consideration of how it fits into their lives” (Christen and Roberts, 1). With music being a major portion of teenagers’ lives, does music influence teens to act in sex, drugs, and violence? The problem is that ‘offensive’ is so subjective. One thing offends one person and not the other. Music styles define the crowds and cliques they run in. Teenagers use music most to control their mood and enhance emotional states (Christen and Roberts, 1). “ A 1994 U of M study concluded that glamorization in the music industry has been an important determinant of increased drug use by teenagers” (Jipping). Although this may be true, music lyrics aren’t forcing people to do anything. According to McGowin, the lyrics are what people carry around with them, it’s disturbing (1). In addition, violent music is only one aspect of America’s culture, but a very significant one according to Roger Pelley, one that seems to have gotten very little attention in the recent school tragedies (2. In addition to school tragedies, lyrics also affect school grades (Villiani 9). It is believed that rap music does, in fact, contribute a great deal in school violence and that it is in children’s best interest to listen to lyrics that are not violent, sexist, drug-oriented or antisocial. “ Even if one consciously rejects the messages of free sex, hatred and violence that so many of the...
