Music is an art form that humans have appreciated for generations.

However, the impacts

of music on society have long been debated. Some say that particular types of music foster
immorality, while others argue that music reflects the society in which we live. This synthesis
study looks at four essays on music and its influence on society, each published by a different
author. Different perspectives on the subject are presented by Roger Scruton, Venise Berry, Lane
Jennings, and James Rosen, with some overlap. In this article, we will examine each author's
thoughts, discover points of agreement and disagreement, and finally reach a conclusion about
the influence of music on society.
Based on "Music and Morality" music has a moral element and can impact society and
individual ideals. This is not a novel concept; Plato was concerned with the social impact of
music. Although it is no longer feasible to restrict certain types of music by legislation, changes
in musical culture are nevertheless reflected in laws since they are made by individuals with
musical interests. "To criticize another's taste, whether in music, entertainment, or lifestyle," the
author adds, "is to assume that some tastes are superior to others" (512). In today's society,
popular music has a high reputation, and the messages delivered by pop singers can influence the
legislation made by lawmakers who admire them. Scruton contends that our nonjudgmental
culture, which considers that all tastes are equally acceptable, makes it difficult to condemn the
moral vices embodied by a musical style.
People now listen to music while working, dancing, or conversing. Scruton cites Theodor
Adorno's critique of modern America's "regression of listening," which suggests that listening to
long-range musical thought helps people live beyond the moment, transcend instant gratification,
and value real things over fleeting desires. Criticizing a musical idiom implies judging its
culture. Roger Scruton and Venise Berry imply that music can influence morality. Scruton
believes music can teach morality, while Berry believes rap music may help people express their
rage and dissatisfaction. Music can promote virtues or vices, according to this passage. The
author claims that changes in musical culture may mirror changes in society and its ideals, and
that politicians who love pop singers' laws may be influenced by popular music's message.
Scruton further argues that music is valued in many ways and that different musical forms may
inspire different listening habits or even addiction, complicating the morality of music.
Scruton's ability to establish connections between Plato's Republic concerns about music
and present concerns about popular music's morality strengthens his thesis. He also raises key
points concerning the impact of popular music on society and the necessity to critically analyze
musical styles and values. Scruton also cites Adorno and other music and culture theorists to
support his claim. Scruton's reasoning has flaws. His claim that musical culture reflects society
and its values is simple and overlooks the complexity of cultural development. Scruton's logic
also seems to favor specific musical forms and argues that some preferences are better than
others. Finally, his reasoning does not provide real remedies for addressing the morality of
music.
Venise Berry claims in "Redeeming the Rap Music Experience" that adults have wrongly
criticized rap music for encouraging violence, unrestricted sex, and discriminatory views against
various groups. Berry, on the other hand, claims that rap music is ethically pluralistic and shows
a wide spectrum of sentiments, both good and bad. While some of the lyrics are unpleasant, they
show the issues and challenges of the rap music community, which is largely young, black, and
urban. Berry also claims that rap music, like other kinds of African American music, represents
the emotions and challenges of the community that creates it. According to her, "today's rap
music style reflects the distinct experience of urban black culture" (518). Poverty, racism, a lack
of opportunity, and feelings of poor self-esteem and helplessness are all issues for the rap music
community. Rap music, as a result, portrays the rage and powerlessness felt by these people, and
it can come off as violent or aggressive at times.
Venise Berry and Lane Jennings acknowledge the impact of technology on music creation
and delivery. Berry contends that the growth of digital technology has allowed rap music to reach
a bigger audience and become more mainstream, but Jennings contends that digital music has
opened up new avenues for independent musicians to distribute their music. While Venise Berry
is correct that rap music may be ethically pluralistic, it is also vital to recognize that some rap
songs contain lyrics that glorify violence, sexism, and other harmful views. These messages can
be damaging to certain listeners, particularly young individuals, who are more impressionable
and susceptible to bad influences. On the other side, it is critical to appreciate rap music's
aesthetic and cultural worth, as well as the way it has offered a platform for young people from
underprivileged areas to express themselves and their experiences. Rap music may also be used
to provide social commentary and critique, emphasizing structural injustices and inequities that
continue to plague certain areas of society. Finally, the influence of rap music on society and
individuals is complicated and multidimensional, and each individual listener is responsible for
critically engaging with the messages and values communicated by the music they consume.
According to Lane Jennings' piece, music has become a tool for people to show their
identity and position. People may construct and curate their own personal music collections with
the convenience of digital file sharing and portable devices like the iPod, which can disclose a lot
about their musical likes and preferences. In certain circumstances, music collections are
sufficiently personal that the loss or theft of a digital music player or collection might be
considered a violation. Furthermore, music sharing and playlist curating have grown in
popularity as means for individuals to interact and establish communities, both at work and
among friends. Jennings states, "So playlist-sharers carefully edited their own lists before
posting, in order to appear to have broader, less extreme, or simply "cooler" musical tastes"
(531.) People are becoming increasingly aware of one another's musical preferences, as well as
the emergence and disappearance of music in their social networks. According to the report,
music sharing may help people create relationships and foster a feeling of community.
Lane Jennings and James Rosen both highlight how digital music has altered how people
consume and enjoy music. Rosen contends that the predominance of personal music devices has
resulted in a loss in shared musical experiences, but Jennings contends that digital music allows
people to construct their own identity through the music they listen to. There is some evidence in
this article to show that music has altered our values, perceptions, and society in many ways. The
fact that people utilize their musical collections and playlists to reflect their identity and status
demonstrates the significance of music in molding our self-image and how others see us.
Furthermore, the study described in the text implies that music sharing might foster a feeling of
community in the workplace, emphasizing music's social purpose. However, it is vital to
remember that music has a complicated and multidimensional influence on our beliefs,
perspectives, and society. While music may be a powerful vehicle for self-expression and
community development, the texts imply that it can also lead to superficiality, fixation with
ownership, and a need to keep up appearances. As a result, while music has clearly played an
important part in molding our culture and society, its impact is not always beneficial and varies
depending on the individual and situation.
James Rosen discusses his own collection, which includes The Beatles, The Stones,
British rock royalty, Oldies, '70s Disco, Classic Funk, Acceptable '80s Music, jazz, and classical
music, though he admits that he doesn't listen to everything. The author emphasizes the
significance of music in our lives and culture, but also the overwhelming amount of options,
which leads to immobility and the desire to maintain appearances. "This shocking paralysis - at
what was supposed to be the precise moment of my emancipation...exposes the true ethos driving
me, and all other iPod owners, in the downloading frenzy we maintain, beyond all rational
utility," the author adds (534). As a result, the author criticizes the fixation with having music, as
well as the superficiality that frequently comes with it. This author, like Scruton, discusses
musical taste and how it is impacted by societal influences. Scruton contends that musical taste
reflects one's moral character and social identity, but Rosen contends that music is used to
express one's social rank and identity. According to the study in "Of iPods and Dirty Underwear,"
music has had a variety of effects on society. On the one hand, music has become an
indispensible element of our lives, and its significance cannot be emphasized. People download
music to represent their individuality and likes, as well as to look hip and diversified. This
illustrates how important music has become in people's self-expression and identity.
Conversely, the multitude of alternatives and choices can lead to immobility and
superficiality when it comes to music. People may become overwhelmed by the large amount of
music accessible, prompting them to download far more music than they can possible listen to.
This might lead to a scenario in which individuals own music not because they actually love it,
but rather to preserve appearances and a specific image. This demonstrates how music has
evolved into a commodity that individuals use to communicate their social standing and identity
to others. However, it is impossible to conclude from this article if James Rosen's personal
experience with having an iPod and collecting music is a real representation of society as a
whole. While some people download music to look eclectic and hip, others may do it because
they love listening to a broad range of music or appreciate having a vast music library.
Furthermore, people's motivations for collecting music may differ based on their age, cultural
background, social level, and other aspects. As a result, while examining the link between music
and society, it is critical to incorporate a variety of viewpoints and experiences.