In today’s technologically advanced society, people—especially teenagers—are extremely attached to their computers, video games, tablets, and smart phones. Digital devices like these provide today’s youth with immediate access to an infinite variety of music, ranging from harmonic a cappella to head-banging heavy metal, and everything in between. Many teens spend most of their days with their headphones on, their favorite songs blasting straight into their ears, fuelling their angst-filled adolescent affections. They shut out the world around them and let the songs resonate with them, and they form a deep connection to the music; a connection far deeper than any made with mere words and phrases. Music is jam-packed with raging emotions teenagers
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For example, when hearing that a boy particularly enjoys classical music, one would expect to find a seemingly nerdy type of guy who scores nothing less than a ninety-seven on any assignment and wears bowties simply because he thinks they are cool. Or, if a girl is into punk rock, she must have dyed hair, a strictly black wardrobe, and probably a vast collection of expensive band merchandise. These stereotypes were proven in a study that Adrian North and David Hargreaves reported on in their article “Music and Adolescent Identity”, where they interviewed a group of eighteen and nineteen year olds, and asked what characteristics a person would have, based solely on what type of music they regularly listened to: indie pop, chart pop, or classical. These young adults believe that fans of classical music are religious and sophisticated, chart pop fans rely on approval from friends, and indie pop fans are likely women’s rights activists (North). These stereotypes can lead to some quarrelling among fans of different styles. However, prejudgments like these are not merely signs of the youth’s rudeness towards others; rather they show that music preferences influence both the individual and how society perceives that …show more content…
Katrina McFerran, Melina Roberts, and Lucy O’Grady wrote an article titled “Music Therapy with Bereaved Teenagers” in which they elaborate on a metaphor of music as a mirror that peers into a teenage soul. They suggest that music serves to satisfy a young adult’s intrapersonal needs and can help heal deep emotional scars like grief and depression (McFerran). Music concentrates complex emotions into a simple melody, and by listening to the pure music, teens can inspire these feelings in themselves and stabilize the roaring emotions they find within themselves. It is a simple way for them to resolve the constant war in their growing
For example, when hearing that a boy particularly enjoys classical music, one would expect to find a seemingly nerdy type of guy who scores nothing less than a ninety-seven on any assignment and wears bowties simply because he thinks they are cool. Or, if a girl is into punk rock, she must have dyed hair, a strictly black wardrobe, and probably a vast collection of expensive band merchandise. These stereotypes were proven in a study that Adrian North and David Hargreaves reported on in their article “Music and Adolescent Identity”, where they interviewed a group of eighteen and nineteen year olds, and asked what characteristics a person would have, based solely on what type of music they regularly listened to: indie pop, chart pop, or classical. These young adults believe that fans of classical music are religious and sophisticated, chart pop fans rely on approval from friends, and indie pop fans are likely women’s rights activists (North). These stereotypes can lead to some quarrelling among fans of different styles. However, prejudgments like these are not merely signs of the youth’s rudeness towards others; rather they show that music preferences influence both the individual and how society perceives that …show more content…
Katrina McFerran, Melina Roberts, and Lucy O’Grady wrote an article titled “Music Therapy with Bereaved Teenagers” in which they elaborate on a metaphor of music as a mirror that peers into a teenage soul. They suggest that music serves to satisfy a young adult’s intrapersonal needs and can help heal deep emotional scars like grief and depression (McFerran). Music concentrates complex emotions into a simple melody, and by listening to the pure music, teens can inspire these feelings in themselves and stabilize the roaring emotions they find within themselves. It is a simple way for them to resolve the constant war in their growing