Research Question
Topic: Impact of Violent Music Videos on Human Behaviour
According to a UNESCO study, media violence is a new frontier having a cathartic effect. The people can get their natural aggression in a passive way and take it out on people. Music is loved by majority of the people and violent lyrics or videos can increase aggression related thoughts. From infancy to adulthood, music is a part of everyone’s lives. Some music videos communicate harmful messages unintentionally by reaching a vulnerable audience. Music has effect on people, from low chords to high chords, or a soothing video to violent one. The music lyrics and video have undergone dramatic changes (Pieschl & Fegers, 2016).
How do violent music videos aggravate aggressive thoughts and feelings?
Rap music with Misogynistic Themes
Rap music has violent references to women. The rappers have realized that sex and violence sells and they are making money from it. The songs depict murder of women, sexual assault, domestic violence and other sensitive areas.
Negative Influence of Provoking Music Videos
According to a study conducted by Dr. Warburton, violent music and media affects the minds of young people. The psychologist states that media influences children’s lives. The 2003 Media and young offenders World Youth Report states that violence is a courageous method of bringing justice. With the rise in hip-hop, rap, and heavy metal music, there have been increased levels of crime rates. The lyrics or music videos that glorify aggression, violent sexual acts, murder and anti-social themes are disturbing the emotions and though-process of the viewers (Splarn, 2012).
Further, the researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human Services conducted a study to examine the impact of seven violent and eight nonviolent songs. The students participated in the study were given psychological tasks to measure aggressive feelings. The results from this experiment showed that the participants had increased aggressive thoughts and feelings. There was an instigating response showing aggressive tint (Pieschl & Fegers, 2016).
Semiotics is a valuable tool for understanding the meaning in people’s lives. It helps in understanding the variety of codes and messages being sent. The following songs are analysed by applying semiotics and understand the messages being sent through it (Murray, 2016).
The song “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna depicts an abusive relationship with scenes of domestic violence. The clip highlights the dangers of an abusive relationship. The song topped the US Charts which portrays the increasing popularity of music videos with violence.
Literature Review
According to Pierce’s Trichotomy, there are different kind of signs- icons, symbols and indexes. The signs are usually determined by the objects. The icon is the screenshot of the song that portrays relation between a couple (Murray, 2016). In the above figure, fire and smoke are the indexes. The symbol indicates is the expression on both of their faces. In the above figure, it is evident that the boy is physically violent with the girl. The message portrayed from the song video is that the man is physically abusive with the woman and is throwing her out of the house. There is pain on the girl’s face and anger of the man’s face that is symbolic of the girl being a victim in the relationship.
The next figure is a picture of Taylor Swift from the song Blank Space. In the music video directed by Joseph Kahn, it is portrayed that Taylor Swift experiences multiple emotions like screaming, crying and stabbing.
According to Paul Ekman’s theory and research on facial expression, there are emotions that are evident on the faces like anger, surprise, sadness, pouting, disgust, determination and others. The research states that there are 43 muscles in the human face showing emotions. In the above figure, it can be analysed that Taylor Swift seems disgusted and full of vengeance. The knife in her hand and facial expression indicates her disgust where she angrily wants to chop off the heart-shaped cake and ruin its beauty. It is also portrayed that she can become a problem if the guy breaks up with her.
A popular American song by Pink is Please Don’t Leave Me released in 2009. The song shows a love hate relationship where the boy has a bad effect on the girl but she is unable to let go of the person. The video has a violent and disturbing imagery because of which a censored version was released.
According to the Saussure theory of sign, there is a matched pair of signified and signifier. The signifier is the sound image and signified is the concept to which the signifier refers (Murray, 2016). In the figure above, Pink has tied up the boy while aiming at his kneecaps. Pink is dressed as a nurse that signifies that she will cure him while stitching his wounds. However, her nurse uniform is not signified. The signs in this imagery are used to lie as she dances suggestively for him and smashes his kneecaps with the golf club. This imagery also puts light on the general notion of women being victimized by physical abuse. In this music video, the man undergoes the pain. There is a controversy as the music video might be promoting gender-based violence and sexual assault.
Data Analysis
From the above analyses, it might be noted that these music videos are highly popular. These music videos have millions of views that indicate its popularity and preference. The common factor among these videos is physical violence and sexual assault. These are results of jealousy, personal issues and vengeance. It is assessed that these videos might be causing troubles and aggravating people’s emotions leading to aggression. These music videos have a negative influence on a person’s social identity. There is a massive shift in demand for these violent music videos where the artists are pushed to create music about vengeance, betrayal, love-hate relationship, and violence. The media mostly portrays betrayal and jealousy as unacceptable behaviour that leads in physical violence between couples.
Moreover, these music videos have catchy lyrics such as “You’re my perfect little punching bag”, “I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream”. Violence must not be entertained as a form of entertainment. Music has the power to stir rage, cloud reason, cause pain. Media portrays drugs, sex and violence in the songs for gaining more popularity, especially among the youth. Degrading music videos that portray men and women as objects is leading to a negative influence on the feelings and behaviour of people (Franiuk, Coleman, & Apa, 2017).
Conclusion
The artistic freedom and concerns about censorship has lead to a dramatic rise in violent music videos. With the rise of internet, music videos are widely available to the adolescents. The research has indicated bad effects of violent music videos on the people’s behaviour. Their emotions and aggression level are of paramount concern. With popular music comes change in behaviour as there is exposure to drugs, sexual messages, gender stereotypes and violence. Listening to popular music is considered by society to be a part of growing up. Music videos can provide a base for establishing relationships among people. Although the emotional response to music depends on the way it is presented, it is also true that it is closely related to the age of the listener and the experiences or preconceived ideas they bring to the music.
References
Franiuk, R., Coleman, J., & Apa, B. (2017). The influence of non-misogynous and mixed portrayals of intimate partner violence in music on beliefs about intimate partner violence. Violence against women, 23(2), 243-257.
Murray, L. (2016). Adapting Peircean semiotics to sound theory and practice. SoundEffects-An Interdisciplinary Journal of Sound and Sound Experience, 5(1), 55-72.
Pieschl, S., & Fegers, S. (2016). Violent lyrics= aggressive listeners? Effects of song lyrics and tempo on cognition, affect, and self-reported arousal. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 28(1), 32.
Splarn, H. (2012). Does violent music and media affect young peoples’ minds? – Generation Next. Generation Next. Retrieved 19 March 2018, from https://www.generationnext.com.au/2012/09/does-too-much-violent-music-and-media-muddle-a-kids-mind/
YouTube. (2018). Eminem – Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna. YouTube. Retrieved 19 March 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U
YouTube. (2018). P!nk – Please Don’t Leave Me (Main Version). YouTube. Retrieved 19 March 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocCPDxKq1o
YouTube. (2018). Taylor Swift – Blank Space. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 19 March 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg
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