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The sociology of music studies how music and people influence each other, including how society’s values and circumstances are reflected in popular music. It examines why certain cultural groups identify with specific genres and how music is used for various purposes. Sociologists believe that music is a common medium of communication and can affect mental and emotional states. The field debates whether music has intrinsic meaning or needs listeners to attach meaning to it. Qualifications for a career in sociology include in-depth research skills and seeking answers beyond surface appearances.
The sociology of music is the study of how both people and music influence each other. It includes a number of ideas on how the changing values and circumstances of society can be reflected in the popular music of a given culture or subculture. These sociological studies often examine how and why certain cultural groups strongly identify with a specific genre of music. Studying the field of sociology often involves tracing the causes of common human behavior, and the sociology of music is one such area of specialization. Scholars who focus on this area try to find precise answers as to why people have positive reactions to music and why they continue to listen to their favorite types.
Qualifications for a career in sociology include the ability to research different topics in depth and to seek answers beyond the obvious surface appearances. Studying the sociology of music usually involves studying the established institutions that use music for specific purposes. Religious organizations often use music as part of their worship practices. National governments sometimes use music to arouse feelings of patriotism in citizens. Scholars investigating these various uses of music often try to locate a common thread in music that allows it to capture the interest of listeners for these various purposes.
Studying the sociology of music may be a requirement for a sociology degree with an emphasis on cultural studies. A common belief among sociologists is that people who favor a certain type of music cannot be examined in isolation from the society in which they live. Society’s values, beliefs, and practices all have an influence on whether its inhabitants place a high degree of value on one type of music over another. Despite differing cultural values, many sociologists agree that music serves as a common medium of communication at some level. Music also has a definite place in entertainment across different cultures.
The sociology of music can also highlight the effects that certain sound patterns have on the mental and emotional states of people from different cultural backgrounds. Sociologists who are able to draw conclusions from these case studies usually have a working knowledge of how rhythms, melodies and harmonies are organized. They can also research how certain pieces of music take on their meanings. A frequent debate in the field is whether music has intrinsic meaning or needs captive listeners to attach that meaning to it.
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