When Bloom writes, "It is their passion; nothing else excites them as it does; they cannot take seriously anything alien to music", about young people I think he is wrong. It is a very bold statement to say that nothing else will excite them but music. There are many things in a teenager’s life that may excite them and that they may take seriously besides music, for example getting their drivers license, money to go shopping, prom, graduation and school are just a few. I think that he is over generalizing in this statement. I do not think that this pertains to all teenagers or young people, maybe some or even most, but not all. As a teenager I was not that passionate about music. I like it but I was not passionate by any means. Sure I listened to it, I had favorite songs, bands I liked, even a crush or two, but I was not consumed by it. I had many other hobbies that also kept my interest. As a teenager I was very interested in photography and making jewelry. I spent many hours on theses two hobbies. I probably listened to music while making the jewelry or organizing my photos but I was much more interested in them than the music I was listening too.
However, this statement would have fit my older sister very well. She loves and still does love music. She would spend hours listening to music and trying to learn how to play different instruments. She also would write her own songs and record them. She did not take any thing as serious as her music. She can play many different instruments and now is striving to work in the music industry. She is now and was then consumed with music.
In my opinion I think that if Bloom had made this statement about teenagers and the opposite sex I would have agreed much more with him but it still would be over generalizing. I think that if anything is their passion and excites them it would be the opposite sex. I know when I was in high school everything we did and did not do was because of the boys. If there was a dance we went to see the boys or we would not go to avoid the boys. It was never ending. I don’t know if it was that way for everyone but it sure seemed like it. I have a younger sister and it was the same thing for her and her friends. All they talked about was the boys and when the boys came over all they talked about were the girls. Even my husband agrees that all the teenage boys think about is the girls.
I think that when ever someone makes a blanket statement about a group of people it is over generalizing because all people are different. So what one person likes another person may dislike. So to say that all young people have a passion for music would be incorrect.
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Although I don't think that Bloom was wrong or right I think you have a good point when you said he was being very bold. He did not say all young people are like that he just said young people. The way it was worded did make it seem like he was say that all young people are like that . To me it just sounded like another stereotype. There is some truth to what he said but I don't think it applies to all young people. I also think that young people are into a lot of things depending on them and there environment . I enjoyed reading your blog and found it your views interesting,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assessment of Mr. Bloom’s statements as being incomprehensive of all young people and that there are many things young people are passionate about besides music. There are many things young people are passionate about apart from music, but my question I am asking myself is this: are we able to be passionate about these things apart from any relation to modern music? Or is it so integrated into our lives that we are unable to divorce our thoughts and emotions from the music that serves as the soundtrack of our lives?
ReplyDeleteIf you have ever watched a movie without any music, you will know that, of all the elements in the film, the music does the greatest part in swaying the audience’s emotions to what the filmmaker is wanting them to feel. Is our music doing the same thing to our minds? Has our intellect been so unused in matters of experiencing art that our music addicted hearts are telling us what to think instead of our minds telling us what to feel? These thoughts have been in my head for a while, but reading your blog has spurred additional thoughts on the subject that weren’t present before.
I do not think that Bloom was right or wrong but your post brought up some good arguments about his article being very bold. It is true that in a teen’s life, there is a lot more than just music that excites them. But on the other hand, there are those few teens that do just enjoy music and nothing else. I to enjoy music, but it does not control my life by any means. Much like you said that you listened to music while making your jewelry and while organizing photos, I ride horses and whenever I ride I listen to music just to pass time but really im more interested in the horse than the music. I agree when you said that if Bloom talked about teens and the opposite sex, it would be way too much. Boys are obsessed with girls and girls with boys. This is probably not the only thing that excites them, but it does make them excited. I believe also that when a person makes a statement like this it is over generalizing because most people around the world are different. Something one person may like, but to another person, it may be boring or not appealing to them!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the only thing on a teenagers mind is the opposite sex. I have too young men and if my home phone isn’t ringing off the hook, their cell phones are, with some young lady on the other line…
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the statement that all young people have a passion for music is an incomplete statement. Music in my opinion has always been timeless, young, old, or middle aged, the passion for music comes to whoever embraces it. I believe it is too complicated to figure out what youngsters are actually passionate about because their passions change so often. One minute there into music, the next its boys or girls, and then fashion. I would agree that making a generalization of a group of people is asking a bit too much. Music can mean so much to people in many different ways. I believe to try to rationalize its meaning to a group or individual is absurd. I don’t know if Bloom did a study and if he did, how many people were involved in it, but the people that he may have interviewed definitely can’t speak for all youth. Instead of Bloom trying to figure out who loves music and what the young people get out of it, I think he should allow the listener to enjoy it to their fullest understanding.
Thank you for your blog. You really got me thinking about some things I hadn't before on this subject.
ReplyDeleteI regards to some people just not being that "in to" music, that has always been me. Music was fun and something to listen to but I had sports like gymnastics and volleyball that I was more "in to". I can relate to the small crushes, too (i.e. Shawn Cassidy - I bet not many in this class would know who he is!).
I did have a friend in high school, however, who was obsessed with Michael Jackson! Her whole room, in fact was lined with posters of him and COKE cans, just because he endorsed Coca Cola! Crazy! And, true to form, when M.J. passed away, she paid a small tribute to him on her facebook - just a small one, though; she's not as obsessed as she used to be!
But that's just the way human nature works..."to each their own", right? We all have different likes and dislikes, passions, etc., and no matter how alike any two people may seem, there are always going to be differences. That's why I disagreed, as well, with Bloom saying youth, as a whole, is only passionate about music. It's just not true.
You are absolutely right on the subject of young girls and boys being obsessed with the opposite sex! What a strong argument! I wonder which of these two passions kids are obsessed with more?
Great job! Thanks again for your insights!