SOCIOLOGY

PROJECT
NAME: Umali Pravin Shirke
GRADE: 11th
ROLL.NO: 5
COURSE: Humanities
TEACHER IN-CHARGE: Ms. Karishma Ruparel
TOPIC: Music and its Influence on Youth Culture
 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher, Ms. Karishma Ruparel. She provided us
with invaluable advice and her guidance tremendously contributed to the successful completion of this project.

I would also like to thank our principal Ms. Kalyani Chaudhary and our ISC Co-ordinater, Ms. Rajashree Rane
who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic of Music and its Influence on
Youth Culture.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their constant encouragement and co-operation. Without
their help and support I couldn’t have succeeded in completing this project.
 Statement of Aim

The project aims to cover and explore the topic of Youth Culture, Music in today’s time and its influence/
impact on teenagers. The different aspects of youth culture and how it has evolved throughout time, why
music is an important part of youth culture and how it has been affecting teenagers.
 Choice of Technique: Questionnaire

For the following research, participants were required to answer a form consisting of 16 questions. A
questionnaire is a research device or instrument that is made up of a series of questions which are closed-
ended or open-ended. The goal is to collect relevant data from respondents which can then be used for a
variety of purposes. When you give the respondent the ability to give a longer answer, it can yield more insights
because they can elaborate on their thoughts.

A questionnaire can serve as an inductive method with the aim to formulate new theory, where open-ended
questions are used to ‘explore a substantive area’ (Gill & Johnson 2001). However, other researchers may use a
questionnaire as a means of collecting reliable data in a rather deductive approach in order to test existing
theory. As will also be shown in the case of the other two research methods discussed in this paper, a
questionnaire thus allows the researcher to adopt either an inductive or a deductive approach, or even a
combination of these two.
 Advantages of a Questionnaire

◦Inexpensive:
◦ Sending out an online questionnaire is one of the cheapest research strategies available. Unless you’re
offering some type of incentive or are using ads to get in front of respondents, there are few costs
associated with it. Self-administered questionnaires avoid the need for hiring people to administer it, remove
the cost of in-person interviews, and have versatile distribution.

◦Respondents can remain anonymous:

◦ If respondents are unable to remain anonymous, they may not answer some of the questions truthfully. As
long as you’ve done proper targeting and they’re not answering for an incentive, it’s ideal to leave the
respondents anonymous. They’ll be more comfortable and answer honestly and thoroughly.

◦Results come in quickly & can reach a large audience:

◦ Business moves fast so one of the most powerful advantages of a questionnaire is the ability to get it in the
hands of a large group of people quickly. You don’t need to start mailing it out and waiting days for it to get to
the intended recipient. Instead, you can send an email, post it on your website, or share it on social media and
start getting responses you can use almost instantly. Also, there’s no real upper limit to the number of people
who can respond to the questionnaire.

◦Easy to analyze the results:

◦ The majority of questionnaires are quantitative in nature which allows for quick analysis of the answers.
This is even more important when you have a larger pool of respondents. With a survey tool like KyLeads, you
can easily spot trends and derive insights from your questionnaire with our easy to use & understand
reporting features.
 Disadvantages of Questionnaire

◦Unanswered questions:
Sometimes, people will just skip answers or drop off halfway. Since the questions are online and no one is there to
prompt the respondent, this happens fairly often. There is any number of reasons for this like unclear or confusing
questions, irrelevant questions, incomplete answer options, etc. Making the answer required can help with this but it
also increases the chances of someone abandoning the questionnaire altogether.

◦ Difficult to analyze certain types of question:

Multiple choice questions and dichotomous questions are simple to analyze. Open ended questions can’t be
analyzed so easily.They’ll require a human touch to ensure you’ve understood what the person is trying to tell you.
This isn’t a bad thing but it can get tedious when there are a lot of answers to sift through.

◦ Improper interpretation of questions:

This is why it’s so important to choose your question language so carefully. It’s easy to misinterpret a written
question and give a wrong answer or skip the question entirely. Another thing to consider is that certain words have
multiple meanings and, without context, a different meaning may be applied. Prevent this by using simple direct
language in your questions and avoiding jargon.

◦Little personalization:
Everyone who takes the questionnaire gets, for the most part, the same series of questions presented in the same
way. Now, technology is making this better with features like logic branching and answer piping so the experience
can be personalized a bit more.In the end, it’s still limited because there’s a predetermined series of questions and
the questionnaire can’t react to open ended statements.
Comparison
 Introduction
Music accompanies a person from the very beginning. Actually, the birth of a child in this world is
accompanied by sounds, though they are not musical. Music closely goes hand in hand with humanity
throughout its history of existence. In the modern world, music is what unites many people on the Earth,
certain styles dictate their way of life and behavior, which young people enthusiastically embrace.

Billions of people listen to music every day, and maybe they do not even suspect that the reason for their sad
mood is the lyric classical music heard in the morning or rap revealing the bitter truth of life. Therefore, does
music affect our sub consciousness and well-being? Of course, the answer is yes.

Teenagers listen to music every day and of course, it is interesting for them to watch music videos on these
songs. Listening to music and watching music videos can influence the mentality of a teenager. This influence
can be both positive, and negative.
 What is Youth Culture?

The term youth culture refers to the ways that teenagers conduct their lives. Youth culture
can pertain to interests, styles, behaviors, music, beliefs, vocabulary, clothes, sports and
dating. The concept behind youth culture is that adolescents are a subculture with norms,
mores, behaviors, and values that differ from the main culture of older generations within
society.
 There is a debate surrounding the presence and existence of youth culture. Some researchers
argue that youth culture is not a separate culture, as their values and morals are not distinct from
those of their parents. Additionally, peer influence varies greatly among contexts, sex, age, and
social status, making a single "youth culture" difficult to define.

Others argue there are definite elements of youth society that constitute culture, which differ
from those of their parents' culture. Janssen et al. used the terror management theory (TMT) to
argue for the existence of youth culture.

They tested the following hypothesis: “If youth culture serves to help adolescents deal with
problems of vulnerability and finiteness, then reminders of mortality should lead to increased
allegiance to cultural practices and beliefs of the youth.” The results supported the hypothesis and
the outcome of previous studies, and suggest that youth culture is a culture.
 History of Youth Culture

The presence of youth culture is a relatively recent historical phenomenon. There are several dominant
theories about the emergence of youth culture in the 20th century, which include hypotheses about the
historical, economic, and psychological influences on the presence of youth culture. One historical theory
credits the emergence of youth culture to the beginning of compulsory schooling. James Coleman argues that
age segregation is the root of separate youth culture. Before mandatory education, many children and
adolescents interacted primarily with adults. In contrast, modern children associate extensively with others
their age. These interactions allow adolescents to develop shared experiences and meanings, which are the
root of youth culture.

Another theory posits that some cultures facilitate the development of youth culture, while others do not. The
basis of this distinction is the presence of universalistic or particularistic norms. Particularistic norms are
guidelines for behavior that vary from one individual to another. In contrast, universalistic norms apply to all
members of society. Universalistic norms are more likely to be found in industrialized societies. Modernization
in the last century has encouraged universalistic norms since interaction in modern societies makes it
necessary for everyone to learn the same set of norms. Modernization and universalistic norms have
encouraged the growth of youth culture. The need for universalistic norms has made it impractical for young
people's socialization to come primarily from immediate family members, which would lead to significant
variation in the communicated norms. Therefore, many societies use age grouping, such as in schools, to
educate their children on societies' norms and prepare them for adulthood; youth culture is a byproduct of this
tactic. Because children spend so much time together and learn the same things as the rest of their age group,
they develop their own culture.
 Movements

Throughout the twentieth century, youth have had a strong influence on both lifestyle and culture. The flappers
and the Mods are two examples of the impact of youth culture on society. The flappers were young women that
were confident about a prosperous future after World War I. This liveliness showed in their new attitudes in life in
which they openly drank, smoked, and, in some cases, socialized with gangster-type men. The fashionable dress
at the time also reflected the flapper's new lifestyle.

Mods emerged during a time of war and political and social troubles, and stemmed from a group called the
modernists. They were young men and women who came from all classes who believed that their fashion
choices "gave them entrée everywhere" and empowered them. The Mods' style and embrace of modern
technology spread from the UK overseas to America and other countries.
 Examples of Youth Culture

Actions and attitudes attributed largely to the youth of a

particular time period can be described as youth culture.
There are many examples of youth culture and subcultures
in society.
1) Personal Appearance
◦ Personal appearance is one of the most visible indicators of teen culture. Looking at
how young people dress and groom themselves is a powerful indicator of the current
state of youth culture.
◦ Twenty-first century youth seem to have a “less is more mindset,” focusing on low
maintenance hairstyles and minimal makeup, if any. Fashions tend to be casual with
modern youth.
◦ The preppy culture of the 1980s was much more high maintenance, with youth
emphasizing perfect makeup and spending hours with curling irons and hot rollers.
◦ Preppy clothing of the 1980s was very traditional and status focused, with branded
(Izod and Ralph Laurent) polo and button down shirts being popular for girls and boys
alike.
◦ Youth who identified with the punk rock and grunge movements sought non-
conforming hairstyles ranging from brightly colored or spiky hair to shaved heads or
mohawks.
◦ In the turbulent 1960s, a desire for civil rights and freedom from tyranny impacted
fashion. Short skirts and fringed jackets were popular among hippies and freedom
fighters alike.
 2) Entertainment Preferences

Youth culture can also be seen in terms of the type of

entertainment that is popular among young people .

◦ Modern youth tend to connect with peers digitally, spending hours

interacting with friends via social media sites, whereas previous
generations spent hours talking on the phone.
◦ Video games have become important to many teens. Teens today
often spend hours playing online games, forming bonds with
gamers that they get to know in the virtual world.
◦ Even before online gaming, video games were a part of youth culture.
Youth of the 1980s and 1990s had game consoles for their
televisions and spent time at arcades.
◦ Youth tend to follow music groups that speak to the issues with
which they relate, such as Nirvana in the 1990s and The Beatles in
the 1960s.
◦ As kids move into adolescence, their entertainment preferences
often change. For example, youth may start to prefer comic books
over novels and children’s stories.
 3) Challenging Norms

Each generation of youth tends to engage in

a bit of rebellion against societal norms
established by previous generations .

◦ For modern teens, environmental responsibility is a major emphasis, Many teens

commit to minimizing their environmental impact and speak out to encourage
others to do so.
◦ Youth in the 21st century tend to be quicker to speak out and mobilize against
injustice and in favor of inclusiveness than previous generations.
◦ Behavior that is contrary to what is perceived to be accepted and expected by
parents, such as drinking, smoking and drugs, has been part of youth culture for
many decades.
◦ Teens often engage in bold language choices in order to set themselves apart. This
can manifest as either excessive cursing or heavy usage of esoteric "cool" buzz
words.
◦ For rebellious youth, behaviors such as cutting school or even low-grade criminal
activity can be an attempt to assert independence and non-conformity.
◦ As teens start to develop their own worldview, it’s common for them to exhibit
attitude or behavioral changes toward things like school, religion or family.
 4) Fitting in With Peers

For each generation of youth, peer pressure can have a very powerful impact on behavior. Youth
sometimes change their perceptions or behaviors as a way of fitting in with other people in their
age group.

◦ Youth of the 21st century seem to be less interested in forming exclusive dating relationships
than teens of previous generations, in which going steady was the norm.
◦ Youth who spend time with friends from wealthier backgrounds may start to prefer more
expensive goods (phones, backpacks, shoes) similar to what their friends have.
◦ Teens who identify with youth culture may start to refuse to go to certain “uncool”
establishments with their family in order to appear more acceptable to peers.
◦ Depending on the behaviors of their peer group members, youth may change the way they
treat others, either by showing greater kindness or perhaps more aloofness.
◦ The desire to fit in can also impact teens’ academic performance. Making similar grades to
one's peers is a way that teens can conform to the expectations of their peer groups.
 Youth Culture Today

It is hard to argue with the fact that modern youth is being raised by technology. From early childhood, kids are
getting familiar with the tech world getting their first tablets and smartphones. This trend has been emerging
rapidly over the past decade and it doesn’t seem to stop there. Today, youth culture is impossible without
technology. Kids and teens do everything online. Apart from tech, social media is another key factor in shaping the
modern culture of new generations. Kids and teens see different social media platforms as tools for self-
expression and spend most of their time watching feeds on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other channels.

They use these channels to share their personal stories and learn about everything including current events, trends,
and the world in general. According to stats, as much as 67% of teens learn news about everything that’s going on
around them and in the world from Facebook.
 Music and its Influence on Youth Culture

Music is a powerful medium. While that power can be beneficial, it can also
have a harmful influence. As music becomes increasingly accessible
through cell phones, online streaming services and other new technologies,
it is important to understand its influence on today’s youth.
In the following research, 38 participants between the age of
13 to 17 gave their response to the questionnaire.

Age
13 14
17 3% 3%
18%

15
26%

16
50%

13 14 15 16 17
 Gender Distribution chart of Participants

GENDER

Gender

28

1 1
FEMALE MALE TRANSGENDER UNCERTAIN
When asked about whether or not music is an important part of their life, majority of the
participants said yes. When asked to elaborate as to why, the following reasons were
stated:

◦ It relieves stress and helps in relaxation

◦ Improves mood and gives rise to happiness and excitement
◦ Validates Emotions and gives a sense of Comfort
◦ Helps in Concentration
◦ Is a Source of Inspiration
◦ Has helped with Mental Health Problems
It is observed that majority of the teenagers prefer listening to music for two main reason, the first being while
doing an activity and the second being for relaxation purposes ( 63.% listening to it during evening and night ).
While the nature and style of the music can cause specific responses in the brain (funky music compels you to
dance, sad music makes you melancholy, motivational music makes you want to keep fit), some studies
suggest that it really is down to personal preference.

Music you like increases focus, while music you don’t impedes it. Given the extreme variation in musical
preferences from person to person, exposing your workforce or classroom to a single type of music would
obviously end up with mixed results. Music also has a big impact on mood – truly bleak music could sap your
enthusiasm for your task. Something else to look out for is music with catchy lyrics. Musical pieces without
words might be better working companions, as human speech and vocalization is something our brains pay
particular attention to.

Music contributes to social cohesion and thereby increases the effectiveness of group action. Work and war
songs, lullabies, and national anthems have bound together families, groups, or whole nations. Relatedly,
music may provide a means to reduce social stress and temper aggression in others. The idea that music may
function as a social cement has many proponents.
Who is the Youth listening to in today’s time?
 Most Listened to Music Artists
25

20

15

10

0
Billie Eilish BTS Taylor Swift One Direction Dua Lipa Arijit Singh Olivia Rodrigo Arctic Monkeys
 Presently, the genre of Pop is the most popular amongst the Youth. Modern pop music originated from
the United States and the United Kingdom. Even though it is internationally recognized, most regions in
the world have their own variation of pop music. Pop music started around the beginning of ‘The Jazz
Age.’ At that time, it was referred to as ‘Dance Music.’ The difference, however, is that dance music is
basically any music form that is made for dancing. Pop, on the other hand, has meaningful lyrics. It can
be listened to. It is often contrasted with other popular music genres such as soul and rock. Pop music
has produced the most hits in the music industry. Popular pop musicians are: Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift,
Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars.
 Pop music has produced the highest number of hits because it is upbeat and it
focuses on common themes. The lyrics of most pop music songs are said to have
had both positive and negative impacts on society. Changes and evolution in the pop
music have shaped popular culture and morals. The new trends determine what is
considered ‘cool’ and what is not because pop music reflects emerging trends. It has
helped in shaping fusion genres such as R&B, baroque pop, power pop, pop rock,
psychedelic pop, smooth jazz, country pop, electropop, Indie pop, Latin pop and
jangle pop.

It has helped in promoting professionalism in music since it puts so much emphasis

in technology and production. It has spread from just America and Britain and
become an internationally recognized genre. Most regions in the world have their
own form of pop. Korea, for example, has its own distinct pop music form that has
greatly contributed to the Korean music industry. K-pop has become a truly global
phenomenon thanks to its distinctive blend of addictive melodies, slick
choreography and production values, and an endless parade of attractive South
Korean performers who spend years in grueling studio systems learning to sing and
dance in synchronized perfection. Currently, Korean boy band BTS ranks on Number
1 on the basis of global popularity. Pop music has facilitated globalization and
cultural integration.
What Elements of Music draw the Youth to listen to it?

Elements

Lyrics
8%
33% The feelings being
portrayed through the
song

46% Tone and Melody

13%
Music Video
 Why does the Youth listen to Music?

Music helps teens explore ideas and emotions in a safe way and express themselves without words.
Exposure to positive influences through music can help teens learn coping mechanisms and
appropriate responses to stressful situations. Music also helps teens connect to social groups and
gain a feeling of belonging. When asked about the positive impact music has had on the them, the
participants of this research said that music helped them open up and express themselves in many
ways, encouraged them to love and accept themselves (songs based on themes such as self-love ),
promoted the idea of self-care, made them a more productive person, helped in regulation of thoughts
and emotions and also helped overcome the feeling of loneliness.
 Elements of Music that are disliked by the Youth

While there are several reasons the Youth loves Music, there are certain
they dislike about it too. 28% of the participants believe that today’s
song lyrics have lost their meaning and have no true value to them. 23%
say that there is an unnecessary usage of curse words, slurs and
swearing and that this one factor sometimes completely ruins the song.
21% believe that today’s music objectifies women and promotes rape
culture. 29% say that today’s music lacks originality and most songs are
recreated from old hits. There is also overuse of Autotune. 13% believe
that the quality of rap songs has severely gone down and its becoming
more and more unlikeable due to the ‘mumble rap’ factor and lack of
proper words being used in the song. Another 13% believe that the
Music Industry is unjust and partial in many ways which doesn’t let any
underrated artists pave their way up and hence keeps them and their
music suppressed.
18.42% of the participants believed that today’s music contributes to the promotion of
drug and alcohol use among teenagers but when asked as an individual question,
majority of the respondents said No.
 Conclusion

Music matters to adolescents, and they cannot be understood without a serious

consideration of how it fits into their lives. Music alters and intensifies their moods,
furnishes much of their slang, dominates their conversations and provides the
ambiance at their social gatherings. Music styles define the crowds and cliques they
run in. Music personalities provide models for how they act and dress. Music also
appears to alter their habits. Such consequences may not spring as quickly to mind as
sex and violence, but they may ultimately play just as crucial a role in adolescent
development. While on one hand, music allows the youth to express themselves in a
better manner, it is also important not to overlook the negative impact it is having on
them. To avoid this, responsible music consumption should be encouraged.
 Bibliography

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317995197_Influence_of_modern_music_on_young_generation
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-youth-culture.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_culture
https://www.lutherwood.ca/mentalhealth/blog/2016/popular-music-youth
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3741536/
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/aug/20/does-music-really-help-you-concentrate
https://official.fm/pop/