Conformity In Music

Quick Write

1.  Hip-Hop is one of my favorite genres of music and I do understand why it would be seen as conformist. I believe that in order for people to conform to something it must impact them personally, with music its something almost about everyone listens to. Music is something that we not only listen to but its something we can relate to, especially Hip-Hop and Rap, those are genres that usually talk about things that aren't always appropriate. A lot of music holds subliminal messages just like a lot of other things, in a way most do preach on how to live and maintain a certain type of lifestyle. When it comes to non-conformity Hip-Hop is also seen as a big act and movement of disobedience. People have said that Hip-Hop and Rap incite violence and juvenile behavior amongst young adults, which in retrospective to some it helps us identify ourselves and allows us to find our independent voice. It all comes down to the person who's ears are listening and their mindset because we can all listen to the same thing or see the same things but yet we can all interpret it in different ways.
2.  I can not say that for me there is an absolute favorite type of music because I love a variety of genres. Everything from Pop to Rap, and Rock to House/Dubstep and in between. Genres don't matter to me, lyrics and beats are what's important. I listen to music depending on my mood, I'm not sure that I have a conformist side when it comes to music. Some people only like a certain type of music because they feel that's what is expected of them by others but that does not bother me. People always assume that just because I am a Black female or a Black person in general that I'm expected to like only Hip-Hop, RnB, and Rap. That is ignorance and would be conformist if I didn't listen to what I like but what others expected me too. Music speaks to me as an individual because like I said, we all interpret it In different ways.

     According to Pink Floyds "We Don't Need No Education (Part 2)" The function of schools is to produce obedient children, school is compared to a factory. The meaning of the students being deformed and their faces being indistinguishable is a sign that they all are the same and have no individuality. "Another Brick in the Wall" means they are all the same, Bricks are all made up of the same components and look just alike, there is no way to distinguish one brick from another. The over all message is that education is not needed because the school system is not designed to help children find their individual talents and teachers are not there to help nurture it but to help destroy any sense of individuality that we have. Which is not what is needed or wanted, hence the chorus "we don't need no education...Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!".  It is Ironic that the kids were singing "your just another brick in the wall" and they all looked alike, bland facial expressions and all the same uniforms.

 

•  "Man I promise, I’m so self conscious, That’s why you always see me with at least one of my watches"  
• "Then I spent 400 bucks on this
  Just to be like ***** you ain’t up on this! and I can’t even go to the grocery store
  Without some ones that’s clean and a shirt with a team"
• "I went to Jacob with 25 thou
  Before I had a house and I’d do it again
  Cause I wanna be on 106 and Park pushing a Benz
  I wanna act ballerific like it’s all terrific
  I got a couple past due bills, I won’t get specific
  I got a problem with spending before I get it
  We all self conscious I’m just the first to admit it"

By telling us how important expensive apparel is to him and those watching him, Kanye points out his own conformist thoughts that those are things artist in the music industry are supposed to have and flaunt in order to get recognition. He identifies the White man as his source of insecurities and as all Black peoples source of insecurities which generates his love of materialistic positions. Rita Mae Brown wrote: "The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself", Kanye says "It seems we living the American dream But the people highest up got the lowest self esteem" "Things we buy to cover up what’s inside cause they make us hate ourself and love they wealth" which shows that he agrees that when you conform everyone else may like you but you wont like yourself.  Conspicuous consumption is similar to conformity because it is defined as the use of  wealth and material positions to publicly display economic power.