Write a 13 page essay on Music and Social Identity.Download file to see previous pages... It is a reflection of the different beliefs of the people and projects ideas and images which ultimately form

Write a 13 page essay on Music and Social Identity.

It is a reflection of the different beliefs of the people and projects ideas and images which ultimately form what is called the social identity by which people identify themselves amongst their peers.

Social identity means the characteristic attributes of a person that belong to a certain group. The process of social identification is one through which we express or relate to along with other people. Like for example taking Christians and Muslims groups we find that in each member of the Christian group they would be sharing basic commonalities while being different to the Muslim group. There are many types of social identities like ethnic, religious, political, personal and stigmatized etc.

Shepherd, Horn, and Laing (2003) discuss that music has been a part of every society. It is present in each and every culture around the globe although the form varies from region to region and changes with time. As it can be traced back for as far as we can go hence the scientists are of view that it has existed for around 50,000 years. The roots of music sprung somewhere in Africa. From there onwards it has always been a very important inherent part of the human beings as it exists even today and has progressed a lot. How music cultivates depends upon a specific culture of a region, the social aspects the economic background and the technological advancements. The type and form that the music evolves into is dependent on the response from the people of that region, their beliefs and preferences. Climate too alters the very expression of music. One of the oldest song was written in cuneiform some 4,000 years ago. The prehistoric origins of music can also be traced from the Hindu scriptures. Persian King Jamshid is known to have created music and in history of Iran music can be traced to the Elamite Empire in 2,500-644 B.C).

Social Identity and Music

Korsyn (2004) discusses that the music provides us with the stimulus which directly affects us in associating an event place or something or even it brings to us memories of certain events and places. In this manner it bonds us with our thoughts and perceptions very strongly and is capable of evoking within us the same sort of feelings time and again. To all the different kinds of music a person always looks to find something to which he she relates to and in this regard their forms a personal identity which could be grouped to form the social identity. Social identities are the group identities which are formed by regional and national origin. The music picks different characteristics of a race, like religion, customs, traditions, beliefs, values etc and thus helps with the attainment of social identities. Music is the inherent factor which defines the social identities by providing the knowledge of certain culture and the circumstances of a certain region in the world.

Music is also the cohesive bond that can even bring and unite nations in some common celebration. Further it translates the traditions and customs of a specific group of people to other people in this manner getting them to know of other cultures and traditions and forming appreciations and opinions about other cultures.