Social effects of rock music
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The massive popularity and worldwide scope of rock and roll resulted in a powerful level of social impact. Far beyond simply a musical style, rock and roll influenced daily life, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equalled. The social impact is large and rock stars are loved worldwide and often performances of several artists in diverse arts and cultures are scaled to and appreciated as being close to that of a "rock star".
See also
- Rock and rebellion
- Rock and fashion
- Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll
- Rock and spirituality
- Saving the world
- Selling out
Spiritual aspects
The spiritual aspects of music are undeniable, and rock music has generated a lot discussion on where it lies in the realm of good and evil. Songwriters like Pete Townshend have explored these spiritual aspects within their work. The common usage of the term "rock god" acknowledges the religious quality of the adulation some rock stars receive. Incidentally, John Lennon became infamous for a statement he made in 1966 that The Beatles were "bigger than Jesus". However, he later said that this statement was misunderstood.
Many rock stars have religious backgrounds and many are still religious today. Bands like U2, P.O.D, Lifehouse, Switchfoot, and several others are composed of Christians even though they are in the secular music industry. Several rock stars have become born again Christians. "It's encouraging that the most radical rockers also make the most radical followers of Jesus", said Craig Detweiler who is the director of Reel Spirituality at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena which looks at connections between pop culture and religion.
However, a few extreme conservative Christians single out the music genres of hip hop and rock as well as blues and jazz as containing jungle beats, or jungle music, and claim that it is a beat or musical style that is inherently evil, immoral, and/or sensual. Thus, according to them, any song in the rap, hip hop and rock genres as inherently evil because of the song's musical beat, regardless of the song's lyrics or message. Some extend this analysis even to Christian rock songs. Far right author David Noebel is one of the most notable proponents of the existence of jungle beats. In his writings and speeches, Noebel held that the use of such beats in music was a communist plot to subvert the morality of the youth of the United States. This is considered a very extreme view point to both Christians and non Christians. It is seen as a sense of racism against music that is influenced or made by African Americans since all the genres they attack have African American roots. Several churches have used the style of rock to worship God, and it has become very popular with the younger generations as well as the older even in most conservative churches. When asked if he was "still playing the Devil's music" Jerry Lee Lewis stated "Yes, I am. But you know it's strange, the same music that they kicked me out of school for is the same kind of music they play in their churches today. The difference is, I know I am playing for the devil and they don't."
