Music is a way to express your self, an outlet for emotions and personal issues. It is also a place to force ideas and opinions on a mass of thousands. People can relate to it on many different levels. But who should be responsible for the actions it provokes? Should the artist or the parents? What can we as average citizens do?

Some say that music should be rated and in some cases banned. One such person would be Tipper Gore. Back in 1985 she was listening to her daughters Prince album Purple Rain. The album contained a song " Darling Nikki" about a woman who was "masturbating with a magazine." The song continued with a sexual tone. She felt this was not proper for her, or any other child to listen to. She and other concerned parents founded the PMRC - Parent Music Resource Center. They wanted a standard rati

This would also work for the anti-censorship side. Be a leader and support free expression. It is important not to restrict someone for his or her thoughts, as long as no harm comes from it. The only difference between the two would be the issues that go along with it.

Was this what happened at the Columbine High School? Did the two boys listen to something and it told them to go and shoot someone? Maybe not directly but in some ways music has affected everything around them. It was said that at the time Marilyn Manson was a major cause of the problems. The boys dressed like him and listened to his dark music. Such music has a hate base to it, often telling of revenge and killing. He says in one song how he will make everyone pay(Jipping). This has a parallel with what the two boys were feeling, always being picked on by the other students. So the two do have some connection. Not saying that if Manson hadn't wrote what he wrote then the killings wouldn't have happened. In fact the two boys didn't even like Manson's music. This still does not excuse Manson for writing these lyrics. In his words he asks the question of whose fault it is. " Throw a rock and you'll hit someone who's guilty, " he said in a response to the killings in Rolling Stone Magazine. He also states "We live in a free country, but with that freedom, there is a burden of personal responsibility."(Manson) Where is his responsibility when it comes to hate music?

Boston, Matt. Matthew Shepard International. 30 July 2000. http://homepages.go.com/~mattboston/index.html

We need to make people aware that while the music doesn't directly kill people, it does have an effect on every day life. As a graphic artist, I would start a media ad for helping people better understand the effects of music. It would be hard because while I am for free speech, I cannot side with Eminem's views. His music is based at a certain group with one message attached. Hate. So for this side I would design an ad for self-thinking. I would convey the message that, hey, he is just one guy with his view. Don't make it yours and think things for yourself. Be a leader not a follower. This kind of print, like in Billboard and other music/lifestyle magazines would give a reader something to think about, depending if they read it. Also included could be billboards and media such as radio and television. Even the use of celebrities may make a better impact.

DeCurtis, Anthony. "Eminem's Hate Rhymes." Rolling Stone

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Approximate Word count = 1668
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)