Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals

 
86 
January 1, 2020 
75.
 
Music 
Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and 
ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? 
Music has always been a key distinguisher of culture but many believe that it can also 
bridge cultural gaps and differences in age. Though I think some people overstate the 
impact of music leveling the differences between generations, I strongly believe that it 
brings people of different cultures together by expressing universal sentiments. 
The main reason that I believe music is not a particularly good unifier in terms of 
generational disparity is that people tend to enjoy the music from their formative years and 
disdain whatever is currently relevant. Though there are of course exceptions, most people 
would recognise the mostly accurate stereotype of an old person complaining about the 
music that youths listen to nowadays. For example, in America some of the most popular 
artists today include Kanye West, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna. These artists differ greatly 
from past musicians. Kanye is a brash rapper with controversial opinions whose music 
constantly shifts and redefines genre. Taylor Swift and Rihanna write sugary pop songs 
that become ubiquitous in cafes and on the radio. Older people prefer what they used to 
listen to, whether that be intricate melodies and insightful writing of The Beatles or the raw 
sincerity of old school rap. The differences between the generations are reflected and 
augmented rather than mediated due to the different personalities and styles of modern 
music. 
Although music does little to alleviate generational barriers, it does help cultures relate 
through universal, human perspectives. What I mean by this is that even though people 
may not understand another culture they can still understand the messages of the music. 
One great example of this is the music of Bob Marley. Bob Marley is from a small 
Carribbean country called Jamaica, a country whose culture has become influential around 
the world. This is because he expressed universal feelings of love, empathy, and positivity 
against the backdrop of a nation experiencing political and economic upheaval. His 
resilience against this pulses through his infectious music and has translated across 
cultural divides. An Asian person, who might not have any firsthand experience with 
different races or cultures, can still identify with Bob Marley and enjoy his music. This 
connection based entirely on music brings together people of disparate cultures through an 
emotional and intellectual bonding on common issues. 
In conclusion, although music may actually do more to divide the young and old it definitely 
uses its universality to bring together different cultures. It is especially important at a time 
when the world appears to be more divided than ever that we find common ground to 
build cross-cultural relationships upon.

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