TOPIC: Music and Crime
BACKGROUND INFO: According to a recent New York Time artice published on Sept. 3, 2007, 'after a spate of shootings, the police in Colorado Springs are saying that rap music is contributing to the violence, luring criminal activity to nightclubs.'
NOTE: to read full 9/3/07 NY Times article follow this link http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/03/us/03hiphop.html?ref=us
TOPIC QUESTION: Write a response on the link bewteen music and criminal behavior. Address the following questions in your response: What role (if any) does music (hip-hop, hard rock, etc.) play in a person's commission of a crime? Are law enforcement officials in urban cities across America unfairly targeting a genre of music as a source of violent crime? Is it fair to blame rap music specifically for the rise in criminal activites and behaviors? (NOTE: An online poll was conducted using this question)
NOTE: If you elect to use online sources for the basis of your argument please site the web address in your response.
FORUM RULES: Use real examples and examples from the article to bolster your views. NO RANTS…use FACTS to support your response. If you assert a political, secular or non-secular view…you must SUPPORT with FACTS!!! Keep your response to under 50 words.
POINT VALUE: A WELL WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THIS FORUM TOPIC IS WORTH 10-25 POINTS. YOU MUST PUBLISH YOUR RESPONSE ON THIS SITE IN THE CORRECT FORMAT.
FORUM RESPONSE FORMAT: This is the appropriate format for a response to a question in this forum...
Your response.....remember it should be under 50 words......and it should be specific and contain some facts.
First name and last name initial (i.e. Larry K.)
DUE DATE: All posts must be submitted on or before 9/7/07
9 comments:
I don't think people should bran rap music as the source of people's crimes, or any other music for that matter. Just because you like a certain music that might have words or phrases that relate to violence, doesn't imply that the person wants to or does commit crimes. I personally listen to rap music, but I don't promote or conduct in violence. I think that officials and police officers are wrongly targeting rap music as the source of crime. If a person wants to commit a crime they will because they want to, not because they listen to a certain type of music.
Caroline S.
A music genre shouldn't be blamed for actions of other people. Other people can do criminal acts based on personal issues, race issues, etc, not just simply because of the music they listen to. Law enforcements officials are targetting the wrong area and should reconsider their ideas about the criminal things going on.
Nicole D.
I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this assignment.
Coming from my objective perspective and for someone that considers the lyrics of the song to consider the song actually good, i would have to say that a genre of music shouldnt effect the way people think but it actually does. So many children in societyy today look up to there favorite music artists for examples and if there rapping or screaming out illegal actions, it just gives off bad ideas. The law should consider the persons music background after the arrest and see if the figures relate or not.
Sophia V.
If any music plays a role in a person's commission of a crime, rap shouldn't be targeted as the only genre of music that makes people act in violent ways. I don't think music really plays a role, because people that commit the crimes are ol enough to know right from wrong, and no type of music can change that. I think officials are unfairly targeting rap and hip hop music as a source of violent crimes because of the lyrics and people who rap/make it. They set in thier minds that it's bad, because rappers are stereo typed as being ghetto,gang bangers,and people who do drugs, when thats realy not the case. I don't think any music should be blamed for the crimes that people commit.
Amba N.
Most people defend rap music and its negative affect it has on certain people. There are more rap songs that any other genre of music that promotes violent lifestyles, immoral behaviors, and drug use. A large number of people, young and old, look up to musicians and want to be alot like them. Not all people are affected, but if some people here their favorite rap artist's new song about how they went out randomly shooting the other night, it may change their thoughts and make them think it's okay to do such a thing. It today's society everything, not only rap music, influences peoples' decision making skills.
Cayla T.
Rap music shouldn't be branded as the cause of all of these crimes. Rap music does't tell someone to cause violence and yes it may be degrading to women, but women listen to the music just as much. “When two cowboys got into an argument at a saloon, went outside and had a draw, nobody blamed the music that was playing at the saloon,” said a local rapper known as B. Serious. I agree with this quote because rap has almost always bee ascociated with crime but what about the other genres of music. I do not agree with violence, but i also believe rap isn't to blame for it. Don't blame the music for the crimes.
Taylor S.
I have neither given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment.
Rap music has nothing to do with criminal actions, in my opinion. People try to blame movies, television, music, video games, and every other form of media as the cause of violence. It's not about those things. It's completely about personal will to behave and knowing the difference between right and wrong. I like to watch some violent movies, I listen to some rap music and a LOT of hard rock, and I play first-person shooter games with my brother on XBOX 360. Neither of us have ever gotten a referral, been grounded, or gotten into any kind of trouble like that. If a person chooses to act a certain way after listening to a song or watching a movie, then that's their personal decision on how they are going to behave. We can't blame the music industry - they aren't inciting violence by putting out music. There is definitely evidence that people who listen to rap and hard rock tend to be more on the violent side and are more likely to commit crimes, but it's not BECAUSE of the music. It's because of that person's perception of right and wrong, and their choosing to commit a crime. Law enforcement officials need to stop stereotyping people who listen to loud, thumping music as criminals or whatnot. The music doesn't make the person - the person makes the music, and the person making the music is not the reason for someone's criminal activity.
Lauren F.
Music shouldn't affect a way a person act, but I think it does. I think music has the power to influence because it is an expression of morals and values. Music may not be the surface level for criminal action, but i do think that music does affect in some points to criminal actions.
Isacc Y.
I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this assignment.
Post a Comment