Rock Music Lyrics—Moral and Ethical Aspects Research Paper

BACKGROUND

Can music lyrics incite people to harm themselves, commit suicide, or cause violence to others? Should pornographic lyrics be against the law? These are some of the issues at the center of the ongoing controversy over rap, rock, and heavy metal music lyrics.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

781.63–781.96

782.4216

784.54–784.55

302.23

323.445

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Heavy metal (Music)—History and criticism

Rap (Music)—History and criticism

Rap (Music)—Texts

Rock music—History and criticism

Rock music—Texts

Rock music—Themes, motives, Literary

Rock music—United States—History and criticism

Censorship

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

CQ Researcher, December 20, 1991.

Draper, James P., ed. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 76, 1993.

Facts on File

Macken, Bob. The Rock Music Source Book, 1980.

McCoy, Judy. Rap Music in the 1980s: A Reference Guide, 1992.

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe
Dialog

Internet

Prodigy

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Heavy metal music—moral and religious aspects

Rap music—moral and religious aspects

Rock music—moral and religious aspects

Lyrics—moral and ethical aspects

Police brutality in rap music

Race relations in rap music

Sound recordings—censorship

Phonograph records—labeling

Obscenity

VIDEOTAPE ON THIS TOPIC

Damned in the USA. Gabriel Films, 1992.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Block, Francesca Lia. Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, 1992.

Cooney, Caroline. Don’t Blame the Music, 1986.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

American Civil Liberties Union, 132 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036.

Parents Music Resource Center, 1500 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209.

Rock and Roll Society International Political Action Committee, P.O. Box 1949, New Haven, CT 06510.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Discuss the constitutionality of censoring music lyrics.

Evaluate the effect of rap (rock, etc.) music on behavior.

Investigate the effects of rap lyrics on black youth.

Report on a specific performer or group in terms of lyrics; e.g., 2 Live Crew, Ice-T, Sister Souljah.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Hate crimes

Lyrics of Beatles songs (or any other group)

Popular culture vs. traditional values

Rap music and black culture

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.