"On Silence" by Aldous Huxley: Sound of Silence

Essay by eurobenz867College, UndergraduateA-, February 2007

download word file, 3 pages 1.0

What is music? I don't know I think it's something that we listen to relax our minds from the harsh realities and troubles which we find in our day-to-day time. When I read the quote from by Huxley, I totally agree with his thoughts on music. Music is just a temporary solution to your problem. By forgetting your problem, it makes it even worse. Therefore, I agree with his point. We live in twenty first century a world that is so busy and fast. Music Industry plays a great role in people's lives. The question is does music has positive effect or negative effect on us? After reading "On Silence", I would say negative effect. Now I realized that music is something that people use to forget their bad times, music is a just temporary solution to people's problems. Aldous Huxley states three main points on music. He says that the music is a business, which is growing big by fooling people; some music has very bad lyrics, which is inappropriate for many people and finally kids act in wrong way by listening to wrong music.

First, Aldous Huxley says that music is selling the wrong image to the audience. I agree with him. Today we are attacked by music commercial or promotion advertised on radio. By selling music to these "hungry" kids, the artist makes money. Why are we buying a false truth? Today's music has nothing but curse words. I mean we do have jazz, soul music, country ECT. But, the biggest music sales are pop or hip-hop music. Hip-Hop music consists of only curse words, and an encouragement of "gangster act" or violence. Is that good? Today, many kids try to adapt or act like their favorite artist whom they see on television. These artists are not only selling their music but they also sell their own brand named clothes and other accessories.

Second, everything is about making money. No matter how bad the influence is on the society, the artist does not care. I saw the other day on new s that 15 year old boy shot his friend. When he was asked by police, that why he shot his friend he answered," I was trying to act like the people like in the videos." This reflects a very bad situation. Today's audience is so into music they have forgotten their values and tradition. What would a 5 year old kid see when a half naked Britney Spears is promoting her new music video or a Pepsi commercial. Today's artists are selling sex, violence along with their troublesome music.

Finally, I would like to say that listening to violent music is not worth it, even thought it gives you pleasure for certain period. Aldous Huxley says that music brings drama in our society. Listeners react in wrong way. They develop a thinking of crime overall effect is a total chaos in the society. People should realize how bad these kinds of music are. Life is better without this music or lyrics. There is lot to come in our lives. Why we should engage our lives into something, which is fooling our souls and mind.

Lastly, by agreeing with author and supporting his thoughts and ideas I think music is just a sound. By stating three main points on music. He says that the music is a business, which is growing big by fooling people some music has very bad lyrics, which is inappropriate for many people and finally kids act in wrong way by listening to wrong music. Therefore, author says in his quote that music is just a temporary solution to your problem. By forgetting your problem and not thinking about them makes, it makes even worst. I think music has no value it's just some fake drama created.