Semiotic Analysis: Music and Americans

How does music affect cultural development? Every culture in the world, from the boom-rhythmic African tribes to the ancient number crunching Pythagorean culture have all used music to define and preserve their culture. Music is the universal language that people use to communicate emotions and ideas, and for that reason it is a particularly adept place to begin analyzing culture. 

American culture is no different, and for that we should be thankful. The image that music has made in the minds of Americans is one that can not be scrubbed clean, or at least not easily. From the get go it was music that sounded the charge against the British, the blaring trumpet sound screaming for freedom and the end of injustice. As time went on so did music, but the underling freedom to live had sunk its roots deep in the minds of the people. All music screams out like a blaring trumpet while the drums take up cadence in the back ground. Liberation, peace, sovereignty: the true values of america. When you listen to country, you hear the intonations of patriots, the fight for freedom no matter the cost. Lost loves for the greater good, always fighting for a better life through all of the struggles. Then as you move on rock and all of its branches call for liberation. "American Idiot" by Green Day is calling out the educational establishments for leaving so many hopelessly ignorant of the world. Almost all music in the time of the Vietnam war was calling for peace and not blood; this music instigated more protest and eventually brought on the end of the war due to the lack of support. Everything is kept in song, and by doing so it is engraved deep in the minds of all those who can listen.

America is the nation of the blowing trumpet, America is the nation of freedom and prosperity. So long as its people are not def there will be a future for it. So keep making music America, keep listening.