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Comparing apples and oranges?An associate pastor that I know literally believes that any music with "a rock beat" is inherently evil because of possible negative influences that it can cause to its listeners. I can understand why certain lyrics can be bad, but specific sounds that come from certain musical instruments I can't. However, wouldn't this be literary equivalent of saying certain forms of paper and ink used to write sinful thoughts is evil, or certain brands of art supplies used to create a painting that didn't glorify God are evil? I realize that art, music, and writing are all forms of self expression, but they are also different methods of expression. Am I comparing apples and oranges here? If this logic can be applied to writing and art, wouldn't this same logic apply to music?
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| asked on Friday, Mar 25, 2016 01:25:17 PM by Kris | |
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Strange beliefs aside, the real question is, is your analogy a strong one or a weak one? First, the idea that something is "inherently evil" because of possible negative influences is absurd, and you might be better off using an reductio ad absurdum to demonstrate that rather than an analogy. For example, belief in God certainly has "possible negative influences" (for starters, think of parents who let their children die because of faith healing, or those who murder based on the belief that God told them to), therefore, belief in God in inherently evil. I would think even the good pastor would be able to see the absurdity.
Now to your question. All analogies are arguments in themselves. I could see one arguing that rock music as it is has an "evil beat" whereas paper and ink have not been refined yet. Paper would be more like an instrument that is capable of making an evil beat (it hurts to write "evil beat"). So I personally don't think it is a strong analogy, but it is not a terrible one either. |
| answered on Friday, Mar 25, 2016 07:31:30 PM by Bo Bennett, PhD |
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First, let’s simplify “Evil” to ‘Violence Inducing.’ It is widely documented that extreme song lyrics have motivated susceptible individuals and groups to commit various acts violence. As for the music itself? As a generalization it can probably be stated accurately that any up-tempo music stirs the emotions more than tranquil, melodic music and in extremely selective cases can elicit anti-social behavior. However, not only is this highly subjective and very infrequent, but is also applies to any up-tempo music (e.g., the thunderous drums in Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture), of which Hard Rock music is merely a subset. So, while I do not see an analogy between up-tempo music and arts materials (e.g., paper, ink, paint etc.) in constituting a medium for transmitting violent behavior, I see the former as possibly contributing to it directly, but very, very rarely (and only in highly unstable individuals).
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| answered on Friday, Mar 25, 2016 10:15:59 PM by modelerr |
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