NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Affirmative Culture Introduction In this paper we will discuss the socio-political role of Country music, as the best example of affirmative culture in work. This musical style remains very popular in America, as well as in other countries, where political conservatism is popular, among people. Despite the fact that Countrys lyrics mostly revolve around the theme of love, they also promote a certain political philosophy, which is the by-product of capitalist society. Country lyrics glorify individualism, which is the main driving force behind commercial enterprise. Its traditional values are meant to preserve peoples worldview in the static form. This is because it would prevent them from questioning the political realities. (1) Country music derives from the spirit of Old West, which is surrounded by heroic aura.
The country singers always wear a cowboy hats and leather boots, to emphasize the fact that country fans can be considered as the spiritual descendents of pioneers. This proved to have a great effect, because many people believe that Country music is about love, family and Ford trucks, while in fact, it is about making people unable to open their minds to the new ideas. The American elites are interested in people thinking that there is nothing morally wrong about economic exploitation. Therefore, Country music romanticizes hard work. This is why the overwhelming majority of Country music fans consist of blue collar workers. It provides them with the sense of self esteem, which is very important, when it comes to keeping workers happy, because the financial incentives alone cannot do the job.
The lower economic status is being considered as something to be proud of, by Country singers. People from big cities are generally being disregarded as such, who dont know much about the real life. Jason Aldeans song Hicktown illustrates it better than any other: We hear folks in the city party in Martini Bars And they like to show off in their fancy foreign cars Out here in the boondocks we buy beer at Amoco And crank our Kraco speakers with that country radio The affirmative essence of Country music culture especially becomes apparent, when singers go as far as advertising commercial products, such as Ford trucks and Jack Daniels whiskey. These songs promote consumerism, disguised as traditional way life. Country music tries to cover with the romantic aura anything that can be sold. Just like a cowboy in advertising of Marlboro cigarettes, country lyrics imply that it is necessary to poison oneself, in order to be considered a man, in the full sense of this word.
Gary Allan, in his song Drinkin Dark Whiskey describes the pleasure of becoming an alcoholic: Well the first drop burns but the second one goes down slow Then that ole black label gets a hold of you It loosens your tongue but it never tells the truth The social role of country music consists of preserving the spiritual foundations of capitalism. It is not a secret that the left wing doctrines gain more and more political influence in America. Our society is becoming truly multicultural, which results in the situation when American traditional values lose its universal appeal. Yet, the political establishment is quite aware of the fact that the collapse of capitalist ethics will inevitably lead to American economy losing its competitive edge. Therefore, it strives to keep a large portion of American population away, from being affected by the recent socio-political trends. It is not by mere accident that the country music is considered to be almost exclusively White. (1) The racialist aspects of Country lyrics are being pointed out to by many musical critics.
Although, the idea of racial exclusiveness has never been present in country lyrics, in direct form, it is meant to be found between the lines. This is why; the racial bigotry is strongly associated with the Country culture. (2) The impact of country music onto the society can be thought in terms of promotion of racial and cultural secularism. Also, it helps to preserve the conventional morality, in its present state. It is well known that this morality is based on the Christian doctrine. Yet, this obscure religion had lost all of its credibility, in the light of many scientific discoveries. Therefore, it is not too long, before people will realize that our present moral standards are based on emptiness.
When this happens, the social stability will be threatened to a considerable degree. That is why; the elites are trying to find a replacement for Christianity some kind ethical doctrine, which would help to prevent the social chaos. So far, they were not able to come up with anything better than traditionalism. The Christianity still plays an important role in it, but it has turned into the meaningless ritual. It is the values of family and hard work that the political establishment needs to protect. The country music comes in very handy, in this respect.
It teaches people to appreciate the current state of affairs, by making them psychologically dependent on the set of images, which they can associate with the process of growing up. Country music social role consists of preserving the spiritual roots of consumerist society, by making people to believe that love and family come in first and the material goods the second, while in fact, it is other way around. The consumerist society cannot function effectively if it is not focused on consumption. But the political elite understand that some kind of illusion needs to be created, in order to divert peoples attention from this fact. It is from this point of view that we need to look at the Country music. (3) The social group, which speaks through Country music, plays an important role in American socio-political life. People that belong to it are commonly disregarded as rednecks, but it is them who work hard and pay taxes.
This group stays within well defined racial boundaries. This is because it is largely unaffected by the racial mixing that allows this group to be highly productive. Unlike many ethnic minorities, the White rednecks can never be thought of in terms of social burden. They are not overly smart, but this is not very important. It is their willingness to work hard that is being appreciated. This is why much of Country lyrics are dedicated to this.
Garth Brooks song Big Money can serve as a good example: My older brother Tommy, was a lineman rest his soul His job was hanging hot wires, on them high-line power poles Every morning bright and early, he'd climb way up in the sky And I never understood it, so one day I asked him why He said it pays big money, and man I'm into that It pays big money, if you " re willing to take a chance Let me tell you something, sonny, you ought to see my bank account It pays big money, but he sure can't spend it now It is hard for us to imagine Black rapper singing about the virtue of hard work. Neither can we find the same motives in Jazz or Rock Roll. This is because they the by-products of critical culture, unlike Country music. United States was being founded on the positivist principles, and only later, the critical culture started to become more and more popular. This is why we can say that, it will not be much of exaggeration to consider country music, as such, that contains the metaphysical essence of this country. Country music provides a psychological comfort for the middle class White people that are both: hard working and intellectually deprived.
It is virtually impossible to find any other type of music playing in bars, throughout Midwest. But what is the most important, country music, along with the rap, are the types of music that America is being associated with, in other countries. Because Country style if affirmative, it makes this music socially acceptable. (4) Country music songs have a specific language. The words are usually pronounced with sick Southern accent.
Nevertheless, the lyrics are free of slang of any kind and can be easily understood by everybody. Country music symbolism includes cowboy accessories, as it was being mentioned earlier. It is absolutely unaffected by the concept of diversity and can be considered as truly traditional. The racial and sexual minorities have no influence on country music; this is why it is very often regarded as homophobic. Partially, this is true, but we cannot consider Countrys homophobic properties to be intentional. Country symbols are meant to emphasize the priority of manly virtues in defining of what really important in this life.
Big trucks, leather boots, horse saddles, Marlboro cigarettes and whisky we get to see this images in almost every country clip. Very often, this can be considered as the form of indirect advertising, but I think that there is more to it. Such images are meant to fight the political Liberalism on spiritual level. It is hard for us to imagine a hard core Country fan that smoke, drink and cuss, who would be respectful of such concepts as multiculturalism, tolerance or gay rights. There is no doubt that the Country symbolism is positive, in its essence. If it wasnt up to glorifying drinking and smoking, it could be considered as beneficial to the society, as whole.
But it is also true that it will never able to universally appeal to all the Americans. This is because of recent demographic shifts, which affected society's social structure. Country music is likely to get even more secularized, as time goes by. And it seems that geographic factor will play a very important role in it. Even now, it is considered to be socially inappropriate to wear a cowboy hat in Connecticut, for example. The Country romantics are becoming more and more commercialized.
Therefore, I think, that it is only the matter of time, before Country music ceases to exist, within the boundaries of affirmative culture, and becomes the part of corporate culture. Footnotes: 1. According to Marcuse, affirmative culture is meant to conceal social antagonism, within capitalist society. Abstract: This paper discusses the role of country music in terms of affirmative action. Outline: Introduction introduces reader to papers topic.
Society's influence on the content of Country lyrics. Country music social impact. Social affiliation. Language, images, symbols.
Bibliography: Allan, Gary Drinkin Dark Whiskey. 6 Oct. 2003. Goodwin Music. Cow Pie Site. 10 Dec. 2006. web Allan, Jason Hicktown. 20 Jun. 2005. Goodwin Music. Cow Pie Site. 10 Dec. 2006.
web Brooks, Garth Big Money. 2001. Goodwin Music. Cow Pie Site. 10 Dec. 2006. web Marcuse, Herbert Art as Form of Reality. 1972. (2000). New Left Review. 10 Dec. 2006. web
Free research essays on topics related to: plays an important role, socio political, marlboro cigarettes, capitalist society, country music
Research essay sample on Plays An Important Role Marlboro Cigarettes
