Impact of Violent Music Videos on Society

The assignment delves into the influence of violent music videos on people's behavior, exploring how such content can lead to a negative impact on social identity, emotions, and aggression levels among adolescents. The analysis focuses on popular music videos with catchy lyrics and degrading portrayals of men and women as objects, highlighting the need for a shift in demand towards more positive and uplifting content.

Communication
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Research Question 3
Literature Review 3
Data Analysis 4
Conclusion 8

Impact of Violent Music Videos on Human Behaviour
Introduction
According to a UNESCO study, media violence is a new frontier having a cathartic
effect. The people can get their natural aggression in a passive way and take it out on people.
Music is loved by majority of the people and violent lyrics or videos can increase aggression
related thoughts. From infancy to adulthood, music is a part of everyone’s lives. Some music
videos communicate harmful messages unintentionally by reaching a vulnerable audience. Music
has effect on people, from low chords to high chords, or a soothing video to violent one. The
music lyrics and video have undergone dramatic changes (Pieschl & Fegers, 2016).
Research Question
How do violent music videos aggravate aggressive thoughts and feelings?
Literature Review
Rap music with Misogynistic Themes
Rap music has violent references to women. The rappers have realized that sex and
violence sells and they are making money from it. The songs depict murder of women, sexual
assault, domestic violence and other sensitive areas.
Negative Influence of Provoking Music Videos
According to a study conducted by Dr. Warburton, violent music and media affects the
minds of young people. The psychologist states that media influences children’s lives. The 2003
Media and young offenders World Youth Report states that violence is a courageous method of

bringing justice. With the rise in hip-hop, rap, and heavy metal music, there have been increased
levels of crime rates. The lyrics or music videos that glorify aggression, violent sexual acts,
murder and anti-social themes are disturbing the emotions and though-process of the viewers
(Splarn, 2012).
Further, the researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human
Services conducted a study to examine the impact of seven violent and eight nonviolent songs.
The students participated in the study were given psychological tasks to measure aggressive
feelings. The results from this experiment showed that the participants had increased aggressive
thoughts and feelings. There was an instigating response showing aggressive tint (Pieschl &
Fegers, 2016).
Data Analysis
Semiotics is a valuable tool for understanding the meaning in people’s lives. It helps in
understanding the variety of codes and messages being sent. The following songs are analysed
by applying semiotics and understand the messages being sent through it (Murray, 2016).
The song “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna depicts an abusive
relationship with scenes of domestic violence. The clip highlights the dangers of an abusive
relationship. The song topped the US Charts which portrays the increasing popularity of music
videos with violence.

Figure 1: Screenshot from “Love the Way you Lie”
Source: (YouTube, 2018)
According to Pierce’s Trichotomy, there are different kind of signs- icons, symbols and
indexes. The signs are usually determined by the objects. The icon is the screenshot of the song
that portrays relation between a couple (Murray, 2016). In the above figure, fire and smoke are
the indexes. The symbol indicates is the expression on both of their faces. In the above figure, it
is evident that the boy is physically violent with the girl. The message portrayed from the song
video is that the man is physically abusive with the woman and is throwing her out of the house.
There is pain on the girl’s face and anger of the man’s face that is symbolic of the girl being a
victim in the relationship.

The next figure is a picture of Taylor Swift from the song Blank Space. In the music
video directed by Joseph Kahn, it is portrayed that Taylor Swift experiences multiple emotions
like screaming, crying and stabbing.
Figure 2: Screenshot from Blank Space
Source: (YouTube, 2018)
According to Paul Ekman’s theory and research on facial expression, there are emotions
that are evident on the faces like anger, surprise, sadness, pouting, disgust, determination and
others. The research states that there are 43 muscles in the human face showing emotions. In the
above figure, it can be analysed that Taylor Swift seems disgusted and full of vengeance. The
knife in her hand and facial expression indicates her disgust where she angrily wants to chop off
the heart-shaped cake and ruin its beauty. It is also portrayed that she can become a problem if
the guy breaks up with her.
A popular American song by Pink is Please Don’t Leave Me released in 2009. The song
shows a love hate relationship where the boy has a bad effect on the girl but she is unable to let

go of the person. The video has a violent and disturbing imagery because of which a censored
version was released.
Figure 3: Screenshot from Please Don’t Leave Me
Source: (YouTube, 2018)
According to the Saussure theory of sign, there is a matched pair of signified and
signifier. The signifier is the sound image and signified is the concept to which the signifier
refers (Murray, 2016). In the figure above, Pink has tied up the boy while aiming at his kneecaps.
Pink is dressed as a nurse that signifies that she will cure him while stitching his wounds.
However, her nurse uniform is not signified. The signs in this imagery are used to lie as she
dances suggestively for him and smashes his kneecaps with the golf club. This imagery also puts

light on the general notion of women being victimized by physical abuse. In this music video, the
man undergoes the pain. There is a controversy as the music video might be promoting gender-
based violence and sexual assault.
From the above analyses, it might be noted that these music videos are highly popular.
These music videos have millions of views that indicate its popularity and preference. The
common factor among these videos is physical violence and sexual assault. These are results of
jealousy, personal issues and vengeance. It is assessed that these videos might be causing
troubles and aggravating people’s emotions leading to aggression. These music videos have a
negative influence on a person’s social identity. There is a massive shift in demand for these
violent music videos where the artists are pushed to create music about vengeance, betrayal,
love-hate relationship, and violence. The media mostly portrays betrayal and jealousy as
unacceptable behaviour that leads in physical violence between couples.
Moreover, these music videos have catchy lyrics such as “You're my perfect little
punching bag", “I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream”. Violence must not be entertained as
a form of entertainment. Music has the power to stir rage, cloud reason, cause pain. Media
portrays drugs, sex and violence in the songs for gaining more popularity, especially among the
youth. Degrading music videos that portray men and women as objects is leading to a negative
influence on the feelings and behaviour of people (Franiuk, Coleman, & Apa, 2017).
Conclusion
The artistic freedom and concerns about censorship has lead to a dramatic rise in violent
music videos. With the rise of internet, music videos are widely available to the adolescents. The
research has indicated bad effects of violent music videos on the people’s behaviour. Their

emotions and aggression level are of paramount concern. With popular music comes change in
behaviour as there is exposure to drugs, sexual messages, gender stereotypes and violence.
Listening to popular music is considered by society to be a part of growing up. Music videos can
provide a base for establishing relationships among people. Although the emotional response to
music depends on the way it is presented, it is also true that it is closely related to the age of the
listener and the experiences or preconceived ideas they bring to the music.

References
Franiuk, R., Coleman, J., & Apa, B. (2017). The influence of non-misogynous and mixed
portrayals of intimate partner violence in music on beliefs about intimate partner
violence. Violence against women, 23(2), 243-257.
Murray, L. (2016). Adapting Peircean semiotics to sound theory and practice. SoundEffects-An
Interdisciplinary Journal of Sound and Sound Experience, 5(1), 55-72.
Pieschl, S., & Fegers, S. (2016). Violent lyrics= aggressive listeners? Effects of song lyrics and
tempo on cognition, affect, and self-reported arousal. Journal of Media Psychology:
Theories, Methods, and Applications, 28(1), 32.
Splarn, H. (2012). Does violent music and media affect young peoples' minds? - Generation
Next. Generation Next. Retrieved 19 March 2018, from
https://www.generationnext.com.au/2012/09/does-too-much-violent-music-and-media-
muddle-a-kids-mind/
YouTube. (2018). Eminem - Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna. YouTube. Retrieved 19 March
2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U
YouTube. (2018). P!nk - Please Don't Leave Me (Main Version). YouTube. Retrieved 19 March
2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocCPDxKq1o
YouTube. (2018). Taylor Swift - Blank Space. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 19 March 2018, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg