Victoria Buff 2-25-2014

How Does Music Impact A Society? For my inquiry project topic I became fascinated in researching about the impact music has on society. Music ranges from different genres such as Classical music to hip-hop/rap. Why is it that when music is heard, the human mind responds in certain ways dealing with emotions such as happiness or anger? Is it the lyrics that are sung that the person themselves are connecting their own experiences to or is it simply because of the impulse the rhythm of the music releases onto us? Many different theories are given as to why at any state, we are so prone to turning to music for answers. No matter where in the world I feel that a person may be raised such as the United States or Japan, music is something that connects to all in a mysterious way. Whenever I am in a state of depression or anger, I find myself turning to my phone for musical support. I turn on my favorite band and just go into a state of where it is only me and the song, and everything else has disappeared in this universe. I become so connected with the lyrics and what the singer is saying as if they took the words right out of my soul. This deep connection I always seem to feel, brings me to the feeling of being understood and consoled better than any other I find myself searching for release. When I hear the rhythm of the song and the musical ranges it comforts me physically allowing me to just release the tension I may have circulating around within me. When I hear the lyrics of the song, it awakens a hidden side of me where I begin to emotionally become attach and let out all within me. This feeling and moment of pure eternal bliss makes me want to explore why music tends to take this affect on people. Why generations in this society are able to go to concerts, strangers to the hundreds that surround us, but when the artist begin to play we all become united in a way. Like long lost friends who just found each other once again and reconnecting of all the experiences that entangle them with this moment. The power that comes upon us is something I want to discover. Being introduced to different theories concerning the impact of music on a society has generated many different studies and research along the years. There have been various claims that connections to music do tie in largely with people's emotional state. One various claim is that country music actually increases depression and suicide rates in urban areas. In an article named, "Don't Let Your Sons Grow Up to be Cowboys: Country Music Causes Suicide?!" by Mark James Shultz, he begins to explain how two researchers began the research as to how country music increases the rate of depression and suicide among different populations. Is it because of the stories told within the lyrics or the musical schemes in the background playing? When the research was conducted it showed that there were various variables that did not match up to others. For example, the white population seemed to be more affect by the country music rather than those of the African American race. Why is that? Could it be because African Americans tend to lean on other genres for emotional support rather than Country? This would increase further curiosity as to why music connects with us. Music may be something that is different for everyone causing one to turn to one genre while the other may find connection

Victoria Buff 2-25-2014

elsewhere. Is it the music genre that is creating this difference or is it the persons own emotional choosing? Throughout society, no one can be completely positive as to how music is connected so deeply within each person similarly though different when it comes to the emotional responses that may be given because of the gender choice. The impact music has on society is large no matter where on this planet you may look at regarding populations. This may be leading into a further fascination as to creating how our own souls or personalities tie in with outside factors. Music is a truly powerful escape and something that leads me to be thankful for every day.