Assignment 1-3 Journal Analysis

Analysis of Heavy Metal Music:
A New Subculture in American Society


Whether you are “banging your head” with Quiet Riot, or banging your head because your child is listening to Quiet Riot there is no denying the subculture of Heavy Metal Music. The review of heavy metal music article is a comparison between parents trying to keep power and teens wanting their own power. The article is well written by giving a look at each side of the story, but seems to be sided with heavy metal music. It is geared toward anyone wanting to understand the phenomenon on the creation of the Heavy Metal Subculture.

The history of when heavy metal music began is somewhat convoluted with historians finally agreeing on the beginning being between 1967 and 1969 (Gross, 1990). The basic understanding of what constitutes and sets heavy metal music is the focus in the beginning. Heavy metal music is described as being similar to pop music but with “harder, louder and faster paced” (Gross, 1990). It is widely understood that instruments like guitars, drums, keyboards are usually the only instruments used to create this genre of music (Gross, 1990). The beginning is not as significant as why this music became a subculture

In trying to determine where this subculture came from it describes three viewpoints. The first being the average metal music follower as being male, young adult (teen) and of urban or suburban lower class with lower moral character, anti-social, power hungry, rebellious, low self-esteem (Gross, 1990). Or, the group that believe that it is a deception to the human eye; that we see that some emulate these characteristic, but it is more of teens wanting to fit somewhere, to belong to something other than mainstream society (Gross, 1990). Lastly, belief in heavy music’s acceptance and longevity is a marketing scheme to bring big profits to the industry (Gross, 1990). Again, the article doesn’t really sway you either way on this subject, but makes you think about our perceptions of heavy metal followers. Though perceptions may vary, it’s the lyrics and symbols that really caused society to be concerned with our teen’s morals and values.

The real controversy in the article comes down to the lyrics and symbols used in the music. The lyrics express thoughts of power, suicide, sex, drugs, Satan and sacrifices; while the symbols are religious or occult based (Gross, 1990). This part of the subculture is what gained attention for the Federal Communications Commission, Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), fundamentalist preachers and concerned parents (Gross, 1990). Are heavy metal lyrics creating a digression of morals in our culture or just entertainment? Who really knows the answer to that, but when most followers were asked they didn’t even comprehend the meaning of the symbols (Gross, 1990). They only recognized it as a representation of their favorite band (Gross, 1990). As for the lyrics were not something they desired to do, but a show of rebellion (you don’t like it, so I’m going to listen to it) (Gross, 1990). The article further states there no proof that heavy metal music lyric will cause the teens to emulate what they hear (Gross, 1990). The restrictions were put in place by government to prevent explicit material from the airways, but it didn’t stop the music industry once they realized there were profits to be made.

When the music industry realized the potential profits they accepted heavy metal music. From this acceptance spawned radio shows then became whole radio stations, TV segments to a whole TV show, and magazine articles to whole magazines, playing in smoky bars to headlining at huge concert (Gross, 1990). The push to be recognized as a true art is what caused the economy to grab hold and find a way to make money. It seems to me the desire to make money is what drives our society’s acceptance of things. We buck it, they slowly embrace it, radios play, TV shows, magazine articles, then whole magazines. As the business industry steps up to the window to cash their big check they have just pushed the society into changing.

In short the article displays that heavy metal music was not an art that was embraced with open arms. Actually, many never considered it an art at all. Mainstream tried to resist heavy metal music into the culture. The rebellion of teenagers was the reason the music gained momentum and the need to be different from what society was dictating as normal. They were looking for someone to understand them, to rebel with them. It wasn’t until the music industry could see dollar signs that it was accepted by mainstream. Does heavy metal music corrupt our teens or allow them to express their individuality? It doesn’t seem that the music is what they identified with more than the belonging to a group that made them feel understood and accepted.



Reference

Gross, R. L. (1990). Heavy Metal Music: A New Subculture in American Society. Journal of Popular Culture, 24(1), 119-130. DOI: 10.1111/j.0022-3840.1990.11984163.x