Hooked :: essays papers

Hooked Stanley Crouch's essay "Hooked" is about the music of today. He talks throughout the essay mainly about Michael Jackson, and his music and image. He talks about Jackson throughout the years, from the beginning of his career as a member of the Jackson Five, up until the release of his latest record HIStory. Crouch goes on to say in his essay that today's music is mainly about going against authority, and can be compared to Hitler's Fascism. He also talks about how many people today listen to music, without taking note of the lyrics. Stanley Crouch's essay "Hooked" is an attack on popular music of today. He argues that today's music is bad, and that most people don't even listen to the lyrics. He also compares listeners of today's music to fascists. Stanley Crouch does not back up any of his arguments with factual information. His essay is based on opinion, and observation, and in my paper I will discuss how he is obviously wrong in his arguments of these topics. First of all Stanley Crouch is wrong in arguing that all music of today is bad, because he uses only Michael Jackson as a representation of today's music. Michael Jackson is not a representative of all popular music of today. For one to write an argumentative essay rating popular music of today, one must use more then one-example of a music artist. There are many artists of the late 90's who are as mainstream as Michael Jackson is, but who also write very good music. In Crouch's essay he states that today's music " exploits the insecurities of young people by telling them, over and over, that never growing up is the best defense against an oppressive world where fun isn't given its proper due." In this statement he is saying that the music of today is mostly written to send messages to the youth of today that growing up is bad, go against the authorities do what you want while your still a child. This is very much so an opinion. There are numerous artists of today who write very mea ningful songs on a variety of topics that young people of today can relate to and take comfort in. For example Mariah Carey is a mainstream artist who writes many songs that people of all ages can listen to and relate to.