Why people who don’t listen to music and can’t write proper journalism probably shouldn’t be a regular columnist
Suite101 is a site about nearly everything, whose contributors seem diverse and professional. This isn’t a knock on them. I’m sure they do good stuff. It’s also not a knock on Alex Keshen. I’m sure she’s a fine writer with a good head on her shoulders. At least, I’m sure she is when she’s not talking about the music industry. A recent article published on Suite101 by young Alex was brought to my attention for several reasons, and I’d like, if I can, to use her as an example on how not to write a column about music.
First of all, the opening: “As different styles of music are often representative of different groups of people, can they also represent different types of behaviors?” Is this a question? Is it a thesis? What types of behaviors are you talking about? Because in reading your article, it seems you mostly want to concentrate on murderers and hooligans. As a leading sentence, this is about as vague as it can possibly get.
Then, the first paragraph ends with “But, are they just innocently listening to their favorite tunes? Or are they in for something more?” This makes it seem that you’re leading me to a sinister conclusion. As well, by suggestion that the listener is there “for something more,” that they are in fact looking to take some kind of message or permission from the music. That is to say, they’re already criminals and are searching for an excuse.
The next section is what really gets me. It also completely disqualifies Alex’s argument from any and all anchors to logic and reality: “In the media it seems that certain groups affiliated with particular genres of music, often seen with rap – typically African-Americans – and hard-rock/heavy metal – often misfits or troublemakers – are pinpointed when something within their community goes awry, as having been strongly influenced by the music they listen to.”
There are four things terribly, terribly wrong with that paragraph: a) Beginning with ‘in the media’ and not providing any sort of citation means that you’re either taking the media at their word (which is almost always a mistake) or that you’re simply making up a ‘media’ so that you don’t have to take the imperative in your b) blatant racism and stereotyping. We know this isn’t an article about music at all; it is in fact a smear piece against African-Americans, fans of hip-hop, and fans of metal. c) Are these always the people pinpointed in a society when things go awry? What society? What is going awry? Finally, d) this paragraph is atrocious. It is grammatically incorrect in at least three different ways. Some serious red marker is in need here.
The line that follows this paragraph kills me: “But does it truly work this way? Can the content of a song influence one’s actions and/or behavior?” It’s as if to say “I’m not accusing anyone of doing anything. I’m suggesting a connection, but who knows if it’s even real?” Rule #1 of editorial journalism is to own your opinion, Alex. Is this column an argument that the groups you suggest are causing all this alleged trouble? Or is it passive-agreesive semi-anonymous finger waving at groups you know absolutely nothing about? Are you even a fan of music, Alex? Or are you only a fan of a certain kind of music, say, a kind that doesn’t offend your precious un-awry society?
“According to an article in the Stanford Online Report, the average teenager listens to up to five hours of music per day, a number which seems to be steadily growing with the ever-growing popularity of mp3 players.” This sentence informs me that this article was actually written in 2000. Ever-growing popularity of mp3 players? Really? That’s like suggesting in 1997 that CD players might just take over the Walkman market. It’s 2008, Alex. People have mp3 players in their toothbrushes now. Get with it. Also, what article in the Stanford Online Report? We couldn’t get a link to that article, could we?
This next part is the king-fish of the column, however: “As the popularity of music among youth grows, the number of teens who are becoming more violent, more sexually active and who are experimenting with drugs is steadily increasing. The parallel seen between the two analyses sparks questions regarding a connection; does music influence potentially harmful behavior?” Okay, even if the Stanford report exists somewhere that says we listen to 5 hours a day (I listen to far more than that, let me tell you), what’s the other report telling you that teens are turning into the cast from Escape from LA? It’s very possible this section was written in 1954. What’s next? The kids’ll start hanging around on motorcycles and roughing up soda shops?
So what evidence to we have of any of this? Columbine, of course. Alex quotes Marylin Manson, an artist who’s been de-fanged completely. Alex then brings up a slightly more recent case: “Similar to, but not to the same extent, the media made a point to mention that Kimveer Gill, the shooter at the more recent Sept. 13, 2006, shooting at Dawson College in Montréal, Que., followed the music and lifestyle of a Goth. Why would the media have mentioned this, if it was not attributing it to the shooting?”
Let’s repeat that last sentence, just to give it the proper gutspa it deserves: Why would the media have mentioned this, if it was not attributing it to the shooting?
Let’s forget the fact that the article ends here, leaving me wondering where else Alex might have gone with this asinine passive-aggressive ramble on moral righteousness. Let’s also forget the ridiculous uses of Columbine and Montréal as examples for why metal music is evil (also, what happened to those African-Americans and hip-hop fans you mentioned earlier? Don’t they get an under-researched example?) This line about the media is what got me to write this response. Alex, I feel sorry for you. Believing the media’s speculation, especially in incidences involving pop culture they don’t understand (metal, hip-hop, etc) is what helps create paranoia in society. The media doesn’t have the first clue as to what they’re talking about, and shouldn’t be considered authorities on anything. They are reporters looking for an angle to sell, and that’s it. By believing them, swallowing their hype, and spewing it out yourself, you’ve become one of them. Your opinion is misinformed, and your uneducated and unresearched bias is an insult to music fans, an insult to music journalists, and an insult to your readers, especially considering the article was placed in the child psychology section.
Good day.
***
Addendum
If you read the comments section of this post, you’ll find a fueled conversation between me and the author of this piece (as well as others) that resulted in the article being altered in significant ways. Check it out yourself. It’s a good day when criticism leads to change. It doesn’t happen often. In fact, that’s the lesson of the day. If you see something out there that doesn’t seem right in your eyes, say something and stand by it. Who knows what might happen.
ak said,
March 4, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I would like you to know that I am the writer of the piece that you refer to in this article and I appologize for offending you.
There are, however, a few things that you should know. Firstly, Suite 101 has a word limit, and I would have gone further into the subject (which I have in the past, this is a much shorter version of an original article and I do have research to back it up, so please don’t assume that this is unresearched), but was unable to. Secondly, I see your points in many cases, but not all. I guess that different people read things in different ways and I appreciate you expressing your concerns about the topic so that I can go back and edit certain things to make them more clear. And I would like you to know, that in no way do I say that I agree or disagree with the media’s (yes, the media’s) perception. I don’t say that I, personally, blame music for events. The final line was meant to be sarcastic, but I guess you don’t see it that way. Finally, as for the placement of the article, it was not originally placed in Child Psychology, but moved there by someone with higher power than me at Suite.
Although you may not understand it, I appreciate your critisism. I will take your thoughts into consideration and will edit this piece. I would like you to re-read it in a few days and please, if you still have a problem with it, do contact me, otherwise, how would I know?
K Sawyer said,
March 4, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I will check up on the article in a few days to see what’s been changed. I’ll amend this article if it’s anything substantial.
While I have your attention, however - if your piece wasn’t about agreeing with the media, why were no counter-arguments made? If you weren’t pinning music as the cause of blame for any of the events you cite, what was the point of your article?
In terms of the word length, that’s something I assume you know about, having published many other articles on the site. And as for the placement, that was really an afterthought remark. It wouldn’t really matter where it was placed.
As for me missing the sarcasm, I went on the precedent in your article of a complete lack of sarcasm. And since you didn’t use italics or even the slightest sarcastic tone in your writing, I’m left with no way of knowing.
Finally, is “people reading things in different ways” an excuse for the racism? I’m curious.
ak said,
March 4, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I found, for the most part, your article to be critical, yes, but did not take offence to it. Now that you accuse me of being racist, NOW I am offended. I do not see how me mentioning that people tend to associate different types of music with different groups of people to be racist. I don’t say that rock music is ONLY for a particular group or jazz is ONLY for a particular group. I say that it “seems that certain groups affiliated with particular genres of music”, they key word here is ’seems’. I edited the sentence now to make it more clear that they are not connected, but are often affiliated and not correctly so.
There is no way that you can deny that people tend to group certain people with certain types of music, you don’t even need research to back that up. Yes, there are people who do not fit into the categories that people assume that they should fit into, but generally people (and I am NOT saying myself) do make assumptions of what kind of music people listen to based on who they are. I did an entire research assignment on this a couple of years ago and conducted surveys where people did admit to doing this.
I will let you know that I have gone back and added a section about WHY people make these assumptions. And the reason that I did not make any counter-aguments is because I don’t see the need for one considering the fact that I made no clear indication what side of the story I was on (i.e. do I think that it influences us or not).
Again, I appreciate your concerns about the article, and the only way that I can truly know if I have done something that offends my readers is when they themselves come forward and let me know. I have edited and republished the article, please read it and I would appreciate the amendment of this article.
K Sawyer said,
March 4, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Good, I’m glad you’re checking up on this. Yes, you amended the article with a conclusion that didn’t actually diffuse anything you had said previously.
If you’re going to publish an article like this, the least you can do is link (almost any website will allow you to do this) to the evidence you have for your statements. It still comes off as an attack piece on the specific examples you bring up.
And I’m glad you’re paying attention to my accusation of your racism. I figured that would be one aspect of your article that would change first, seeing as it says “In the media it seems that certain groups affiliated with particular genres of music, often seen with rap – typically African-Americans – and hard-rock/heavy metal – often misfits or troublemakers – are pinpointed when something within their community goes awry, as having been strongly influenced by the music they listen to.”
Do you not see the very direct line you make here? You are clearly stating that African Americans and metal fans are misfits and troublemakers. This isn’t a passive observation culled from doing interviews. It might simply be a grammar issue on your end, in which case the sites’ editor should have caught it, but it’s unmistakably clear what you’re saying.
I’ll amend my column if I see that actual change has been made to your piece.
a-bee said,
March 4, 2008 at 9:32 pm
because i appreciate the various ways in which words can be interpreted…i’m inclined to note that while ak may not intend to project a racist or stereotypical view in this article…the grammar used in this particular sentence in which k sawyer is asking her to amend is of an offensive nature…the way in which the sentence is phrased equates all african-americans with misfits and troublemaker…this is obvious in the way she places the terminology african-american directly after rap, and misfits and trouble makers after metal…if that is not the intent…then i suggest it would solve the issue to state that misfits and troublemakers are associated with rap and hard rock/heavy metal…so far as the media projects (if that is in fact what she is trying to state)…i personally do not see why it is acceptable to group together african americans in this discussion and seperate caucasians by the terms misfit and troublemaker…again…this insinuates that all african-americans are the same…associated as being misfits and troublemakers…
tvnerdgirl said,
March 4, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I’m still not sure what side the author is on…he’s stating the media likes to point fingers, but that’s a well known fact….doesn’t seem like an opinion of his own has been injected in there or if it was, it was so lumped in with the ever vagued up ‘media’ that I missed it. In which case, that’s such a tired accusation that I don’t think even right wing conservative religious parents believe it anymore. Life is not that black and white. You can’t just shoot up a school and then cry “the rap and/or rock and roll made me do it”…they tried that in the 70s when kids were listening to KISS…it didn’t work then and it doesn’t fly now.
Society has too many levels to just blame one.
I agree more research and *knowledge* is needed here.
-tvnerdgirl
ak said,
March 5, 2008 at 2:55 am
After reading it over multiple times, and seeing the points made by a-bee, I altered the paragraph regarding who is targeted in relation to differnet styles of music. I appreciate all of your criticism and would appreciate any more feedback. If any of you would mind re-reading the article (the now-edited version) that would be greatly appreciated. I also did a quick search and added a link to an article about the topic. There are many more out there, but I do not see a need to attach them all. They are not hard for you to find if you feel like looking for yourselves.
I appologize if I offended anyone and I hope that now the article is more clear. Thank you.
Shawn M. Smith said,
March 8, 2008 at 7:01 pm
The sad thing about all this: around 75% of hip-hop sales are to Caucasian kids. True.
Scary fact: around 30% people who bought Lil Jon’s last album also own a Slipknot record.
That’s some skewering in taste, eh?