The Power of Music (page 3)

First, we will examine the idea that people choose music that goes along with their already established political ideals. It seems that each genre of music, whether it be rap, rock, country, or classical has a fairly homogenous fan base. In another words, the fans of a certain style of music tend to be similar in race, gender, socio-economic status, political views, and overall ideology. The politically charged music of the lower brow attracts a much different type of listener than the elite music of the higher brow. Even within the lowbrow, listeners seem to differentiate themselves from one another. Heavy metal rings true in the ears of middle-class, white, suburban kids, while lower-income black youths tend to gravitate towards hip-hop. This goes along with linguistic philosopher V. N. Volosinov's idea that the lower brow acts as an "arena of class struggle" (Walser, 244). It gives a group of people who otherwise would have no power, a chance to voice their opinions, and attempt to facilitate social or political change. Take for example, the revolutionary rap band Public Enemy, and their front man Chuck D who according to Rolling Stone Magazine, "Has given a voice to the sleeping giant of black consciousness" (Rolling Stone). Their fan base is made up almost entirely of teenage black males who share their desire for political change and racial equality. In 1991, the band released the video, By the time I get to Arizona, which protested song the state's refusal to recognize Martin Luther King's birthday as a national holiday. The video graphically depicted the assassination of Mr. King, and called immediate political change.

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