Jessica Conville

Depression is a disease without barriers. As an individual personally battling 'major depression,' it is hard to see the light at the end of the shortest of tunnels. One common misinterpretation in American culture today is that music and media is negatively influencing its youth, drowning their emotions and distorting their thoughts. Music may provoke emotion but even the most codependent of people in society use music as a coping skill rather than a motivation to hate. Music creates a positive relationship between mind and body.

Today even the edited songs played on the national radio stations can contain the most vulgar, destructive lyrics. That is the point of music though. If I am understanding musicians correctly, music puts a certain emotion or subject into words, removing the need for a negative action. When Blink 182 is singing, "I never thought I'd die alone. I laughed the loudest, who'd have known?," it gives a certain sense of comfort and a feeling that suicidal people are not alone in this world. This strategy is noble of those stars because they are using their fame to make others feel better.

Many critics would probably disagree with this theory, stating that Marilyn Manson's music, as well as others, were a significant influence on the Columbine incident. Yet, there seems to be a bias in this argument. Millions of rap artists have a lyrics about violence, gangs, and drugs. America has accepted this kind of violence. If I recall correctly, when four people were recently shot in Boston there was no obsession over which genre of music the gunman had is his CD player.

Controlling our music and the talent behind it is not the right answer to society's problem of blame and denial. Guitar riffs and a repeating chorus do not leave its listeners in a violent or depressed state of mind. Depression is not controlled by lyrics or songs but by the capacity of sadness being reached inside one's mind. In my world, music is soothing and understanding, sometimes helping me through my depression. Sometimes the most destructive words are the only barrier holding us back from the most destructive behavior.