Individual Post - Current Events - Amy Whitler

People connect with others through social media, journals, art, and so on. One way people connect is through music. Man has always made music in some way through rhythms, beats, chords, and lyrics. Music can express emotion, teach history, comment on social issues. For example, currently there are many songs about the “black lives matter” movement. Artists can use music to express themselves as well as their opinions or experiences. It gives people a voice. Music can express individuality as well as a whole generation. A lot of music has been written about war, for example. Generally, people enjoy listening to music for entertainment but it can also be used to help express what they are going through. Overall, it helps people feel less alone.

Most people listen to music because it relaxes them but others might listen to the lyrics and really focus on what that artist was trying to point out. For example, the song “Roar” by Katy Perry was written to demonstrate how she was pushed around but then realized she shouldn’t allow that and made herself and her opinions be heard. This encourages others to feel the same way, strong and in control. She uses sound devices that help get her point across like “roar, louder, louder than a lion”(metaphor). The tone is sad in the beginning but then it turns inspiring and powerful. This song has become popular and kids that might be going through the same thing might listen to this song and feel less isolated knowing that someone else has had the same experience.

Music revolutionized human connection because it has become so popular and most everyone listens to music. Music has always been around but when technology was invented like the radio, it brought people together where it became a shared experience. Throughout time, music became more popular and more ways to share music was created. In some restaurants, people are allowed to sing their songs or any song that is important to them. This allows regular people that aren't in the music industry to communicate with others through music. Just like the blog written by Camille Dungy, others were able to put the poems to use.