So far, I have discussed the impact of music on mood, attitude, and self-expression. But this final topic encompasses all of those and describes who we are at our core: personal identity. From a young age, music plays a pivotal role in the development of our identity. I can still remember numerous songs that were popular when I was a kid, and I am hit with a wave of nostalgia whenever they start playing. Coldplay remains one of my favorite bands to this day because my family listened to them all the time when I was younger. So, why do musical experiences from my childhood still have a profound effect on who I am today? Let's find out.
Ever since the emergence of rock and roll in the 1950s, society has been slow to accept new, progressive genres of music, claiming that they corrupt the youth. Thus, lots of music has been portrayed as having a negative effect on children's development, when in reality, it is quite the opposite. Yes, there are some vulgar songs that give listeners a flawed outlook on society, but the vast majority of music is beneficial to the development of identity. A study performed by the Institute of Education at the University of London found that "learning a musical instrument contributed to feelings of satisfaction, achievement, and self-confidence" (Hallam, Creech, Varvarigou, & McQueen, 2012), and listening to music was found to have similar effects as well.
Music is especially critical to the formation of identity when people relate on a personal level to the lyrics of a song. Most people can put themselves in the shoes of the artist when listening to songs about heartbreak, loss, economic struggle, mental health, and oppression, among many other subjects. Hearing these songs helps empower listeners to overcome any situation that they are currently in and challenge other injustices in the world. For example, Tupac Shakur's music fought against "stereotypes of black male criminality" and helped create a "rebellion against a racially oppressive social system" (Edgar & Rudrow, 2018). Many African American youths were able to relate to the struggles conveyed in his music and develop a collective identity together. Similarly, a scholarly article found that "African American viewers may be able to use rap music as a positive tool to overcome oppression" (Conrad, Dixon, & Zhang, 2007). When people idolize an artist, as millions of people did with Tupac, that artist's music can literally become central to their identity.
Music includes such a diverse range of topics that it can develop a shared identity among a group of people or influence your own individual identity that defines who you are. The Star-Spangled Banner, for instance, unites all Americans and gives us a collective identity full of pride to live in the United States. Other topics, such as love and death, are universal, so music about these topics can have an impact on the development of anyone's individual identity, no matter where they are in the world. Here is the bottom line: music is much more than some words and sounds. It brings us closer together while also making each of us unique, and that is why it is known as the universal language.
Bibliography:
Conrad, Kate, et al. “An Examination of How Rap and R&B Music Videos Influence ...” University of Maryland Libraries, National Communication Association, 1 Nov. 2007, web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=96905afb-4732-4fd8-8f15-188c52b1de93%40sessionmgr4008&bdata=JmxvZ2luLmFzcCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmU%3d#db=ufh&AN=35506397.
Edgar, Amanda Nell, and Keven James Rudrow. “‘I Think of Him as an Ancestor’: Tupac Shakur Fans and the Intimacy of Pop Cultural Heritage.” Communication, Culture and Critique, vol. 11, no. 4, 2018, pp. 642–658., doi:10.1093/ccc/tcy032. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=87e75109-5a4d-4aee-baf6-a5db49042035%40sessionmgr4007&bdata=JmxvZ2luLmFzcCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmU%3d#AN=133721380&db=ufh.
Hallam, Susan, et al. “Perceived Benefits of Active Engagement with Making Music in Community Settings.” International Journal of Community Music, vol. 5, no. 2, 2012, pp. 155–174., doi:10.1386/ijcm.5.2.155_1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272206074_Perceived_benefits_of_active_engagement_with_making_music_in_community_settings.
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