Do you take the time to hear what you are listening to? I mean really hear the words, letting them resonate with you for clarity, precise meaning and effect. As adults I think there are a lot of times that we miss the messages hidden in the music and it is not until we listen again and again that we actually hear what the writer is saying. Oftentimes I don't truly hear my music until my kids get in the car. What was once a simple lyric becomes a censored message that I would like to have stricken from the transcript. Usually, it's too late, because kids catch it the first time, noted by the giggles that follow their discovery of what just was said.
The same goes for movies. Often we take no note of what is being played out before us until the "unintended" eyes and ears walk in the room. Yet whisking them out only sets up a desire to hear the "forbidden" at a later time.
Over the weekend, I found myself watching clips on You Tube of "The Mack" and "Truck Turner". Truck Turner starred Isaac Hayes and has long held a memory in my mind because I remember seeing it at the drive in as a kid. There is a particular scene that still plays out in my mind some thirty odd years later, that made me never forget that movie. So, I'm watching the clips and hearing the language and checking the themes and I can't believe my parents (more my Daddy's choice if memory serves me correct) allowed me to see this movie. It was obviously not meant for youthful audiences.
That got me to thinking about all the other stuff that seeps in and how it shapes your thinking and causes to you acquiesce to certain mindsets. It makes sense now why some adults take no thought to cuss in front of their kids, some even cuss them out on the regular. I also marvel at the sight of an adult rolling down their car window and throwing out a wad of trash into the middle of the street as if there was an awaiting trash can. I guess they didn't see the "Litter" campaign that I watche numerous times as a kid with the Indian crying at the site of the land being trashed.
You hear people say, "what has gotten into folk for them to act the way they do?" Well, I'll tell you. It's the music, tell-a-vision, and the movies that we watch that has shaped our processes. If it is not offset by something positive then all you get is bad results. If you don't believe me, test it for yourself.
Romans 10:17 (sorry Sojourner, I couldn't resist your trademark)
10 comments:
;-)
You are so on point. As the Mother of 4 children all under the age of 11, I am so aware and sensitive to music, moives and TV. Years ago when I was teaching televison and film production I used to tell my students...who were mainly adults that they needed to be media literate, that it is not enough to just enjoy music, televison, films but you had to be discriminating and careful. Good for you that you are taking this on and becoming very aware not just for you own sake but for young impressionable minds. Sorry for the long rant...I too feel strongly about this.
Bruh,I feel you!
Saw a cat the other day rollin down the highway with two children in the back seat with no seat belts on and to add insult to injury, he was smoking a cigarette with all the windows rolled up. I'm like "Dang" the kids don smoke, can they get some air? That's what kills me.
Drop in and Holler sometimes Bruh!
@lovebabz -- it's so interesting to find out the backgrounds of other blogger's. That little added info makes me want to run over and check you out. Here I come.
@tony oh -- Man I'm going to have to update my links, because I have all these people I intend to get to but can never find their links.
Coming to see you too.
People would be surprised by what their children absorb just by being around suspicious characters, offensive music and violent television shows. As a mother and a teacher, I can honestly say that what we hear in our day to day lives shapes who we are.
The first lesson I learned in a junior high school computer literacy class was "GIGO": Garbage In = Garbage Out. Fitting, huh? Nice post, Rich.
So true Rich...that's why i communicate with my young man on the daily...trying to steer him right.
So true. Thats why i dont curse in fron of my children and try not to at all. i loved both flicks i must admit
Yep.
I understand exactly where you're coming from. I can be around a certain person or group of people and some things have no effect on me. Then, I can be around another person or another group...and I start to feel uncomfortable. Either because of something I am doing or something that is being done by someone else.
Like you said, if things are not balanced then it tends to manifest itself in a seriously detrimental way. And corrupted adults should use that as even more reason to show concerns for the youth.
So on point with this one...
When my son was 2 y/o, TLC's "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" was my party song even though my ears weren't fast enough to hear the lyrics. It would be on the car radio every morning as I took my son to daycare and we'd be bumpin' in the car.
Then one day, before I turned the radio on, my son started bouncing in his car seat singing:
2 inches or a yard, rock hard or if its saggin'
WTH?! That's how I finally learned the lyric to that song and needless to say, from that day forward riding in the car became "story time" and we alternated making up the next part of a story every day.
Out of the mouths of babes ;-)
Post a Comment