The Influence of Music to the Influence on Books

Posted: November 26th, 2013

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The Influence of Music to the Influence on Books

            From ancient times, the influence of music on the society has been notably huge to the extent that each culture within the globe possesses a type of music that has a huge appeal. Musical genres have largely evolved from the diverse human preferences evidenced in the world. Music primarily projects its influence on the individuals through the message content and/or the psychological responses that the symphony creates within the body. Scholars have defined music as the corporeal manifestation of sentiments articulated as sound with the ability to influence mood, behavior and thoughts. The human body largely comprises of both regular and irregular beats noted in processes like inhalation, walking and the pulse rate. With music also being a product of melodic beats, it bears the ability to influence body mechanisms. The brain’s left hemisphere monitors feelings and regulates the varying moods that one may experience with music switches. A sad individual may therefore change their moods by listening to uplifting music that will increase the level of physical activity as well as the feelings.

On the other hand, publications, whether fictional or factual references impart a level of emotional influence on the reader, but less pronounced than the musical level. Inspirational books tend to be motivational as they influence one’s emotions to an optimistic point. This may be accompanied by a feeling of greatness and warmth that serve as the impetus towards recovery. Horrific narratives tend to have an inverse effect that triggers fear and anxiety to an extent that may affect sleeping patterns in young children through nightmares or a heightened dread for darkness. The cognitive influence of books is less pronounced than music and therefore highly limited to emotional triggers than in music. Slow music has a soothing influence on an individual in distress. The classical genre, especially with baroque influences, has been proved to have a therapeutic ability as it decreases the rate of a heartbeat and consequently leads to relaxation. This is why music is largely used in medical facilities as it reduces anxiety by effecting a stable pulse rate and normalcy in breathing.

Hypnosis has also been attained through the subjection of an individual to a lazy tone that has to be replicated within a given period. Snake charmers primarily use the hypnotic element to control the reptiles while parents apply the same principle in the use of lullabies for young children. Books are not used as therapeutic tools due to their lack of instant connection to the human emotions but are rather used as storage equipment for information and data. This is the most notable influence that books have on individuals, especially on the intellectual capacity as noted by the various academic disciplines present in the world. The society and politics have been highly influenced by the words and philosophies of intellectual individuals towards spurring a group to a given direction. This is an added advantage over music as it is hard to document intellectual information in a song. Research materials and facts are also stored in books due to the weighty information that they carry.

Music also bears an intellectual influential aspect in the level of brain activity. Tunes having sixty beats in very minute tend to have a constructive effect on the brain by enhancing the retention ability on the left section of the brain. Consequently, this enhances memory by improving the retention capability. Having background music while learning or studying proves to be quite relevant. Researchers have noted that listening to classical music before a class period or an examination has led to high scores due to the renewed retention ability created in the brain. Additionally, music influences individual’s viewpoints and behavior through the message relayed in the symphony. The bulk of current music advocates for the use of drugs, clubbing and sexual experiences that has had an adverse effect on the teenagers. With music writers and singers being held as icons for the young generation, it has led to the increased use of substance abuse, teenage pregnancies and abortions on a global scale.

Rap and rock music has a negative influence on most of its listeners by prompting violent tendencies that are associated with the tenacity of the beats and the ability to increase testosterone levels in the blood. The beats tend to be rather discordant influencing an individual towards aggressive behavior. Jazz music has been known to increase sexual drive in individuals, being a consequence of the saxophone. Pop and classical music on the other hand are the highest inhibitors to sexual drive. Therefore, individuals who often treat themselves to jazz pieces tend to have sex thirty-four more times when compared to the other two music genres. Books with visual elements that tend to enhance the cognitive capability in readers have the ability to rouse emotions. Pornographic literature is highly visual as opposed to written information and this instantly affects an individual’s emotions as well as the behavior and choices. Magazine articles having pictures tend to be more appealing to readers due to the curiosity element piqued by the photo leading to a consequent desire to read and acquire more information.

The visual aspect in books should be highly used to create enhanced influence. Music is an influential tool in the entertainment industry. Dancing is both an enjoyable experience and a platform of expression to an individual as well as to an observer. Books are also entertaining tools to readers especially in the discovery of information or the publication of nonfiction narratives. In conclusion, music has a higher influence on individuals due to its ability to relate to the human emotions and the brain whereas books tend to be slower in the instigation of such effects, a notable inhibitor. Us of visual elements in books however enhance human feelings through the emotional aspect and should be a recommended element for the creation of higher influences. Note that, both constructive and adverse effects emanate from both mediums and only the interacting individual bears the ability to choose what type of influence will be achieved.

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