Today's Social Culture and Rock

When studying a particular culture, many cultural practices can be observed such as language. One cultural practice that should be very significant is music. Music like language can pass down culture to generations. Cultures often organize the practice of music into groups. In America today's popular form of music would include a rock band. The same socialization processes of any other group within a society are incorporated into forming this band. The author happens to be involved in this form of group and has experienced the socialization process of forming and maintaining a band. The socialization process, social roles and social positions, the values and norms, and mechanisms of social control for a band can be analyzed just as any other peer group today.

Socialization teaches us ways to think, talk, and act that are necessary for social living, which assists in the process of passing culture on to the next generation. (Kendall 77) A musical band which writes intelligent introspective lyrics and plays guitar melodies modeled off of their muse guitar players is an example of the passing on of culture. Different guitar techniques are living on after those who originated them have died. Firstly, finding the right members to form a band relies on peer groups. Peer groups are groups linked by common interest with equal social position and similar age. (Kendall 93) The peer group of the author was scoured to find the perfect band mates. All members are very close in age and have similar musical background. A similar interest and social activity is what attracts each member to the band. The similar backgrounds and interests give a sense of belonging to each member. (Kendall 93)

While ideally each musician would have the same exact background, sometimes it is not the case. Additionally, a resocialization process might be required to generate the proper chemistry. Resocialization is the process of learning a new and different set of attitudes and behaviors from those in one's background. (Kendall 102) An example of this can be in the military, how each soldier must become adjusted to the demands of the authority. In a band, one band member might have a different style of playing that might need to be abandoned or perhaps expanded to create a diverse sound.