The Effects Of Rebellion On Contemporary Music
With this said, it is understandable that there are many different perceptions and interpretations that have a large impact on contemporary music. Each and every one of us has our own preferences for different beats, rhythms and lyrics that are valuable to ourselves however seem distasteful and possibly obnoxious to others. In these following paragraphs we will further examine the concept of rebellion within the musical institution and how it in fact plays a significant role on the evolution of contemporary music.
The definition of music is highly variable across different cultures, age groups and audiences. Different sounds and patterns are interpreted and understood in different ways depending on one’s preferences, interests and choice of individual expression (Brackett 1995:24). These opinions are what motivate composers to continue creating new and innovative rhythms, tempos, tones and styles. The expansion of musical movements has reached great heights in the 1900’s with the emergence of genres such as Techno in the late 60’s, Punk Rock in the 1970’s, and also Reggae (Borthwick& Moy 2004:42). Each of these movements has evolved with new ideas, technologies, artists, and audiences.
Rebellion is a commonality to all of these different movements and is responsible for the uniqueness of each genre. It is a concept that often is perceived with a negative connotation while in fact it is a form of expression that is used all the time to convey new ideas. The true definition of rebellion is “An act or a show of defiance toward authority or an established convention” (Salzman 1988:8). This description is perhaps why so many people often consider elements of rebellion as being destructive and vicious when in fact rebellion in music is a significant source for innovation. It is depicted through aspects such as fashion, hair styles, drugs, sex, art and politics. Each different period in musical history represents a plethora of new...
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