Rap Music

The cultural majority in America is up in arms over the rising levels of

violence and horrific images that have seeped into popular entertainment.

Movies, television, and music have always been controversial, but even they can

cross the line between poor taste and immorality. Entertainment corporations

and record labels don't even blink, when told of the excessive torture or

satanic lyrics found in material. Producers and directors continue to push the

envelop on what is "done in good taste."

Gangsta rap is one of the current problems of society. Popular music

for teens has always been controversial, or at least in conflict with middle

class attitudes. Teen music has always been under scrutiny by those who are

older. Parents, whether from the 60's or 90's, never welcome the sounds of the

younger generation. Unfortunately this fact does not comfort someone when

listening to Snoop Doggy Dog or Ice Cube talk of sex, violence, beatings, and

suicide.

Hollywood, the country's Mecca for TV and movies, is another

contaminated disaster area. This area has given us hero's such as Clint

Eastwood, Humphrey Bogart, and Bruce Willis. Once filmmakers would evoke sexual

interests through eye contact or a touch of the leg. Today cinematographers

resort to graphic sexual acts and horrific beatings. A poll by Newsweek stated

that sexual moderation and fidelity are normal for both married people and for

those who live together. In contrast, 7 out of 8 televised sexual encounters

involve extramarital sex (Newsweek, 1994). This trend is startling when

compared