音乐的作用与功能

Summary-The Functions and Effects of Music

Music or recordings have been used for persuasive purposes: to sell beer and soap, ideas and political candidates; to bring about social change or to quell a revolution for a long time. Music is used not only to add persuasive bits of information for the messages in our heads about war. Persuasive music also plays an important role in peacetime.

Such political uses of music have never caused much controversy in this country. There has been some pressure at times to keep certain antiwar songs or songs associated with the radical left off the air, but this pressure has been neither strong nor persistent. Whatever the direct effects of musical recordings on our attitudes and behaviors, they are certainly an ever-present and important part of our communication environment, and they contribute to the realities in our heads.

Popular music has two other major functions or effects. It provides each generation of young people a common and cherished experience. Another major function popular music serve is the provision of a relatively harmless source of rebellion for the young. Popular music also serves a “rite of passage” function for young girls.