Music: I've been pondering about it lately. I've been thinking about how when something goes wrong such as a school shooting, or violence of any sort, music gets the blame. Actually, not only does music get the blame, but so do video games that contain a large amount of violence. Why is that?
When the Columbine tragedy happened, many parents and people in the media pointed the finger at one band: Marilyn Manson. Their reasoning was that his music, what he writes and sings about, was part of why the tragic events happened. Throughout the years music has been attacked like this, leading up to music studios employing the use of a "parental advisory" sticker on cd's. The purpose of this sticker is to alert parents of possibly offensive content so that they can better choose music that is appropriate for their kids to listen to. Even with this precaution parents are still complaining, saying that the lyrics in the music are influencing their children.
I myself listen to music that is considered offensive. I can't say that I find myself influenced in the way these parents are claiming their children are influence. I do believe that music influences people, but I don't think that it is necessarily through the lyrics. When I'm having a bad day, or am just angry or mad about something, I find that music is a great escape. Sometimes listening to that "heavy devil music" helps to calm me. Somehow by listening to the rage in the music I myself am releasing my rage in a very therapeutic manner.
Video games, especially more recent ones, have gotten the same kind of criticism for the amount of violence they implore in their game play. Movies and tv shows filled with blood and violence aren't criticized nearly as much, I don't understand this. All three of the CSI shows, and pretty much any of the current crime procedural/dramas have just as much, if not more violence, yet the viewership for these shows are enough in many cases to get them into the top fifty or even the top twenty.
Personally I don't believe that music and video games, or even tv and film are to blame for violent acts. I think the answer lies within society; within ourselves. The amount of bullying that goes on is horrific. I wish that I could say that I have never participated in bullying somebody, but unfortunately I have. I have also been bullied in my lifetime, picked on, teased for one reason or another, and I hated the feeling. Fortunately I was able to cope and not let it build within myself.
Beyond society influencing us, we are responsible for our own actions. No one else can take the credit or the blame. If I were to commit an act of violence it would be because I made a conscious decision to do so. Everyone now a days seem so focused on pointing the finger at somebody else, but the reality of the matter is that we are to blame. No one else, just ourselves. Perhaps someday we can live with that.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
NIN Contest
This is my entry for the ninhurt.com Write Where You Belong contest. I had to write a story that made sense using as many Nine Inch Nails song titles as I could. The link to the contest is: http://www.ninhurt.com/home/2010/1/25/write-where-you-belong.html
Dear Friend,
I am writing to tell you of things that happened to me; events that spurred the beginning of the end and left me somewhat damaged. I like to call this time in my life the great collapse; the time where I found myself down in it, covered in my sin and left to crawl in the sand like a reptile. You yourself played a part in this when you told another version of the truth. I’ve had some realizations about the big come down that I would like to share with you, but before I get into anything, I feel I should start from the beginning before I gave up on everything and let myself fall into the great below.
Imagine, if you will, a warm place, a place untouched by the heresy that has corrupted so many; a place with all the love in the world. This was my life, or at least it was before you, the good soldier, took it from me. I was on a pilgrimage to find the thing that I so desperately desired; to become one with my vessel, my soul, to exist in a sanctified state of being. I guess this is something I can never have.
You looked at me with desire; you too sought peace for yourself, but could never obtain it. You saw that I was 10 miles high, but you couldn’t let down your echoplex just to ask for my help. You let your pride get in the way, and in doing so have become the ruiner of all I wish to be. The fragile fell victim to the wretched, and all that remains are the frail memories of the only time that I was ever truly happy. I trusted you and you hurt me with a terrible lie. I guess that’s what I get.
Your actions have released something inside of me; a demon seed. Love is not enough, not anymore. Now I seek vengeance and I will have it. You have thrown me into the void of hate and the way out is through. Murder? Kinda, I want to.
You thought you were the big man with a gun, joining the march of the pigs, ruining all that came into your path. Well piggy, you know what you are? You are the one who is about to find discipline. The mark has been made, and now you will awake to find this is the day the world went away.
You will ask yourself where is everybody? You shall suffer as I have suffered; alone, with your head down in the sand. There will be no more lights in the sky for you. 1,000,000; 999,999; one by one they will disappear and leave you alone in physical and mental agony. I hope you can find happiness in slavery. Survivalism shall become your mantra.
As you suffer alone remember this: you brought this upon yourself. My vengeance is God given, and now it’s time to meet your master. The Great Destroyer awaits you my friend, and shall be right beside you in time.
Now I fall even deeper into the downward spiral that you have begun; I do not want this. I’m turning into something that I never wanted to be; the line begins to blur, all I can see are sunspots. Reality is getting smaller and all that remains is my violent heart. Me, I'm not.
Even though I know I do this for the greater good, I feel it all slipping away. In letting you get to me I’ve lost myself. Do you know what you’ve done? No, you don’t. You’ve created a complication for me. I can no longer find my inner peace. Every day is exactly the same. I fear that I am closer to becoming Mr. Self Destruct. I’m dead inside. Underneath it all I am ripe with decay; you suck the life from me. Is my demise just like you imagined?
It doesn’t matter anymore; we’re in this together now. You, me, myself, and I: the four of us are dying. I know now that nothing will ever be right where it belongs again. Through my hate I have bitten the hand that feeds, and now await the collector of souls. I'm looking forward to joining you.
Help me I am in hell.
Sincerely,
A broken man
Dear Friend,
I am writing to tell you of things that happened to me; events that spurred the beginning of the end and left me somewhat damaged. I like to call this time in my life the great collapse; the time where I found myself down in it, covered in my sin and left to crawl in the sand like a reptile. You yourself played a part in this when you told another version of the truth. I’ve had some realizations about the big come down that I would like to share with you, but before I get into anything, I feel I should start from the beginning before I gave up on everything and let myself fall into the great below.
Imagine, if you will, a warm place, a place untouched by the heresy that has corrupted so many; a place with all the love in the world. This was my life, or at least it was before you, the good soldier, took it from me. I was on a pilgrimage to find the thing that I so desperately desired; to become one with my vessel, my soul, to exist in a sanctified state of being. I guess this is something I can never have.
You looked at me with desire; you too sought peace for yourself, but could never obtain it. You saw that I was 10 miles high, but you couldn’t let down your echoplex just to ask for my help. You let your pride get in the way, and in doing so have become the ruiner of all I wish to be. The fragile fell victim to the wretched, and all that remains are the frail memories of the only time that I was ever truly happy. I trusted you and you hurt me with a terrible lie. I guess that’s what I get.
Your actions have released something inside of me; a demon seed. Love is not enough, not anymore. Now I seek vengeance and I will have it. You have thrown me into the void of hate and the way out is through. Murder? Kinda, I want to.
You thought you were the big man with a gun, joining the march of the pigs, ruining all that came into your path. Well piggy, you know what you are? You are the one who is about to find discipline. The mark has been made, and now you will awake to find this is the day the world went away.
You will ask yourself where is everybody? You shall suffer as I have suffered; alone, with your head down in the sand. There will be no more lights in the sky for you. 1,000,000; 999,999; one by one they will disappear and leave you alone in physical and mental agony. I hope you can find happiness in slavery. Survivalism shall become your mantra.
As you suffer alone remember this: you brought this upon yourself. My vengeance is God given, and now it’s time to meet your master. The Great Destroyer awaits you my friend, and shall be right beside you in time.
Now I fall even deeper into the downward spiral that you have begun; I do not want this. I’m turning into something that I never wanted to be; the line begins to blur, all I can see are sunspots. Reality is getting smaller and all that remains is my violent heart. Me, I'm not.
Even though I know I do this for the greater good, I feel it all slipping away. In letting you get to me I’ve lost myself. Do you know what you’ve done? No, you don’t. You’ve created a complication for me. I can no longer find my inner peace. Every day is exactly the same. I fear that I am closer to becoming Mr. Self Destruct. I’m dead inside. Underneath it all I am ripe with decay; you suck the life from me. Is my demise just like you imagined?
It doesn’t matter anymore; we’re in this together now. You, me, myself, and I: the four of us are dying. I know now that nothing will ever be right where it belongs again. Through my hate I have bitten the hand that feeds, and now await the collector of souls. I'm looking forward to joining you.
Help me I am in hell.
Sincerely,
A broken man
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