Prompt Post #1: Asking Questions and Breaking Assumptions

Preconceptions/Stereotypes About Music:

• The type of music people listen to determines the listeners whole entire persona and lifestyle
• Classical Music and Musical Theatre is a dying form of music
• All musicians are liberal
• Musicians are considered elitists
• Asians are the gods of music
• Music Male Dominated
• Drugs are the double-edged sword to musicians
• Death is early and never a happy ending 

         Almost everything in the world has stereotypes linked to the particular subject.  I have not yet heard one subject that doesn't have a long list of stereotypes.  Music has a vast amount of preconceptions and stereotypes.  For the most part, most of the stereotypes aren't really positive ones and in fact they can come off as depressing.   Up above the preconceptions and stereotypes that are listed I got from a book I am currently reading called, "Smithsonian Music".  Its all about how music has developed and shaped the world.  This book is really effective in showing how some of the stereotypes in music are true and false and I will challenge some of these thoughts down below.

The type of music people listen to determines the listeners whole entire persona and lifestyle

For this one it's stating the within music people are still divided and the genres themselves.  For example, people who usually listen to classical music are like the introverted and geeky type of people.  People who listen to reggae are your average potheads and druggies.  Two completely different forms of music and two personas.

 Drugs are the double-edged sword to musicians

Drugs have been connected to the music world for a long period of time.  Musicians use drugs for a variety of purposes.  One is for an escape.  Musicians are considered depressed people because of the stress and anxiety they have to face daily in order to maintain their career.  So drugs such as cocaine, weed, and often times heroine would keep them "wired" and to keep their musical mind flowing with ideas.  However this was often the reasons why musicians died.  Legends like Elvis and Whitney Houston died from drug overdose. 

 All musicians are liberal 
           Musicians are considered extreme liberals.  However there are some exceptions.  In fact, the                whole entire genre of country music is considered for the most part reserved and very                          traditional.