The following is the first in three part series on music in America and its importance in American life.
March
19, 2001
Without question, modern Americans have adopted music as their favorite means of artistically expressing themselves. By this, I mean either creating or performing the art, or simply by listening to, enjoying and identifying with it. For example, one person’s favorite kind of music might be Country, and they proceed to make this a part of their personal style, along with how they dress, social activities they engage, in etc. Other art forms, such as poetry or sculpture, don’t lend themselves to be identified with an individual’s very being the way music does.
Like everything else today, music is a hot topic in terms of America’s progressing cultural war. This is nothing new – puritanical types have been decrying modern music since the trombone was invented (FYI – Beethoven was the victim of conservative scorn for incorporating “the Devil’s instrument” into his symphonic works).
Recently, this debate came to a head again regarding the performance and nominations of one Marshall Mathers (a.k.a. Eminem, a.k.a. Slim Shady – why does he have so many names?) at the 2001 Grammy awards ceremony. The argument over Eminem has been a more divisive one than usually occurs over popular music. It seems Eminem is particularly fond of rapping about violent, sexual themes and spews invective towards homosexuals. He and many of his fans claim that his raps are “satire” and “ironic commentary” on American life today. Detractors claim that Eminem’s angry lyrics have no place being honored on the national stage.
This argument is now a moot point – the Grammy’s took place, Eminem performed alongside openly gay Elton John, and Jurassic Rockers Steely Dan one Album of the year. What’s interesting about this is that nearly every music critic agreed that “The Marshall Mathers L.P.” was the year’s best album – that wasn’t even the debate. The quandary was weather or not the Academy should “sink to his level.” Evidently they decided not to.
Prior to Eminem, the big musical controversy was Marilyn Manson, ca. 1996. There again, concerned parents and other puritans ranted about Manson’s “satanic” music, style and performances. First-Amendment types fired back about his right to look and perform what he likes, and to leave it up to the consumer to decide.
So, assuming that most Americans live their lives somewhere in the middle of the political road, how does one decide which is more important – shielding children from potentially harmful, hateful music, or protecting the rights of the artists to speak their often-offensive minds? Of course, there is no simple answer, and each American’s personal situation has to be the determining factor.
I enjoy Eminem’s music. It is damn good, as far as rap goes. I find that when I’m angry or upset, listening to the angry likes of Eminem or Rage Against the Machine (both of whom spout political philosophies I completely disagree with) proves cathartic: I don’t feel the need to beat up my boss because I’ve vented vicariously through these guys. I think that’s an important niche that they fill, and these artists have made millions doing it.
However, if I were a parent of a nine-year-old kid, I would consider it my duty and my right to do what I had to to keep my child from being exposed to this complicated, adult-themed music. It may be the Eminem’s lyrics are more irony than they are hatred, but you can’t expect a kid, even a teenager, to be able to fully distinguish the difference. It’s important that parents not only keep their children from this until they are ready, but to actually prepare them to hear and understand and to critically listen to this kind of music one day, so that when their girlfriends dump them they don’t take an assault rifle and shoot up McDonalds and then blame Eminem for it.
You got a problem with that? WELL BRING IT ON!!!
Coming next week: Access to music in the Information Age