Example research essay topic: Bob Marley Rock Steady - 1,426 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

Bob Marley: Persuasion of the people with music Clemson University There are hundreds of thousands of people screaming for you on stage. The Prime Minister and leader of the opposition sit in the arena. Many thought this was a sight that would never be seen, but it was just the sight Bob Marley had in front of him at the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston Jamaica (April, 1978). This was his first appearance back in Jamaica in 14 years, an amazing show culminating with Bob joining the hands of opposing political figures onstage, and holding them firmly together. A hero and an icon while living, Bob Marley continues to influence people 25 years after his death (African Service News). His music and lyrics worked as the rhetoric of the Rastafarian movement against oppression, exploitation and racism in Jamaica.

Using metaphors to describe the hardships of the political fights of Jamaicans and Africans Marley established himself as the spokesman of a race and culture. The Rastafari religion, the heart of Bobs music, based itself in belief of Jah, which was a metaphor for a god of goodness and love. Jah was the force fighting against the oppression from Babylon, the destructive force. Metaphors of oppression and freedom, such as chains and birds, depict social problems and ways of liberation (Jensen). Many of Marley's lyrics included these references and therefore fell into the latitude of acceptance, explained in Muzafer Sherifs studies on Social Judgment Theory (Griffin), of his Rastafari listeners.

When Marley spoke of things that were in the latitude of acceptance of his audience, his words impacted them listeners incredibly. If you get down and quarrel everyday/You " re saying prayers to the devil, I say/ Why not help one another on the way/ Make it much easier/ Jah love, Jah love, protect us Positive Vibrations. Marley strived to increase awareness among the people of Jamaica, but his popularity didnt end there. His music spread through the hearts of Europeans, Africans, and Americans. Lyrics and music work together to offer messages comprised of both theoretical and emotional content through the constructs of virtual experience (lyrics) and virtual time (music). Both virtual experience and virtual time must exist for music to function rhetorically (Sellnow).

However it can sometimes work out otherwise. In fact, it was the bass heavy style of Bob Marley's new age reggae that allowed him the access to the people. He abandoned the classic style of Ska and adopted a new style of Rock Steady. Emotional content can be taken from just the rhythm of music. Much like classical music, rock steady gave people a vision.

Smooth rhythm, thick bass lines and light percussion. Instrumentals may not have carried as blatant a message with it, but it was another way for Marley to reach his audience. He gained respect for innovating the use of his guitar and the production of his music, and became a messenger even when he was not singing in his songs. His music reached people emotionally throughout nations. Music is an effective tool for adjusting to the emotional life of many people.

People use music quite frequently to express or modify their emotions (Hakanen). Some find themselves in the words of others, and some will put themselves into their own words. Bob believed himself to be a philosopher, but humble as well. "People want to listen to a message, word from Jah. This could be passed through me or anybody. I am not a leader, a messenger. The words of the songs, not the person are what attract people. " (African News Service) Bob Marley used techniques of assimilation to grab his audience.

When he spoke of topics that were hot in the minds of his people, they were more likely to accept the message and believe they shared the same beliefs. If you know your history/ Then you would know where you coming from/ Then you wouldn't have to ask me/ Who the 'eck do I think I am/ I'm just a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America/ Stolen from Africa, brought to America/ Said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival Buffalo Soldier Marley speaks to those who feel oppression, and also those who sympathize with it. Many of Marley's song persuade people into a political movement or a social protest. Some of the most attainable goals of persuasive songs are those focused toward a particular movement's members; such as reinforcing the ideas of the movement, promoting unity, and maintaining high confidence among members. In other words, songs of persuasion may prove to be effective in terms of reinforcing the beliefs already held by movement members and sympathizers. Rarely do such songs succeed in their attempt to reach those who are not already sympathetic to the cause (Sellnow).

Although Marley never intended to recruit as many people into his particular beliefs, his standpoint on peace and unity was felt throughout the world. Let's get together and feel all right/ I'm plain' to mankind! One love/ Oh, Lord! One Heart/ Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right/ Let's get together and feel all right.

One Love Marley speaks of One love and one heart. This was, and is, an issue that many people believe in. Peace is mans ultimate goal, a goal that seems unattainable when you think of terrorism and war. His efforts on peace did not go unnoticed. Late in 1978 Bob Marley received the Peace Medal of the Third World from the United Nations following his appearance at the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston. The study of music as a rhetorical form has been receiving increased attention from communication studiers in recent years.

Primarily because music has the potential to function as persuasive communication and music encompasses our society, thus potentially impacting broad audiences. Everywhere we go we are exposed to music; in automobiles, shopping centers, and waiting rooms, as well as in our homes. Marley often spoke to the ghettos of Jamaican cities. Music in a very effective form of communications in places of illiteracy and poverty. His words were often simple, and included phrases native to Jamaicans. Reflexes had got the better of me/ And what is to be must be/ Every day the bucket a-go a well/ One day the bottom a-go drop out (I Shot the Sheriff).

Simple phrases, known by Jamaicans, opened them to the reggae music. Marley was able to get listeners to think they all had the same beliefs, and persuaded them politically and socially with other influential songs. The greatest thing of Bob Marley's music and ability to persuade was the fact he never used it to stir false beliefs. His words were true to his Rastafari roots. He became a spokesman of Jamaican people, and one of the first Rasta Prophets (African News Service). His efforts towards peace rewarded him; he was declared Jamaica's Man of the Millennium and his album Exodus was given the honor of Time Magazines Album of the Century. "Every song is a classic, from the message of love to the anthem of revolution, " Time wrote of Exodus. "But more than that, the album is a political and cultural nexus, drawing inspiration from the Third World and then giving voice to it the world over. " One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.

So hit me with music, hit me with music now, brutalize me with music Bob Marley Feb. 6, 1945 May 11, 1981 Bibliography Bob Marley Continues to Touch People's Hearts 20 Years After. (August 7, 2002) Africa News Service, p 1008219 u 1157 Griffin, E. (2003). A first look at communication theory. 4 th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill. Hakanen, E. A. , Wells, A. , Ying, L. L.

S. , (1999). Music choice for emotional use and management by Hong Kong adolescents. Asian Journal of Communication. 9 (1), 72 - 85. King, Stephen, Jensen, Richard (1995). Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": the rhetoric of reggae and Rastafari. Journal of Popular Culture, v 29 n 3 p 17 (20) Napier, Kristine. (Nov-Dec 1997) Antidotes to pop culture poison.

Policy Review, n 86 p 12 (3) Sellnow, Deanna D. (1999). Music as persuasion: Refuting hegemonic Masculinity in "He Thinks He " ll Keep Her." Women's Studies in Communication. 22 (1, Spring), 66 - 84. Sellnow, Deanna, and Sellnow, Timothy. (2001). The "illusion of life" rhetorical perspective: An integrated approach to the study of music as communication. Critical Studies in Media Communication. 18 (4, December), 395 - 415.

Research essay sample on Bob Marley Rock Steady