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“Many music videos depict an ugly, angry and sadistic world.” Why then do they appeal to people?
By Melson Chun
In our society of self-confessed “couch potatoes”, it is inevitable that music videos or “MTV” as it is more popularly known, would be a staple source of entertainment. It has pervaded our lives so much that it has spawned a generation of what is known as he “MTV generation” to refer loosely to the emerging young and restless breed of youth. Most of us would have already seen a white-blond Eminem spewing vulgarities and portraying the typical nonchalence of someone who has seen far too much of the world for his age. Worst still are the dark, gothic-inspired videos of Marilyn Manson which often feature self-mutililation and sexual perverseness. Yet, these are merely two of immensely popular artistes emerging from this genre of so-called entertainment. Some have cited such a genre of music and music videos to be a mouthpiece for youth angst and oppression, and such is the appeal of these music videos. Could this signal a darker psychological problem that exists in the minds of today’s youth? Or are we merely vocally liberated to express what we feel? Indeed, it would be easy to cite a few examples of music videos which depict an ugly, angry and sadistic world. The notorious Eminem seems to thrive on bad publicity and his music videos often show him spewing vulgarities, even promoting domestic violence. Yet these videos also seem to depict him as a victim of circumstances, that his anger stems from the senseless angerand violence he himself was a victim of in his youth. The afore-mentioned Marilyn Manson seems to advocate self-mutililation, drug abuse, domestic violence and sexual perverseness. Yet, these two personalities seem to be worshipped by some of the youths today, and what is more disturbing is that these youths cite “ability to relate” to them as part of the appeal. They claim that these music videos are a representation of the way they view the world and how they are being “oppressed” by a higher authority. Eminem’s railing against his mother could then be seen as an act of liberation from the higher authority, something that the youth yearn to be free from. Is this was true, then it is no small wonder that fingers were immediately pointed at the afore-mentioned artistes for the fatal spates of violence that have broken out over the five years or so. Marilyn Manson and his depiction of violence in his music videos were cited as one of the key factors that triggered off the shooting spree in Columbine High School. Are these music videos corrupting our sense of morals, values and ethics? Or are they, to a certain extent, a manifestation of the angst, depression and sense of injustice that seems to be so prevalent in the youth in modern societies today? Indeed, it is interesting to note that media-influenced crimes are most rampant in developed states and Japan. It is alarming to note that the more we progress, the more it appears to be that youths are becoming increasingly restless and invoked by the oppression and injustice they feel that has been dealt to them. Another more radical theory that has been thrown out which would seem to explain the mass appeal of music videos which “depict an ugly, angry and sadistic world” is that the youth feel as though the wool has been pulled over their eyes and that these videos are actually the true representation of the way the world really is. They begin to believe that substance abuse is common, even the norm, and to abstain from such activities would mean missing out on something good. Self-mutililation becomes a way of releasing all the hurt and anger they feel within them. Some people believe that all the angst and depression has long since existed within society, particularly the youth, and it is only now that these problems have begun to manifest in the form of these music videos, that in recent years we have become more open in expressing ourselves. Where depression was once looked upon as a mental problem and stigmatised, angst has now become an inevitable phrase that all adolescents will go through. However, I feel that ethics and moral values are shaped not by the media but by the way the child has been brought up. Parents must be open and ready to discuss their children’s problems should they have any. A strong family unit builds a strong and healthy mind and the child will not be mentally affected by the ugly depiction of life in these music videos. Merely banning the telecast of such music videos will not go for in tackling the root of the problem. Teenagers would always find a way to get around such barriers, or even make these music videos seem more attractive to view. I feel that the depiction of life in such a manner in the music videos usually signal a deeper and more inherant problem within the youth culture in the society that should be addressed and not ignored. Otherwise this would result in increasing decadence and further erosion of moral values within society. Author is a person who have successfully combated acne. For more information, visit http://www.homeacneskincare.com on tips how you can banish acne forever too!
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Contributor's Note
Author is a person who have successfully combated acne. For more information, visit http://www.homeacneskincare.com on tips how you can banish acne forever too!
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