Wra150spring16.weebly.com



Metal: A Genre of Expression

Student Name

Michigan State University

An eerie riff plays as unlit figures take their respective positions on a stage overlooking thousands of screaming shadows. A centered podium becomes occupied by a silhouette holding a microphone. The masses roar with deafening anticipation. The rush felt when the stage is illuminated with chaotic life is impossible to capture in explanation. Such a culmination of excitement must be experienced in person. Capturing audience attention. Metal is a style of music unmatched in intensity and loyal fan base. For over fifty years, metal has drawn controversy and stereotypes that revolve around anything from lyrics to apparel. Over the next few pages, I will examine various aspects of metal. Through such exploration, I intend not to necessarily improve but provide the correct idea about yet another genre of expression.

According to Mark Titchner, a Turner Prize 2006-Nominated Artist, “Of all the musical genres metal is the most diverse, encompassing everything from traditional technical and blues-based forms to abstract electronica without a hint of a distorted guitar or Marshall stack” (Trilling, 2007, p. 3) Starts out with the voices of his sources.. In other words Explaining the significance, metal does not have just one particular sound, though it is typically characterized as loud and aggressive music. Certain subgenres of metal are very melodic and mainstream while others are more immoderate and underground. Despite debates among experts, most agree that metal developed in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. The New Wave of British heavy metal was ushered in during the late ‘70s by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. In 1978, Van Halen released their debut album beginning the Los Angeles/Sunset Strip music scene from which Motley Crue and Quiet Riot emerged. The "hair bands" like Poison, Warrant, and Ratt took to the stage around the same time. With such firm foundations already laid, metal saw towering heights of popularity after the influx of bands, songs, and albums during the ‘80s. The constant creation and dissociation of bands continues to evolve the sound of metal. Thus, over the years, many subgenres like Black Metal, Death Metal, Gothic Metal, Metalcore, Nu-Metal, and Progressive Metal have come to be. The diversity of metal reaches the ears of an expanding fan base. Concert tours continually sellout, and CD sales remain impressive despite tracks receiving little radio airplay or MTV exposure (Bower, p. 1). Despite its popularity and transformations, the general population maintains certain stereotypes about metal music. As described by Dr. Charles M. Judd and Dr. Bernadette Park (1993), respected psychology professors at the University of Colorado, “A stereotype is an individual's set of beliefs about the characteristics or attributes of a group. Stereotypes need not be negative or inaccurate. In general, stereotypic characteristics distinguish a particular group from other groups” (p. 3). The stereotypes of those that listen to and produce metal music do, however, depict a particularly negative and often inaccurate representation of reality. I discussed with DJ Deadboy (personal communication, March 22, 2011) some of his opinions about those stereotypes associated with metal. With more than twenty years of experience in the music industry, he provided the following insight:

Unlike many musical genres, metal knows no boundaries in regards to race, creed, religion, or lack thereof. Metal has “belonged” to white males between the ages of twelve and twenty-five since the ‘80s. Although many critics would like to say that metal fans only fall into this category, it is simply not true. If metal did not transcend various race and cultural barriers, bands such as Living Colour, Loudness, King's X, Sepultura, etc. would not exist. Also, bands like Doro, Nightwish, Lita Ford, Vixen, and L7 defy the myths about gender bias in metal. In regards to metal fans, I believe in the existence of stereotypical, adolescent to young adult, Caucasian males with a "party until you puke" and "FTW" attitude popularized by mainstream media and society. However, is there a “typical” metal fan? I would have to say most certainly not.

DJ Deadboy makes relevant points about the stereotypes of metal often portrayed by the media. Arguing against their existence and use is rather futile. When I express to people my liking of a certain band, Killswitch Engage for instance, they will often give me an awkward stare and express something to the extent that they would have never pictured me listening to such music.

My curiosity on the opinions of other people (fans and non-fans alike) in regards to the stereotypes of metal, lead me to do some additional research. Upon reviewing a number of blog discussions, I pieced together that metal is made up of unintelligent, satanic, Caucasian druggies wearing band tees while partaking in beer and violent things. And though it is possible that somewhere in the world there may be an infernal creature that exhibits all the stereotypes associated with metal, it’s false to assume that any one of the described characteristics is typical of every metal fan. In fact, a recent article on the psychological effects of metal made the subsequent observations:

While a number of researchers have associated heavy metal music with depression or anger, a study of more than a thousand gifted students found that heavy metal music is used for cathartic release and to dissipate negative emotions, particularly among those with low self-esteem. That is to say, subjects displaying depressed or frenzied emotions may become happier, calmer, and more relaxed after listening to heavy metal. In terms of aggression, some studies have found that individuals become more pugnacious, hostile or angry after listening to heavy metal music, whereas others have found no aggressive response. Also, college students whose musical preferences are alternative, rock, or heavy metal actually obtain higher IQ test scores on average, particularly on questions where abstraction is required. (Copley, 2008, p. 1)

Though the debates on the side effects of listening to a particular genre of music are quite unsettling, DJ Deadboy made yet another series of keen observations during our interview. He pointed out the following:

I truly believe that to act out of listening to metal music is simply a deranged behavior on the part of the individual. Due to imagery, themes, and sometimes larger than life performers with ghastly appearances, metal will always be the perfect scapegoat for people who refuse to look at bigger problems that face society. Why address an issue where upbringing and social conditions might be the cause, when it is far easier to assuage guilt by blaming something else? To say that a person is defined by the music they listen to is like saying they are defined by the literature they read. Most high school and college students have read Shakespeare's Macbeth, and some may have genuinely enjoyed it. Do they, however, go out and become power mad murderers or consort with witches? Do readers of romance novels become skilled lovers or over-sexed fiends?

No, would be the simplest answer to such questions. It is plausible that listening to metal may cause various undesirable side effects. At the same time, to say that metal is the only contributor to a child acting inappropriately is most certainly an incorrect conjecture.

When I began listening to hard rock and metal, Slipknot was one of the first bands that stood out to me. Perhaps, it was because of their seeming popularity at the time (revolving around a new album). With metal music, however, it is rather difficult to gage the popularity of a particular band. Obviously, there are quite a few metal legends from the latter half of the 20th century, but recently the expanding number of subgenres and debates on whether a band is truly metal or not (a rather incompetent thing to argue about) has made it difficult to assess any sort of domination in the metal genre. John Hahne, a writer for the Charlotte Creative Loafing Weekly Newspaper, published the following on Slipknot:

Donning masks, jumpsuits and a "heavier man thou" attitude, Slipknot has drawn as much praise as criticism by fans and critics alike. Fans complain that they're getting too commercial, while critics claim it's all a gimmick. Singer Corey Taylor, who also sings with the band Stone Sour, feels that the band hitting its 10-year milestone - a mark many bands fail to achieve - is enough to show they are for real and aren't going anywhere. (Hahne, 2010, p. 1)

Regardless of any popularity contest, Slipknot has a Grammy to their name and a tour schedule ready to spread hearing damage round the world. On top of that, the band has persevered through the recent passing of a beloved member. Therefore, any debate of “realness” seems a rather trivial one.

Many opinions about music are spun out of lyrics. According to Rick Koster (2010), a respected writer for the McClatchy - Tribune Business News, “Heavy metal lyrics are probably the most stereotyped and consistently misrepresented of all popular musical forms” (p. 1). I find many of Slipknot’s lyrics, written mostly by Corey Taylor, to be the epitome of this observation. Take, for instance, the song “Duality” about which Bram Teitelman, a writer for Billboard, notes, “Was a top five song at active, and also gave Slipknot its first hit at modern, where it reached No. 6” (Teitelman, 2005, p. 1). The lyrics to “Duality” are as follows:

I push my fingers into my eyes

It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache

But it's made of all the things I have to take

Jesus it never ends, it works its way inside

If the pain goes on

I have screamed until my veins collapsed

I've waited as my times elapsed

Now all I do is live with so much fate

I wished for this, I bitched at that

I've left behind this little fact

You cannot kill what you did not create

I've gotta say what I've gotta say

And then I swear I'll go away

But I can't promise you'll enjoy the noise

I guess I'll save the best for last

My future seems like one big past

You're left with me 'cause you left me no choice

I push my fingers into my eyes

It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache

If the pain goes on, I'm not gonna make it

Put me back together or separate the skin from bone

Leave me all the pieces

Then you can leave me alone

Tell me the reality is better than the dream

But I've found out the hard way

Nothing is what it seems

I push my fingers into my eyes

It's the only thing that slowly stops the ache

But it's made of all the things I have to take

Jesus it never ends, it works its way inside

If the pain goes on, I'm not gonna make it

All I've got, all I've got is insane

All I've got, all I've got is insane

All I've got, all I've got is insane

All I've got, all I've got is insane

Upon reviewing such lyrics it is easier to see how metal might acquire such negative stereotypes. They sound somewhat like the ramblings of a disturbed man experiencing a great deal of pain coupled with miserable loneliness. This is, of course, somewhat of a literal, inaccurate, and first glance translation. Since there is considerable room for these lyrics to be interpreted, often a trend with metal music, it is impossible to say that everyone perceives the song in the same way. I could have just as easily explained the song as being about a difficult time in a troubled man’s life in which he has been doing some soul searching, and now, despite feelings of insanity and pain, he is going to try to find reality and express himself. Again, these are very loose interpretations, but that’s what makes metal unique. Songs can be applied to as many circumstances as you see fit.

Metal music is a topic of considerable interest and continued debate. The stereotypes that metal has faced in the past persist on defining it today. We are all guilty of using stereotypes at one point or another. With debatable accuracy, they provide a sort of automatic judgment about people and things in varying situations and environments. Stereotypes are not necessarily negative and do have a tendency to evolve. Regardless, many people have these predetermined notions that all metal fans behave and look a certain way. They judge the metal stability and level of intellect of “headbangers” and “metalheads.” There, however, exists no typical metal fan. Again, that is to say that, not everyone who listens to metal wears band tees, has long hair, drinks excessively, starts fight, and worships Satan (I have yet to meet anyone who admittedly worships the devil). In the words of DJ Deadboy:

Metal has become faster, louder, and, to an effect, more brutal, and although metal is lambasted for its sheer volume, there is no denying the technicality and pure talent aspects; some of the best musicians and vocalists in the world provide their expertise to metal... The power of metal may very well lie in its influence on its fans, although not in a negative way. Heavy metal teaches individuality, and not necessarily mindless conformity. It teaches individuals to think for themselves, question authority, and not obey robotically. Many metal bands are composed of intelligent, well-read, progressive-thinking, and incredibly talented individuals. It is through these musicians that many people have been inspired to educate themselves in politics, religion, literature, and many other subjects. Possibly most important is the influence of metal in the art of music itself: the inspiration to pick up an instrument, teach oneself how to play, and turn it up LOUD! Ends with Interview material.

References

Bower, C. (n.d.). Heavy metal timeline. Guide, 1-4. Retrieved from

Copley, J. (2008, May 8). Psychology of heavy metal music. . Retrieved from

Hahne, J. (2010, February 10). Melodic mayhem. Creative Loafing, 22(49). Retrieved from

Judd, C. M., & Park, B. (1993). Definition and assessment of accuracy in social stereotypes. Psychological Review, 100(1). Retrieved from

Koster, R. (2010, March 6). Words to headbang by. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Retrieved from

Metal Fans [Image]. (2008). Retrieved from

Metal Genres [Chart]. (2010). Retrieved from

Slipknot (Writers & Performers). (2004). Duality

Teitelman, B. (2005, April 2). Slipknot: Before I forget. Billboard, 117(14). Retrieved from

Trilling, D. (2007, July 30). Rocking the world. New Statesman, 136(4855). Retrieved from

-----------------------

Figure 1. Chart displaying the approximate number of bands in various metal subgenres

Figure 2. Perhaps your “typical” front row metal fans

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download