleased with its catchy tunes. Music is not usually a danger for teenagers, unless they are not preoccupied with music that has seriously destructive themes like taking alcohol, presenting suicide or getting abused with drugs. It is easy for us to check on songs that contain good and clean messages by just analyzing its lyrics. However, for many years, there have been rumors that certain songs, speeches, and ads contain hidden messages that can only be heard when played backwards. Some people believed that most of the bands corrupt young people by burying subliminal messages in music. This process is known as backmasking and there is much debate about its existence.…

    • 2638 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics