Stephen Chapman wrote some misinformed statements about the influence of rock and rap music on young people (“Does bad music really cause bad behavior?” Op-Ed, Nov. 16).
– He says, “Baby Boomers were raised on Connie Francis, Hayley Mills and `Father Knows Best,’ but they ended up dropping acid, spurning authority, reveling in the sexual revolution and producing the biggest crime wave of the century.”
Has he forgotten that in the ’60s and ’70s there were countless records about sex, revolution and drug use? And that, as never before, teenagers used earphones that blocked out other stimuli so they could focus on the songs?
– He writes: “Millions of adults read real-crime books, murder mysteries and vampire novels without the slightest urge to spill blood.”
This is probably true because no one reads in a soundproof environment or without interruption. Besides, a novel’s effect depends on the imagination, concentration and reading comprehension of the reader. When the book is closed, there is no music, drumbeat or repetitious lyrics to haunt one’s thoughts.
– He states, “To believe that Marilyn Manson could talk a kid into suicide is to greatly exaggerate the power of music.”
Music is powerful. The military uses march rhythms to promote the ideas of “keep in step” and “act together.” Fast drumbeats are used to build anger and courage before battle. Fast music, dance and chant with a relentless beat can promote altered states of mind that some religions use for snake-handling and spell-casting.
Long ago churches discovered that music produces moods; e.g,. loud music may produce awe and soft, slow music aids meditation. Musical therapy is used on psychiatric patients. Some of the old spirituals using flatted third and seventh scale steps were born of the despair of slaves and earned the name of “the blues.”
Teachers may profitably use slow, contrapuntal music to calm their pupils or for subliminal learning. It can also be used for hypnosis. A fast beat arouses enthusiasm, relieves depression.
Parents and legislators should be aware that with rhythm, melody and lyrics appropriate to the situation and the listener, music can be an effective brainwashing tool.
