Does Music Promote Violence?
Violence
Urge or Choice
(Watson, 2003)
Breakdown of Violence in
Music
• Males are generally the aggressors in music
videos.
• White women make up the largest group of
victims in music videos.
• African Americans are disproportionately more
likely to commit violence in music videos.
(Cronie,1998)
Video
(Shakur, 2006)
Example of a Violent Song
“Smooth Criminal” by Alien Ant Farm
• “Smooth Criminal” describes violence in graphic
detail.
• “She was struck down”
• “Blood stains on the carpet”
• “It was her doom”
• Makes a very serious crime into a form of
entertainment.
(Mitchell, 2001, track 12)
Example of a Violent Song
“Delia’s Gone” by Johnny Cash
• “Delia’s Gone” is about a man who kills a
woman who was unfaithful to him.
• “I shot her in her side”
• “Delia died”
• “If I hadn’t shot poor Delia”
• “I tied her to her chair”
• Displays violence as a viable means to solve
unfaithfulness in a relationship.
(Cash, 1962, track 7)
Violent People
VS
Like Violent Music
Violent Music
Makes People Violent
• Can music make a person
act violently for no
reason other than the
rhetoric of the music?
• Are people with an
aggressive personality
more likely to listen to
violent music?
(Lee, 1940)
Violent Lyrics Cause Aggression
• In a study of exposure
to violent lyrics it can
be shown that violent
music can increase
“feelings of hostility”
• Study also showed an
increased recognition of
aggression in language
after exposure.
(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)
(Shankbone, 2009)
Short Term Effects of Violent Music
• Increases the amount of aggressive
thoughts.
• Influences the perception of aggression in
social settings.
• Can cause more aggressive responses.
(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)
Long Term Effects of Violent Music
Direct Effects
• Contributes to aggressive personalities
• Can cause aggressive reactions where none
would have been without influence.
(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)
Long Term Effects of Violent Music
Indirect Effects
• Can create a more aggressive environment
due to expected response of aggressive
person.
• Can endanger personal relationships
(Anderson & Carnagey & Eubanks, 2003)
Violent Music Comes from Violent Experiences
• Criticism of violent rap
music rarely take into
account the society that
rap was created in.
• In many cases the music
depicts everyday events
including violence.
(Richardson & Scott, 2003)
(Schyler, 2006)
Violent Music Comes from Violent
Experiences
• Rappers like Tupac who died
a violent death lived a
violent life full of hard
decisions.
• Tupac’s life decisions more
than his music lead to his
death
(Richardson & Scott, 2003)
(Makaveli)
Criticism of Violent Music May be Racially
Motivated
• The most widely
criticized genre is Rap
which has African roots.
• The “white” country
songs with violence are
rarely blamed for violent
outbreaks.
• Rap has demands for
censorship, when country
and rock do not.
(Richardson & Scott, 2003)
(Bowdich, 1817)
Conclusion
While it can be seen that violent music can
cause an aggressive attitude, however;
there is no proof that violent lyrics directly
cause violent actions. In most cases the
violence that is blamed on music is really a
cause of life's circumstances that cause
some one to lash out at society.
References
Anderson, C., Carnagey, N., & Eubanks, J. (2003). Exposure to violent media: The effects of songs with violent
lyrics on aggressive thoughts and feelings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(5), 960-971.
doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.5.960.
Jeanita W Richardson, & Kim A Scott. (2002). Rap music and its violent progeny: America's culture of violence in
context. The Journal of Negro Education, 71(3), 175-192. Retrieved July 4, 2010, from ProQuest
Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 278467731).
Cronie, W. (1998). Music videos promote adolescent aggression. Harvard University Gazette, Retrieved from
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1998/04.09/MusicVideosProm
Cash, J. (1962). Delia’s Gone. On The sound of Johnny Cash [CD].
Nashville: Columbia.
Mitchell, D. (2001). Smooth Criminal. On Anthology [CD].
US: Dreamworks.
Shakur, T. (Producer). (2006). Ballad of a dead soulja. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DamWU0dAWCE&feature=related
Watson, A. (Photographer). (2003). Tupac amaru shakur. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tupac_Amaru_Shakur.jpg
Schyler, . (Photographer). (2006). Bloods - gang sign. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bloods_-_Gang_Sign.jpg
References
Shankbone, D. (Photographer). (2009). Ice-t at the 2009 tribeca film festival 2. [Web].
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IceT_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival_2.jpg
Lee, R. (Photographer). (1940). Manshooting. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Manshooting.jpg
Makaveli, . (Photographer). Tupac shakur. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://media.photobucket.com/image/tupac/Makaveli-tupac/tupac-thug-life4900917.jpg
Bowdich, T. (Photographer). (1817). Ashanti yam ceremony 1817. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ashanti_Yam_Ceremony_1817