Distribution of Civilization: Music in the East

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Distribution of Civilization:

Music in the East

Before the intrusion of western society in recent years, Chinese culture has been conservatively sustained through traditionalism and consistent refusal of outside interference. As a result of such conventionality, hip-hop style music had never been a part of Chinese sociological repertoire in the past; therefore, the introduction of new aged and progressive material, as briefly described in Sociology (2010), is a classic example of cultural diffusion by the very nature of the term’s definition and spirit. While it would appear that the integration of another culture’s art form would be a catalyst to change, the complete opposite is true; for the power of such a medium can be felt by people of all ages, groups and beliefs. Specifically stated, titles, lyrics and the messages or feelings they send, often will alter the audience’s perceptions of themselves and the attitudes they carry about the world around them.

Since the musical styles of Chinese society have been customarily reserved by default, it is likely that broad-minded citizens are outnumbered by mainstream believers, which in turn, has caused the formation of an underworld social order of its own. Plausible motives for the development of this counterculture may simply be the arguments of desire and peer pressure, especially in regards to young people; for according to The Times (2010), “brain scans have shown that teenagers’ music choices have less to do with… what they are hearing than with the horror of failing to conform with their peers. [These findings suggest that] a teenager’s musical preference is big business” (para. 1, 7); as a result of these forces, they are willing to stray from their usual attitudes a...

... middle of paper ...

...an underlying society of others, in order to secretly enjoy the fun from the west. With all things said, it is my contention that China and The United States have equally influenced each other over time. Hopefully, Chinese hip-hop music or another common thread, can serve as a tool for the people our nations to share, and understand one another better.

References

Ahmed, M. (2010, Mar 29). Teenagers’ music taste is determined by their desire to conform. The Times. Retrieved July 14, 2010, from http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article7079520.ece

Cheong, Ken. (2010). ChineseCulture. Chinese movies and Hollywood.

Retrieved July 14, 2010, from http://www.chinese-culture.net/html/chinese_movies.html.

Macionis, J. (2010). Now Hip-Hop, Too, Is Made in China. In M. Richardson (13th ed.), Sociology (pp. 78), Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

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