IMPACT OF MUSIC AND CINEMA ON THE

STUDENTS OF VIT UNIVERSITY

A PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by
SHARAD RATHI - 18BCB0079
RACHIT BHALLA - 18BIT0218
RAHUL YADAV - 18BIT0379
BHAVANA V. - 18BEC0280
UTTKARSHINI ARORA - 18BCE2262

ENGLISH FOR ENGINEERS (ENG1011)

PROJECT SUPERVISOR
Professor M. Thenmozhi

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 VIT UNIVERSITY VELLORE
632014

CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report Impact of music and cinema on

students of VIT University is the bonafide work of Sharad Rathi, Rachit
Bhalla, Rahul Yadav, Bhavana V. and Uttkarshini Arora who carried out
the project work under my supervision.

SIGNATURE

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 Abstract

Music and Cinema in a student’s day to day life act as a canvas for the
individuals to observe, justify and mirror themselves. Movies and music can turn out
to be energetic, dynamic, motivating and depressing, violent and saddening at the
same time. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of music and cinema
on the students of VIT University. The study was conducted on undergraduate and
graduate students of VIT University. The study can be expanded to include the
students in other colleges as well. The study was conducted on undergraduate
engineering students living in the hostels during fall semester 2016-2017. The study
sample consists of 100 students.To bestcomprehendthe impact of music and movies
and for carrying outsuch criticalwork oranalysis itis essential tofirst simulate some
interest in the sample body.This paper presents the results of a questionnaire given to
students through hard copies and an online survey. Generally, the results show that
music and cinema can leave an indelible mark on the minds of students. They can
improve the cognitive listening skills of students and also increase the imaginative
power of students.At the same time violence in movies and stereotypical references in
music can stir hostile emotions in the students causing them to hurt themselves or the
society. The main motive behind this study is to investigate using surveys and
questionnaires, the change in the behavior and the process of thinking of students of
VIT University.

Keywords: Questionnaire, Music, Movies, Cognitive thinking, students, VIT

University

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Table of Contents

Cover Page………………………………………….…………………………….. 1
Certificate…………………………………………….………………………….... 2
Abstract……………………………………………….…………………………... 3
Introduction…………………………………………….………………………… 5
Statement of the problem……………………………….………………………….. 6
Significance of the problem....................................................................................... 6
Music and movies in VIT University...................................................................…... 6
Literature review………………………………………………………………….. 7
Objectives of the study……………………………………………………………. 9
Questions of the study…………………………………………………………….. 9
Materials and Methods…………………………………………………………… 10
Methodology………………………………………………………………………. 10
Data collection and analysis…………………………………………………….... 11
Discussion and analysis……………………………………………………………. 12
Inference………………………………………………………………………….... 21
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………. 22
References…………………………………………………………………………. 23

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Introduction

Movies and music play an integral part in a student’s life. They act as an
escape route to students frustrated and exhausted by the college curriculum. Both
music and cinema are an effective stimuli for students to express their feelings. Music
can be highly motivating, and make a difference in a student’s life. Movies can be life
changing, due to students seeing an image of themselves in a particular character and
trying to imitate the characters personality. Music can also be really depressing at
times, and the reason behind anger and frustration in a student. Movies, in America
are the major reason of school shootings and violence. Movies related on religious
sentiments are one of the major reason behind communal violence in developing
countries.
Music is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound and
silence.Lyrics are an integral part of music and they have the power to leave an
indelible impression on young minds.Music videos may have a significant behavioral
impact by desensitizing viewers to violence. More than half of these videos contain
violence that is often committed against women. Women are portrayed frequently in a
condescending manner that affects the youth’s attitudes. Role models are the
aggressors in more than 80% of music video violence. A detailed analysis of music
videos raised concerns about its effects on adolescents’ normative expectations about
conflict resolution, race and male-female relationships.
Music lyrics have become increasingly explicit, particularly with references to
drugs and violence. Research linking a cause-and-effect relationship between explicit
lyrics and adverse behavioral effects is still in progress at this time. Meanwhile, the
potential negative impact of explicit music lyrics should put parents on guard.
Cinema has been one of the greatest influences in our modern life, and it’s
also a form of art, the seventh art along with photography, architecture, literature,
play, painting and music. It’s the combination of technology, business, entertainment
and aesthetics, each and everything of these four has important role in present day
world. Movies have a lot of influence on our outlook about everyday life and it has an
important impact on observation ability. A good audience could see many things
which is hidden to the other ordinary people. Youth is the time when people wants to
throw away the polluted environment of the society and youth is the best time to work
for it.

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The Statement of the problem

The relationship between Music, Cinema and the cognitive thinking skills of
the human brain are closely interrelated. To explore such correlation and how these
relationships operate and help in the Brain’s working and benefit from that by
producing new cognitive skills is the crux of this study. Therefore it will be attempted
to investigate these relationships and the importance of Visual and Audio arts and its
impact on the thinking process of an individual.

The Significance of the problem

200 students are taken as sample group for the investigation. Students include
a wide diversity in tastes of music as well as cinema. The study examines and
measures the correlation between movies, music and the development of the human
brain. It is contended that the study can help the students to get an insight of what
effects listening to music and watching movies can have on an individual’s life.

Music and movies in VIT University

Music provides opportunities for students from different cultural and

traditional backgrounds to interact with one-another freely. It acts as a lingua franca
for students from all parts of the country.
Music and movies are available to students through various styles and means.
Though not prevalent now, CDs are still a popular mode of listening to music. The
most commonly used platform for listening to music is the internet. Websites like
www.youtube.com, www.gaana.com, www.saavn.com, are few of the numerous
music streaming websites. Other than that downloaded songs and movies in mp3 and
mp4 formats on personal gadgets such as phones and mp3 players are the latest
trends. Sharing of files using Bluetooth technology and pen drives is a widespread
practice among the students. Thus the musical taste of one person can have significant
effects on the environment of the campus. The music club of the college holds regular
concerts, acting as a mode of entertainment for the students. Cinema halls outside the
campus in the city of Vellore are a good option for Cinephiles.
The film making club of the college is yet another source from where other
students are inspired to do certain things. The music club is a dream come true for
music enthusiasts. Ranging from rock to pop, it has bands for almost all genres.

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Literature Review

According to Christenson P. (1992) there should be strict rules of parental advisory

labels on adolescent music preferences. He suggests that the audio-visuals in movies
should be watched by children under parental guidance.

Escobar and Chaves (2005) stress that movies play a major role in influencing an
individual’s sexual attitudes and behaviors. According to them the sexual orientation
of a person can change due to the media.

Smith SL and Boyson (2002) point out that the violence in music videos are a major
reason behind physical aggression amongst the youth.

Roe K. (1985) conducted a study on the Swedish youth and found out that the
listening patterns. He concluded that motivation is a key resource obtained from
music

Hargreaves DJ (2000) has observed the importance of music in adolescence. He

asserts that good music can do wonders to a person’s personality during adolescence
itself.

Bill Brewster, Frank and Broughton (1987) they were one of the first to take disco
seriously and point out its importance in the youth’s life during the 90’s.

Maithrreye, Srinivasan (2016) point out that the double meaning dialogues, jokes,
double meaning lyrics have great negative impact in the minds of children and
youngster. They tend to use it often as it is used in the movie publicly.

Dilawar Khan (2015) is a non-believer in the concept that movies or music play any
kind of role in an individual’s personality development. He says that everything has
good and bad effect. It the individual who sees it. If you think positively then
everything around you is good and vice versa.

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Likewise, Hernant Dujari (2007) also suggest that art is a subjective matter. What
might seem positive to some may feel negative to someone else.

Samuel Gibbon (1983) proved how watching Sesame Street can teach toddlers the
valuable lessons about racial harmony, cooperation and kindness.

Wilder Penfield, Phanor Perot (1963) believe that music is able to treat epilepsy and
enhance the cognitive thinking skills of the brain.

Gretchen Cundiff (2013) came to the conclusion that continued exposure to

misogynistic rap/hip-hop music might reinforce negative attitudes about women this
content is typically gender specific in its messages.

Yuri Horton, Raagen Price, Eric Brown (1999) are in the favor that movies and music
can establish negative stereotypes against minority races in the society.

Arielle S. Dolequi (2013) are not in the favor that art can affect a person’s thinking.
They believe that the direct benefits of listening to music on cognitive processing
could be more of a fantasy than a reality.

Susan Cain (2013) Quiet, the novel can kick start a quiet revolution as it talks about
successful introverts.

Viktor E Frankel (2008) Man’s search for meaning, this novel is a summary of his
experiences. A motivational novel, it urges everyone to face even the most degrading
situations with ease.

Robert Rodriguez (1996)  Rebel without a crew, the non-fictions book is an

essential guide for anyone who has a celluloid story to tell and the dreams and
determination to see it through.

Dead Poet’s Society (2007) this inspired a lot of people and made them go into
teaching because they wanted to be hero worshipped and adored. Education
departments around the world are still weeding these people out.

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To kill a mockingbird (2010) apart from its look at racism in the Deep South, also
motivated many to go for a career in law. The inspiration was Atticus Finch, the good
father and idealistic lawyer, played to perfection by Gregory Peck

The day after (2009) the movie captured the zeitgeist of the over-medicated, isolated,
disaffected generation it noticed something significant changing in the way that
people were growing older and becoming adults.

Indian Art and culture (2006), Arora Khan, Inspirational movies helps us to become
brave, clever, loyal, determined etc. which helps us to become positive – minded
people.

Objectives of the study

The objectives of the study are set to:

A) To explore the impact of music and cinema on the young and impressionable
minds of the students residing in the campus of VIT University.
B) To come to a conclusion providing with the insights of how and why an individual
would get affected by art.
C) To assess whether music does help in studies or not.

Questions of the study

To achievetheobjectivesof the study, theresearchers attempt to answer the following

research Questions:

1. To what extent are audio-visual arts likely to interest students?

2. Is the language used in music and movies appropriate?
3. Can media be easily exploited for turning the youth on one-another?
4. Can the media easily establish cultural stereotypes in the society?

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Materials and Methods

Data Gathering Tool

Google forms and a physical questionnaire are the most important tools for this
survey. The link for the google form was distributed through social media. The
questionnaire was handed out in the hostel campus by the members to students to give
their answers and express their opinions.
Subject Characteristics
The population of this study was one hundred students.
Sampling Procedure
Sample Size
Hundred through the google form and 50 through the distributed questionnaire.

Methodology
Students in the men’s as well as students in the women hostel were asked their
opinions on the topic by filling up the survey form distributed online as well as
physically. The age group of the study sample was highly varying. Students ranging
from 17 years of age to 24 years were inquired. The data collected was analyzed using
pie charts and histograms.
A total of 17 questions were asked in the questionnaire out of which 10 were multiple
choice type and 7 were yes-no type.
The first two questions were for the gender and age of the filler respectively.
The questions were such that it would be easy to come to a conclusion of the study.
Using pie charts, we came to the exact percentage of each type of answer. This
enabled us to efficiently compile the data.

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 Data Collection and Analysis

S.No. Statement A great Significantly To a mild Not at

deal degree all

1) To what degree do you think 15 47 33 5

violence in movies and television

impacts society

2) To what degree do you think 12 53 28 7

cinema and television influence

racial stereotypes

3) To what degree do you think 19 43 31 7

cinema and television influence

racial stereotypes

4) What degree effects do cinema 17 40 38 5

and television have on

influencing and defining what is
considered normal roles/behavior
for men

5) What degree effects do cinema 20 43 31 8

and television have on

influencing and defining what is
considered normal roles/behavior
for women

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DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

1)

The students belong to a wide range of ages. The minimum age was 17 and the
maximum was 24. All the students were living in the VIT hostels.

2) The age groups under the study ranged from 17 years to 24. This was done to
broaden our knowledge on the effects of music and cinema on individuals of more
age groups.

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3)

Responses showed that the major portion of the sample (about 74%) listened to music
every day. With 50% listening to music for more than 2 hours a day. A time interval
sufficient enough to change an individual’s mindset.

4)

Responses prove that 63% of the target group are listeners of dark music like rap,
rock and pop. Rap and rock have been proven to be quite influential on young minds.

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5)

While 47% believe that songs about love would make them feel happy, songs on
death and depression are also quite appreciated by the students.

6)

The study shows that most students (71%) began watching movies around 5 years of
age. The age group is easily impressionable and it is easy to leave an indelible mark
on the brain.

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7)

The study concludes that a vast Majority(76%) of the students watch at least one
movie a month.

8)

62% of the sample body believed that violence in cinema is cause of violent up rises
in the society. They also added that some movies contribute to religious intolerance.

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9)

The study shows that 67% of the sample body hold cinema and television responsible
for the establishment of racial stereotypes. The way in which blacks are portrayed in
majority of the movies is deteriorating to their race.

10)

The Majority (62%) of the sample population were of the mindset that cinema is
responsible for the stereotypes concerning sexual orientation. Movies made on LGBT
play a significant role in establishment of stereotypes.

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11)

The researchers found that 57%, that is a majority of the study size thought cinema
can change the normal roles/behavior of men as perceived by the society
significantly. The usual tough look and a well-defined muscular body has become an
acceptable physique.

12)

Likely, 63% of the students think that cinema plays an integral part in defining what
is considered a normal behavior for women in society. The usual roles played are that
of a homemaker or a caretaker. But for the last couple of years the mentality of people
is changing.

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13)
Do you think cinema and television have effects on social trends in general? If yes,
how?

71% of the sample study population think that cinema and television have effects on
social trends in general. Portrayal of drugs in movies causes young children to
consume them.
14)
Do you think cinema and television influence what society perceives as a normal or
proper family structure? If yes, how?

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The general thought(60%) was that movies have no effect on the family structure
whatsoever. The general idea of a nuclear family with the father working and the
mother as a homemaker is prevalent.
15)
Do you listen to music while studying? If so, is it effective?

80% of the students

listen to music while studying and feel that it is effective. Math’s is the subject
generally done alongside listening to music. Students are of the opinion that the music
helps them to concentrate.
16)
Do you think that music stereotypes exist? Example: Teens that listen to Emo or rap
are more likely to resort to violence. If yes, how?

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65% of the sample size are of the opinion that musical stereotypes do exist. Listeners
of pop and EDM are generally happy while the people who listen to metal are more
prone to resort to violence.

17)

Does the music that you listen to affect your mood? Example: rap music could make
you angry. If yes, how?

81% of the sample believe that listening to music affects their mood in one way or
another. While EDM and pop made majority of the people happy, rock motivated
them and rap could sometimes make them angry.

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Inference

After careful examination of the data through pie charts and personal
interviews, the research team has come to a unanimous conclusion that music and
cinema do have the power to change the mindset of the society for better or for worse.
Materialistic portrayal of sex trafficking, drug abuse, money laundering etc.
can appeal to the younger generation as a fast way of earning money. Thus increasing
the risk of them falling prey to all these businesses.
On an average more than 60% of the sample believes that movies can bring
out the violent side of a person. Most of the candidates believe that shooting in
America are directly or indirectly related to the extreme levels of violence portrayed
in Hollywood movies.
From the analysis it shows that 16.6% students say that movies and movies
have a great effect on social norms and stereotypes. 45.2% believe that they have a
significant effect on racial and sexual stereotypes. 32.2% of the students are of the
opinion that audio/video arts do not contribute much to the society but sometimes
they have a mild effect on an individual’s life.
Only 4% of the students think that movies or music don’t have any effect on
the society whatsoever.
Thus in this context, there are many long lasting effects of negative portrayal
of anything in movies or music on the society as a whole or on an individual
separately. Movies such as Mcfarland USA, BhhagMilkhaBhaag are known to
motivate students urging them to push the boundaries. But at the same time, movies
such as Udtaa Punjab and T.V shows such as Narcos are in a way encouraging the
youth to enter the dirty business of drug trafficking.

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Conclusion

Effects of music include improving verbal IQ, aiding in heart disease

treatment, evoking colours in the mind and even helping you see happy faces all
around.Thus music and movies are powerful means of relaxation and improve
performance by enhancing the mood and brings out peace and harmony.
It has been found as the best way to fill up one’s leisure better than getting
glued to the computer and mobile screens playing video games.Thus it helps and
stimulates intellectual growth. It was found out during the survey that music has a
profound impact on one’s personality.Engaging with music, rather than allowing it to
wash over us, gives the experience extra emotional power.Hence,it does have many
varied positive effects unless and until perceived and adopted in the right way.
Carefully compiling and analysing the data, the researchers came to the
conclusion that music and cinema does in fact effect the cognitive thinking, the mind-
set, the normal social behaviour and the stereotypes concerning sexual orientation as
well as racial discriminations.
Thus it is proposed that children below a certain age group should be allowed
to watch only films that are motivating, non-violent, and provide racial tolerance to
the kids.
Further, awareness should be increased amongst teens that music acts only as
a way for them to express themselves and as a canvas on which they can draw to fulfil
their imagination. It should not be able to make impressions and bad influences on
young minds.
The youth should be taught that art is purely objective and anything bad
showcased in it should not be taken as an inspiration. Everything portrayed is a
product of fiction and imagination.

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References

1. Christenson P. (1992). J Commun 42(1):106-113 journals of communication

wikipedia
2. Escobar and Chaves (2005) Pediatrics 116(1):303-326 university of Arizona
3. Smith SL and Boyson (2002). J commun 52(1):62-83 journals of communication
wikipedia
4. Roe K. (1985)Communic Res. 12(3):353-362 (1985)
5. Bill Brewster, Frank and Broughton (1987). Last night the DJ saved my life: The
history of a disc jockey.
6. Hargraves (2000) Br J Education Preschool 70(pt 2):255-327
6. Maithrreye, Srinivasan (2016) positive and negative impacts of movies on society
7. Dilawar Khan (2015) Impact of movies (2015)
8. Hernant Dujari (2007) movies and their influence (2007)
9. Samuel Gibbon (1983) Sesame street
10. Wilder Penfield, Phanor Perot (1963)The brain's record of auditory and visual
experience. A final summary and discussion
11. Gretchen Cundiff (2013) The Influence of Rap and Hip-Hop Music: An Analysis
on Audience Perceptions of Misogynistic Lyrics
12. Yuri Horton, Raagen Price, Eric Brown (1999) Portrayal of Minorities in the
Film, Media and Entertainment Industries
13. Arielle S. Dolequi (2013) The Impact of Listening to Music on Cognitive
Performance
14. Susan Cain (2013) Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking
15. Viktor E Frankel (2008) Man's Search for Meaning
16. Robert Rodriguez (1996) Rebel without a Crew
17. Dead Poet’s Society (2007)Goyal.D.loyle
18. To kill a mockingbird (2010) Michael Douglas
19. The day after (2009) Seth pace
20. Indian Art and culture (2006), Arora Khan

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