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METAL-AN ACCOUNT
- Imlisanen Jamir
In 1986 a
remarkable phenomenon took place. A culture called heavy metal was just
taking its roots. A world changing revolution that was to determine the
lifestyle of young people for generations to come. But this has been one
genre that has been continually stereotyped and condemned. Why is it that
metal heads all across the world are considered nothing but the bane of
society. Why is it that there is so much opposition to a form of
entertainment which helps a certain section of people to forget about their
worries and move on with their lives with the mind numbing sound of heavy
metal in their hearts. Heavy metal has and always will act as a source of
release for all the bent up frustrations that culminate inside a young
teenagers psyche. Never has the world seen so many young people come
together under one umbrella and work out their issues.
In spite of all this, this extreme form of music has been continually
condemned by the presumably responsible parent groups and religious groups
who have made their sole agenda to deface the artistic aspect of metal and
replace them with images of drug abuse, sexual immorality, Satanism and so
on. How do I know all of this? Because I am one of them. For me heavy metal
in particular and rock music in general has always played an important part
in defining the person that I am. I can still remember all the opposition
that I had to face back home while defending my love for this extremely
unconventional form of music. To me it was a spiritual force because through
metal, I could clear my mind of the problems that I had in my life and I
could see it as a pipeline to god himself. And when I write this piece, I
write it from a first hand experience about the passion experienced by the
fans when it comes to this particular form of music. Metal heads are always
passionate about things that they believe in. Heavy metal gives them a sense
of belonging. Most of these metal heads are troubled teenagers with problems
at home or school. Metal gives them a sense of bonding to other people with
the same problems. And so for them to realize that they are not alone and
that there are thousands of other kids going through the same kind of pain,
makes them have a certain sense of hope about their lives.
The freedom that this music offers to young people is beyond the
comprehension of people outside this community. Another great thing about
this community is that, its so huge; spread all over the globe with millions
of followers but then again there seems to be a lot of people who don't have
a clue that heavy metal exists. The metal community can be compared to a
tribe fiercely vicious about their believes. Their attitude of not
confirming with the set norms of society is what makes them a direct target
from the supposedly responsible social and religious groups. The one
question that every metal head would have in their mind is this, "Why is it
so wrong to be extreme? if it only means the expression of your true self".
Sure, there have been law suites against metal bands for allegedly
influencing their fans to commit suicide or such other heinous acts of
immorality, but has any of these charges been proven; not even a single one.
In spite of this, the slandering of this masterful form of art continues.
This just goes on to show the hypocrisy that can be associated with people.
Who is society to decide that this particular form of music is too violent
or too controversial for children when it is society itself that provides
the daily bloodshed in front of the breakfast table every morning. Don't you
think that instead of blaming it in the poor bands, society should have a
look at itself and provide a better atmosphere for the kids. Is it not
because of the horrifying social conditions that the young people of a
particular era had to go through, that heavy metal first originated? Heavy
metal became a movement that attracted a huge following of young fans.
This happened because it was raw, angry, violent and radical; and these are
the aspects of life that young kids of the modern age are most familiar
with. And this familiarity is due to existing social conditions that young
people experience.
The psyche of a metal head is mostly formed during the teenage years. A
future metal head always ends up being the weird kid in high school or
college. An influence of the culmination of problems being faced by young
teenagers in their formative years contribute enormously in shaping the
mentality of a normal 15 year old. What this music provides for young people
is a solace from the constant parental and social pressures to grow up and
become an ideal part of society. It offers them an alternate universe and a
life of imagination where they can forget about all their problems and feel
empowered by the music.
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