"Rock 'n' Revolt" by Isabelle Leymarie
Isabelle Leymarie is quite knowledgable when it comes to the subject of music being a dancer, pianist, and musicologist, as well as having a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology.
In the essay "Rock 'n' Revolt", the author, Isabelle Leymarie describes the connection between music and the effect that it has over peoples' behaviours towards others and themselves. Leymarie's audience is targeted mainly towards all music listeners in general especially to those who listen to rebellious music such as rock. She achieves this through the utilization of a fairly critical tone towards music throughout her essay.
Leymarie begins her essay by associating how music can have violent effects on a person's behaviour. This is supported when she states that "...music...is also known to produce certain physiological and psychological effects which have been scientifically documented" (75). She incorporates numerous examples in her essay of situations in which certain genres of music, primarily rock, have induced violent reactions in its listeners. This in turn has resulted in the injury of others and the destruction of personal property. This is corroborated by the example of when "The fans of Metallica and Guns n' Roses have burned cars, and...wrecked a stadium and injured twelve people" (73).
The author changes her views towards music however at the end of the essay to one of reasoning and acceptance. Leymarie begins to suggest that some forms of music may "...enrich life, [and] contribute to the harmony of humanity..." (77). She also quotes several others on their views towards music and its effects to support her opinion. One of these people was the Taoist sage, Zhuangzi who sayed that "Music allows man to remain pure, simple, sincere, and in this way to rediscover his primitive emotions" (77).
Leymarie makes some very good arguments as to the effects that music has over ones behaviours and how one can be influenced negatively and positively through different forms of music.
Do you believe that music can result in a change of ones behaviour?
In the essay "Rock 'n' Revolt", the author, Isabelle Leymarie describes the connection between music and the effect that it has over peoples' behaviours towards others and themselves. Leymarie's audience is targeted mainly towards all music listeners in general especially to those who listen to rebellious music such as rock. She achieves this through the utilization of a fairly critical tone towards music throughout her essay.
Leymarie begins her essay by associating how music can have violent effects on a person's behaviour. This is supported when she states that "...music...is also known to produce certain physiological and psychological effects which have been scientifically documented" (75). She incorporates numerous examples in her essay of situations in which certain genres of music, primarily rock, have induced violent reactions in its listeners. This in turn has resulted in the injury of others and the destruction of personal property. This is corroborated by the example of when "The fans of Metallica and Guns n' Roses have burned cars, and...wrecked a stadium and injured twelve people" (73).
The author changes her views towards music however at the end of the essay to one of reasoning and acceptance. Leymarie begins to suggest that some forms of music may "...enrich life, [and] contribute to the harmony of humanity..." (77). She also quotes several others on their views towards music and its effects to support her opinion. One of these people was the Taoist sage, Zhuangzi who sayed that "Music allows man to remain pure, simple, sincere, and in this way to rediscover his primitive emotions" (77).
Leymarie makes some very good arguments as to the effects that music has over ones behaviours and how one can be influenced negatively and positively through different forms of music.
Do you believe that music can result in a change of ones behaviour?