Rock N Roll

Music controversy at core of youth culture: How has pop-rock music influenced teens?

To many teens in society today, pop-rock music is very influential. " Pop rock music has been controversial at least since the 1950's." (Brown, p.1) American youth listen to music and watch music videos four to five hours a day, which is more time than they spend with their friends outside of school or watching television." ( O'Toole, p.1) That's because music is central to youth culture. Today, young people typically focus more on music and entertainment rather than educational development. Music has become a huge part of society for teens. Pop-rock music reinforces who one is and tells others what group he or she belongs to. These reasons make it important to see that pop-rock music has influenced teens in society today.

Music matters to adolescents, and they cannot be understood without a serious consideration of how it fits into their lives. "Music alters and intensifies their moods, furnishes much of their slang, dominates their conversations and provides the ambiance at their social gatherings." (Brown, p.1) For young people, music has become a dominant center source of concentration. "Young people also use music to gain information about the 'adult world', and to withdraw from social contact (such as using a walkman or mp3 player, not unlike an adult

hiding behind a newspaper at the breakfast table), to facilitate friendships and social settings, or to help them create a personal identity." ( O, Toole, p.2) Generally, pop-rock music for adolescents control mood and enhances emotional states. These reasons clarify that music plays a major role on young society today.

It is very important to acknowledge that music has influenced American youth in both positive and negative ways. Pop-rock music has set an impact on young people in an educational aspect. "When teachers and administrators stigmatize peer groups based on music, the wedge between these kids who, after all, are often the ones who most need to be reached and the mainstream school culture is driven even deeper." (Christenson & Roberts, n.p) Music used in an educational setting, can be positive, when used to make a point, research or other educational information.

Certain pop-rock music has influenced young males and the way they treat young females by causing young males to become more antagonistic in their orientation toward women. and more likely to condone violence