Journal #4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Journal #4 - Essay Example The functions enumerated by the author are: creating an identity, organization of time and management of feelings (Frith). Based such sociological approach, Frith concludes that value and preferences of pop music both derive from social identities and contribute their development. This gives reasons to consider popular music and the notion of its aesthetic tightly connected with social environment it evolves in. 2. Unlike the previous article, this article â€Å"Music and Morality† written by Roger Scruton, a professor of moral philosophy, raises awareness of non-critical nature of our modern culture in terms of music, relying on Plato’s perspective of music and society (the property of music to evoke and foster both moral virtues and moral vices instead of being neutral). Keeping in mind moral effect music can produce, Scruton stresses musical, i.e. rhythmic and instrumental aspect of music, distancing himself from vocal and lyrics. The key concern of the article is drawn through description of previous ‘sociable’ patterns of dancing to the music with others and the modern way of dancing at others imposed by the contemporary nature of beat and rhythm pulsations created in music. Submitting to the rhythms completely deprives one of critical evaluation of moral properties held by music, while listening to the music critically is stated to enable identifying moral i mplications of musical pieces. 3. Venise Berry in the article â€Å"Redeeming Rap Music Experience† explains the peculiar nature of rap music, viewing it from the perspective of urban experience of the black community and realia it comes across. Asserting rap to be the original means of cultural communication and proclamation of racial identity for black people in American society and drawing the line between assimilated pop-crossover rap and ‘raw’ cultural