Grant Proposal on "Reducing or Reinforcing Media Impact"

Grant Proposal 7 pages (2374 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Reducing or Reinforcing Media Impact: Rap Music

Rap music, videos and the hip-hop media industry as a whole often makes use of shocking and violent words and images: the rap industry has thus spawned fear in the hearts of many parents, parent's organizations, and even politicians. But the idea of the potentially dangerous impact of music on teen behavior is hardly new. Swing, be-bop, rock and roll and heavy metal all brought forth similar charges from parent's organizations before they became part of mainstream popular culture. However, some social science researchers contend that the nature of contemporary rap music is particularly deleterious to adolescent moral development. Regardless, rap's popularity worldwide has exploded: "In 2003 the number-one selling artist, according to Billboard Records, was the former drug dealer and survivor of seven gunshot wounds -- rapper 50 Cent. Myriad other rappers shattered the top 50 records sold in 2003, and in 2004 the pattern continued…rappers, such as PDiddy, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg, are now household names. An example of this [rap's popularity] was [seen] in the 2004 presidential election campaign, when PDiddy used his popularity and clout to increase youth voter turnout" (Iwamoto 2007, p.1). But do such positive civic images like the pro-voting campaign of PDiddy counteract the negative influences of rap?

Literature review

One early 1997 study on rap music found that adolescents who "listened to rap music with lyrics demonstrated slightly higher tendency toward verbal aggression than the subjects in a non-lyric group and a non-music control group. In this study, 60 males in grades three through five were matched in pairs and were given a music preference questionnaire to complete. Each pair, or dyad, was then videotaped while playing a game of table hockey. The same tasks were accomplished by dyads in each of the three conditions. Pairs that were in the music with lyrics group showed a slightly higher tendency to verbal and nonverbal aggressive behavior, especially in the competitive table hockey exercise, implying that the lyrics are more influential than the music or beat" (King et al. 2009). However, the measured difference between the two musical experiences was relatively minimal. There was no comparison between individuals listening to rap music without lyrics and other types of music without lyrics, to see if rap music itself was more deleterious to the moral development of young people than other genres.

The question as to what is so troubling and what is so potentially dangerous about rap music for developing teens has resulted in different conclusions in the existing literature of research and experimental studies. "Another study had participants read either sad or happy lyrics while listening to instrumental music to measure if the lyrics had any effect on one's mood. The results indicated that the lyrical content had no effect on mood," indicating "adolescents do not interpret correctly or comprehend the messages of the songs' lyrics, and that they feel that the lyrics are the least important reason for liking a song" (King et al. 2009). The study authors concluded that listening to rap's 'hyped up' music style the reason for an increase in youth violence, as compared with a control group, which means censoring or altering lyrics would have little impact upon counteracting negative influences. And another research study "involved participants reading either pro-social or anti-social lyrics assigned as heavy metal, rap, country, or pop. The participants then rated the songs. Results indicated that regardless of the type of lyrics, heavy metal and rap were rated more likely to inspire antisocial behavior, thus negative mood. These articles seem to suggest that the actual lyrics have little effect on creating a certain mood in individuals, but rather it's the expectations of the particular music" (King et al. 2009).

Yet further research found that "given the controversy surrounding antisocial themes that are sometimes present in heavy metal and rap lyrics, it is important to note that heavy metal and rap fans report much higher levels of interest and attention to lyrics than do teens in general…attention to lyrics is highest among fans of oppositional or controversial music (whether it is 1960s protest folk or rock or the heavy metal and rap of today). In other words, the more defiant, alienated, and threatening to the mainstream a music type is, the more closely its fans follow the words"(Roberts et al. 2003, p. 159). And despite teen's articulated sentiments that they do not care or do not mindlessly obey lyrics, there are subliminal effects that the words of rap music can possibly have, according to one study. Comparative data on 11- through 16-year-old lower-income African-American boys exposed to either eight violent rap videos or eight nonviolent rap videos" who were then asked to "answer questions about two brief stories" found that the viewers of the violent content were more apt to condone violent behavior, such as a man attacking his girlfriend's 'ex' after seeing her with the man. The group exposed to violent music and images was more approving of individuals in a story who made more money and drove fancy cars than people who chose to finish college and forgo such things in the short-term (Roberts et al. 2003, p. 168).

Adults cannot discount the importance of music on the lives of adolescents -- or deprive teens of rap's self-defining nature. The question is how to use music in a positive, rather than a negative way, to support the development of healthy teenage lifestyle practices. "Try to change the radio station in the car after your child has set it, and you will quickly see that they have very clear and deeply held opinions"(Roberts et al. 2003, p. 153). Adolescents often consume more music than television during this critical juncture of their lives "to control mood and enhance emotional states. Music's ability to communicate emotion and influence mood has been widely noted" (Roberts et al. 2003, p. 156). Music also becomes an important form of social and personal self-definition at this time: "some have suggested that while the emotional uses of popular music are important, the social uses and meanings provide the real key to understanding its niche in the lives of youth" Roberts et al. 2003, p. 156). In terms of presenting positive role models, particularly to young African-American men and women, this becomes a concern when disseminating rap music. "Popular music at once expresses, creates, and perpetuates the essential 'us-them' distinctions that develop between groups" (Roberts et al. 2003, p. 158). The 'us vs. them' distinction promoted in rap music strikes a contrast between the 'cool and the un-cool' and the 'law-breaking vs. The law-abiding.' This can be destructive if adolescents identify with the former rather than the later (Roberts et al. 2003, p. 158).

The misogynistic images in many rap videos have come under particular scrutiny in recent years: greater exposure to rap music videos has been associated with sexually risky behaviors in African-American girls. One study attributed this development to social cognition theory. The "cornerstone of this theory states that modeling will occur more readily when the modeled behavior is salient, simple, and prevalent and has functional value. Thus, exposure to rap music videos, particularly gangsta rap (the most popular type of music video), which is explicit about sex and violence and rarely shows the potential long-term adverse effect of risky behaviors, may influence adolescents by modeling these unhealthy practices. Alternatively, African-American female teenagers may identify with the characters and themes in rap music videos, and exposure to these videos may reinforce teenagers engaging in such behaviors" (Wingood et al. 2003).

Social cognition theory suggests that the more a poor, urban teen lacks role models at home the more he or she is apt to engage in behaviors modeled upon media images (Wingood et al. 2003). But the study of African-American girls merely addressed correlation rather than causality -- it could be that individuals more apt to fall into negative life patterns, such as engaging in unsafe youthful sexual activity are more likely to listen to rap than other forms of music. That does not mean that listening to rap was the cause of the negative behaviors.

Additionally, rap can be used in a positive fashion to motivate young people to change unproductive life patterns. Because of the great enthusiasm generated by rap worldwide, one educational study used rap to support its initiatives: "The program has participants critically analyze their environment and address such concerns as gender, culture, race, and social class primarily through rap videos and movies. Rap music also has been used in HIV / AIDS-prevention counseling with African-American adolescents and young adults" in which students are encouraged to rap about their feelings and the need for engaging in positive and respectful behaviors towards the opposite sex (Iwamoto 2007, p.1).

COMA (children overcoming media assault) Program: Proposal

Instead of trying to undercut the influence of rap music, an effort which is likely to be futile and counterproductive in its reinforcement of an 'us vs. them' mentality, creating a program in which students are… READ MORE

How to Reference "Reducing or Reinforcing Media Impact" Grant Proposal in a Bibliography

Related Grant Proposals:

Media Violence and Violent Behavior Thesis

Media Violence and Violent Behavior

The notion that violent media -- especially violent film, television, and video games -- plays a role in contributing to violent and criminal behavior in… read more

Thesis 30 pages (8255 words) Sources: 25 Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Embedded Weapons of Mass Deception How the Media Failed to Cover War in Iraq Book Report

Embedded: The Relationship Between Form and Theoretical Assumption in an Account of the Iraq War

Danny Schechter's book Embedded: Weapons of Mass Deception looks at the media coverage surrounding the… read more

Book Report 20 pages (6480 words) Sources: 20 Style: APA Topic: Journalism / Media / PR / News

---

Impact of Internet on Society Term Paper

Internet on society

The Internet has had a profound and far-reaching effect on society and the social construction of reality. This impact is evident on many different but interrelated levels.… read more

Term Paper 9 pages (2380 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Computers / IT / Internet

---

Black's Law Dictionary (1991), Child Abuse Essay

Black's Law Dictionary (1991), child abuse is "any form of cruelty to a child's physical, moral or mental well-being. Also used to describe form of sexual attack which may or… read more

Essay 18 pages (5968 words) Sources: 24 Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Effects of Technology on Personal Relationships Dissertation

Technology on Personal Relationships

The rate at which information is shared in today's world is very different than just a few years ago. More and more, individuals, particularly college students… read more

Dissertation 50 pages (13203 words) Sources: 22 Topic: Computers / IT / Internet

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>