Alex Shirk
Music & Gender
A Real Man
In today’s society, there are many suggestions of how people should act - whether it concerns gender, age, or race. The media, a person’s peers, and culture are big, relentless forces that attempt to control people’s actions and beliefs. One influentially subliminal medium that takes part in this so-called brain-washing of society is popular music. Regardless of the genre, different modes of music can give people ideas of how they should act and what is and is not seen as socially acceptable. Stereotypically, artists of popular music give the statement that their music is just entertainment and is not to be taken literally, yet people perceive their music in a very different way. One modern and clear example of this perception can be heard in Justin Moore’s hit single “Bait A Hook.” This song exemplifies much of society’s idea of what a real man should be and act like. In a somewhat passive-aggressive tone, Justin Moore passes this idea onto his listeners in black and white. Although portrayed by a light-hearted and jolly tune, Justin Moore’s “Bait A Hook” communicates to listeners the perception of cultural concepts of gender, namely, males.
