Metal Stereotypes

Ones who choose to listen to the music genre Metal, are often faced with hardships, such as stereotypes and misconceptions that create a false perception of those who decide to listen, and are often shunned and judged by others due to their taste of music. Many perceive them as angry, and devil worshipers who hate the world, because of some of the songs and bands that are in the Metal genre. Some even believe that these music lovers are also dark, demented, and rebellious anarchists with no respect for authority. These so called traits, due to some bands’ image and sound lead people to view the fans of this genre in a way that is far from the truth. When one who does not understand the music listens to it, the first thought is that the music …show more content…
Due to stereotypes being based on the majority, everyone involved in the group or culture are labeled to match the majority. However, these generalizations are not accurate, Gretel Ehrlich, in the article, “About Men” states that “If he ‘rides away into the sunset’ it’s because he’s been on horseback since four in the morning and moving cattle and he’s trying, fifteen hours later, to get home to his family”, Ehrlich’s statement concludes that even if a stereotype is some-what true, the reason is different than believed. Many do not fully understand groups and cultures that they are not part of, and to explain why these groups do the things they do, they create stereotypes, or they see most members of the group act one way, and believe that all of the group behaves in the same way. When most people see a majority act in a certain way, people tend to create a generalization of the entire group as a whole, based on the majority. While misconceptions are based on the minority of cultures, and some people see one member act in a certain way, and dress in a certain way, people believe that it is the social norm for that group. These misconceptions are, most of the time, untrue, but since they are part of that group, they set the basis of an inaccurate perception of the group. Ehrlich later states that, in our culture, cowboys …show more content…
Tom Jacobs, a psychologic journalist, in the article, “Inside the Head of a Headbanger” states that “those with a strong preference for metal ‘were also more likely to have lower self-esteem,’ the researchers write. They speculate this style of music ‘allows for a purge of negative feelings,’ producing a catharsis that may ‘help boost self-worth.’”. Which means that, metal music tends to boost confidence, and self-esteem of those who listen to the genre. Shaunacy Ferro, in his article, “The Psychology Of Loving Heavy Metal” addresses that people who are more convivial tend to listen to engaging and intense. So, people who are more expressive of their feelings, not just anger, but deeper emotions are the average audience for heavy metal. People also think that I have a psychological problem, due to my taste in music, and for that, I am sometimes alienated. Jordan Taylor Sloan, in her article, “Science Reveals Something Surprising About Metal Fans and Classical Music Lovers” states that “Classical fans, and metal fans are scientifically proven to have identical psychological profiles.”. So, in short, metal fans have similar psyches as ones who listen to classical music, and not psyches of crazy