Mixing Music and Politics Essay -- Pop Music Politics

Many have thought the entertainment world should be separate from the world of politics. Some celebrities go on to be involved in politics, such as Ronald Reagan and Sonny Bono, but rarely does an entertainer command a large sphere of influence in the world of entertainment and politics simultaneously. While entertainers can move the masses, their voice is usually discarded among politicians. In addition to this, many have highlighted the negative influence of the entertainment industry, and particularly rock music, on American culture. Often, it is seen as a corrupting force that leads people astray. For many people, rock and roll seems to highlight all that is wrong with American popular culture. These critics fail to take note of the potential that rock stars have for positively affecting their world. Bono, of U2, is an example of an entertainer that breaks the rule. Since the early days of U2, Bono has believed in, and pushed for, political change. He has used his status as a pop culture icon to fight poverty and other issues that pose a threat to the stability and livelihood of many of the worlds' citizens. He has proven that rock stars can transcend the cultural baggage that is normally attached to them, and positively impact reality. Bono is an entertainer who has the ability to both move the masses and, at the same time, play an active and effective role in fostering positive humanitarian change. In recent years, the press has been filled with negative images of rock stars. Nearly every major news magazine has run articles that speak to the negative effects of pop music in regards to racism, violence, and sex. Pop musicians, such as Two Live Crew and Judas Priest have been placed on trial for explicit lyrics.... ...umph of Vulgarity: Rock Music in the Mirror of Romanticism. New York: Oxford, 1987. Pettifor, Ann. "Jubilee: Supporting Economic Justice Campaigns Worldwide." rev. 1 Dec. 2002. 2 Dec 2002 <www.Jubilee2000uk.org>. Rompalske, Dorothy. "Rock Star to the Rescue." Biography Oct 2002: 56-61. Academic Search Elite. Palni SiteSearch. Goshen College Good Library. 26 November 2002. Waddel, Ray. "Uw on Career High with Elevation Tour." Billboard 23 Jun 2001: 97. Wicke, Peter. Rock Music: Culture, Aesthetics and Sociology. New York: Cambridge, 1990. Wroe, Martin. "U2.com" Rev. 21 Nov. 2002. 23 Nov. 2002 <WWW.U2.com>. Wurtzel, E. "Me2." The New Yorker 17 Feb 1992: 75. "U2." The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Ed. Stanley Sadie. New York: Grove, 2001. "U2's Spiritual Journey Defies Categorization." Christian Century 13 Feb 2002: 12-18.