Video Games A Curse Or A Blessing Psychology Essay

Video Games A Curse Or A Blessing Psychology Essay Nowadays, video games are more advanced than they ever were. Fascinating story lines, and more complex levels than before, these video games become more and more sought after by todays youth. It has become easier to purchase and access games with mature ratings (M) by underage children and teenagers. Parents would argue that video games corrupt the minds of the teens, and it could lead them to develop a violent personality that can make them become aggressive and commit crimes. And since we are all aware about the parenthood protective instinct, their concerns are understandable. Incidents like the school shooting like the one that happened in Colorado thirteen years ago, child aggression, and the decrease in school work are said to be the effect of video gaming. Of course, it is not for all the video games that exist but games like Doom, Madworld, and Gears of War are some of the games that are blamed. Parents state that more than a thousand of scientific reviews and studies conclude that the exposure to media violence and violent video gaming increases the aggressive behavior of youths. In a paper that was written by Rachel Ray called Violent Video Games, she strongly supports the idea that aggressive video games hold some strong effect on the young boy practicing that act. She begins her article by referring to the shootings in Kentucky, Paducah, Colorado, and Columbine. She states that in those cases, the teenagers who were responsible for those shootings were addicted to Doom. Furthermore, she said that there is correlation between youth and teens behaviors and violent video games are undeniable. Ray also stated: I personally believe that aggressive video games have an effect on young adults, and in turn can cause them to commit crimes. (Ray, 2006) Another research suggested that when performing violent acts in video games may contribute in teenagers aggression than just watching violent scenes on movies and TV shows. According to this view, the more teens act violently while playing game, the more likely they will perform violent acts in their real life (Cesarone, 1994).   In the majority of video games, females are the ones who are depicted to be victims. Video Games such as, Grand Theft Auto promote and talks about theft, prostitution, and violent behavior.   This game encourages males to behave in a wrong way if they want to move along the levels of the game. Furthermore, research has found that males tend to play video games more than women which may produce factor of such aggressiveness in video games.   It is known that acting out such violence as opposed to just viewing it will cause the young boy to become more familiar acting violently without any consequence. Moreover, to explore the question about how playing video games my change the brain, Dr. Vincent Matthews and some of his colleagues at Indiana University who have studied media violence looked at what happen in the brain of twenty eight students who were randomly chosen to play either a non-violent or a first-person shooter games (violent video game) every day at an intervals of a week. At the beginning of this study, researchers used Functional magnetic resonance imaging scan for the brain in order to understand its activity when the study participants who are all young adult men, while playing the lab based task either involving non-emotional or emotional contents. The participants were scanned over and over again while repeating the same tasks, after one week of playing the two opposite types of video games (Park, 2011). Researchers found out that the participants who practiced the violent video games showed less activity in the areas about emotions, inhibition, and attention in the brain. Mathews stated: Behavioral studies shown an increase in aggressive behavior after violent games, and what we show is the physiological explanation for what the behavioral studies are showing (Park, 2011). We are showing that there are changes in the brain function that are likely related to that behavior. One task that the participants completed while being under the scan appraised their response to non-violent vs. violent words. The participants were presented with non-violent words such as walk, run, and talk and violent words such as harm, hit, shoot, and kill (Park, 2011). Therefore, Dr. Mathews came with a conclusion that the changes that happens to the brain while playing violent video games dont appear to be permanent; however, documenting that the brain changes when playing the violent games even if it is for just few hours a day for a whole week., and this can be a significant proof on how young players can be affected when playing these kinds of games.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Personally speaking I love playing violent video games, because when I do so I forget about all my daily problems and I release all the frustration I assembled during the day by shooting zombies or damaging cars and buildings. The major problem that we had when we wanted to play those games was the approval of our parents because no one of any age wants someone to breathe down you neck or looking over your shoulder in order to observe what you are doing. For centuries, parents have that protective instinct for their children and want to protect from anything aggressive or violent. For instance, even in sports, it exist violence to some degree. For example, the American football the coach tells his players almost every day to rip the opponent player heads off. The fact remains that violence is all around us and violent computer games simply provide teens and young boys with a new high level to entertain themselves. Almost every year, the bestselling video games in US are the one which are most violent. When I was 13 years old I enjoyed playing violent Video Games with my older brother, and thankfully our parents allowed us to play any game we chose. Our parents decision to let us play whatever we want was not random because when I asked my mother why she allowed us to play those kind of games she told me that she knew that her and my father raised us well to make our own right decisions and she was sure that we will never practice what we experienced in those video game in real life. In 2011, the best seller game was Call of Duty, and for those who are familiar with video games that game is one of the most violent. I understand that parents cant stop worrying about the influence of those games on their children. Though, it is possible that young players will be more prone to imitate violence they see, it is important to keep in mind that the most aggressive video games are rated mature for a specific reason. Reasonable and well raised children wont start walking around and shooting people, robbing old women, or stealing cars. Violence is just a single small part of video games entertainment value. Olsen said in a New York Times article: teens can try out different identities, how it feels to be a hero, a trickster, a feared or scorned killer or someone of a different age or sexà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in a safe fantasy world of video games (Olsen, 2011). For teenagers, violent video games offer mature oriented adventures that go together with their age range better than th ose offered by non violent games for children. Violent games like Call of Duty allows for more interaction and control over the environment you are playing in and it is less structured than the ones we found in movies and TV shows. Through the use of violence, video games can significantly reduce stress by distracting young gamers from pressures of their daily lives. For example, college students who are stuck between school responsibilities, part times jobs, and household chores might find a button machine for violent games a solution to enjoyably release stress and frustrations. According to a study done by Texas AM professor Christopher Ferguson, violent and aggressive video games can be used as a therapeutic solution to combat anger and depression(Ferguson, 2007). Moreover, according a research that was published in Psychology of Violences in August 2011, the degree to which competitiveness young gamers reach while practicing their hobby is more likely than the degree of violence to cause aggression in those gamers personality((Paul J. C. , Adachi, 2011). Watching, practicing, and playing games that depict bloodshed are very therapeutic in a sense that violence on our screen helps us understand death. As the author of the book Killing Monsters Gerard Jones said: Why children need fantasy, super heroes, and make-believe violenceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦through immersion in imaginary combat and identification with a violent protagonist, children engage the rage they stifledà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and become more capable of using it against lifes challenges.(Jones, 2008) Even though it seems like I am in a strong opposition on how my opponents view on seeing the video games as a curse for children and teenagers, I understand their concern and I believe that the best solution is for parents to monitor their children. That means that they should study their personality, see how they perceive those video games, and then decide based on their kids personality if they are capable of handling violent video games without switching their behavior from for what their children are allowed to do in their spare time. In the end, they are responsible to know what video games their children play and have the authority to regulate what video games their children play or how much time they are allowed to play video games. Aside from the video game rating system, there is information available about every video game in the internet, parents can Google the games name and read all the information about it. Parents need to observe and control violent video games for the ir children only if they think that it will affect their behavior and personality; However, if the parents raised their children well, they will not have anything to worry about because they will trust that they will not behave by the same the characters in those violent video games act. Therefore, when monitored by parents, violent video games will not make teens and children violent and aggressive, it will help them overcome stress and anxiety by providing them with entertainment inside their houses, and it will allow them to take out their daily frustration on fantasy characters instead of taking it out on real people.

Anti-Bullying Laws

Anti-bullying laws â€Å"When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. They may scratch you and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless†. A quote by Chris Colfer. The number of kids that get bullied everyday are increasing in the state of Arizona. In order to stop the bullying in the schools of mesa, Arizona must create a stronger anti-bullying law. To begin with, over the years the percentages of kids getting bullied are getting tremendously big.According to Winnie Hu kids think that there parents will laugh and teachers wont care that’s the reason they won’t speak up (Hu 13). everyday half a dozen of complaints said Dr. Bergacs from New York Times Magazine (Bergacs 8). Secondly kids are too scared to speak up and tell someone. Kids say it’s hard to tell someone if they are getting bullied. DeSean Jackson says at a young age it’s hard to do anything about it. They say they put their own lives in danger (Jackson 12).Finally, some kids that get bullied at school can affect their concentration at school. Parents will know something is wrong because there kids are doing bad at school . they say the bullying will just get worst. In conclusion, the anti-bullying law must work to stop bullying in the schools because bullying hurts kids and the number of kid being bullying is increasing each year. Bullying must be taken away from schools because bullies or bullied get hurt. This way kid ca stop getting hurt.

The History of Home Schooling

Before the beginning of American public schools in the mid-19th century, home schooling was the norm. Founding father John Adams encouraged his spouse to educate their children while he was on diplomatic missions (Clark, 1994). By the 1840's instruction books for the home were becoming popular in the United States and Britain. The difficulty of traveling to the system of community schools was provoking detractors. At this time, most of the country began moving toward public schools (Clark, 1994). One of the first things early pioneers did was set aside a plot of land to build a school house and try to recruit the most educated resident to be the schoolmarm. This led to recruiting of graduates Eastern Seaboard colleges to further the education oftheir children beyond what they could do at home (Clark, 1994). As the popularity of the public school movement began to rise behind Horace Mann many states soon passed compulsory-education laws. These were designed primarily to prevent farmers, miners, and other parents form keeping their kids home to work (Clark, 1994). Ironically another factor behind public schools was the desire to use them to spread Christian morality, with its concern for the larger good over individualism (Clark, 1994). Massachusetts enacted the first such laws in 1852 requiring children ages 8-14 to be at school at least 12 weeks a year unless they were too poor. The laws proved to be effective, from 1870-1898 the number of children enrolling in the public schools outpaced the population growth. Except for certain religious sects and correspondence schools home schooling remained limited for most of the 20th century. During the 1960's the hippie counterculture exploded into the scene. This culture led a revolt against the education establishment. Thousands of young Americans began dropping out of society and going back to the land to live on communes that generated the modern home schooling movement. Twenty years ago, many states did not allow home schooling. Constitutional protection has always been uncertain. The U.S. Supreme Court has never explicitly ruled on home schooling. Although in 1972, in Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Court did restrict compulsory school requirements in a limited ruling involving the right of Amish students not to attend high school (Lines, 1996). In Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Amish parents claimed that high school attendance was destructive to their children's religious beliefs and would interfere with their pursuit of the Amish way of life (Fisher, Schimmel, and Kelley, 1995). Since this ruling there have been many court cases dealing with the issue of home schooling. All 50 states allow home schooling ad 34 states have enacted specific home schooling statutes or regulations (Clark, 1994). What drives many home-schoolers are the well-documented social troubles and the declining test scores in the public schools. In 1991, the total number of children being home schooled was between 248,500 and 353,500. Many public educators feel that children who are home schooled are missing out on key learning situations that come from the public school. For instance the sciene experiments, these would be very costly to duplicate at home. Also they argue that home school children miss out on the social aspect of school. Very often they are not around many children their age and socialization does not take place. As the home schooling movement has become more widespread, state and local officials have responded with more vigorous enforcement of their compulsory education laws. As a result of this there is more litigation and new regulations. As both parents and school official's evidence increasing inflexibility, the statues play a central role in the battle over the education of the child. A secondary role is played by the courts which, in resolving the disputes between parents and the schools, must interpret and test the statutes (Chiusano 1996). Parents who are being prosecuted for instructing their children at home are attacking compulsory school attendance statues on constitutional grounds. Although no case dealing specifically with home instruction has yet reached the Supreme Court, the increased activism of the home school movement may produce a ruling in the near future (Lines, 1996). Constitutional challenges have been based on the First or Fourteenth Amendment. In many of the home instruction cases' parents have removed their children from school for religious reasons. These parents argue that they have a highly protected First Amendment freedom to educate their children according to their religious percepts and values. The most recent court decisions provide consistent continued confirmation of the Yoder decision. In Howell v. State (1986), Texas' intermediate appellate court rejected Yoder protection for parents who argued that their religious conviction was to educate their children at home (Richardson, Zirkel, 1991). In State v. Schmidt (1987), the Ohio Supreme Court held that the state's explicit-exceptions statute, which requires that home education programs be approved by the local superintendent, did not violate the free exercise clause. Another religious issue has surfaced when parents have challenged the constitutionality of requirements concerning the qualifications of the home teacher (Richardson, 1991). A few states including Michigan require all teachers in home school to possess a teaching certificate. This requirement in Michigan was challenged in 1980, 1986, and 1991. In Hanson v. Cushman (1980), the federal district court found the statute to be reasonable because the parents had not proven that any of their fundamental rights had been violated. In the private school case of Sheridan Road Baptist v. Department of Education (1986), other Michigan parents challenged the certification requirement as a burden on the free exercise of religion. This was rejected by the Michigan Supreme Court, regarding certification as a minimal burden that was outweighed by the State's interest in providing proper education. In People v. DeJonge parents claimed the right to educate their children at home, as an exercise in religious freedom. The court upheld the state law ruling that the state's interest in educated citizens outweigh the rights claimed by the parents (Fischer, 1995). In a related Michigan case, People v. Bennett (1983), the State Supreme Court ruling involving home-school families that had been convicted of violating the compulsory education statute, was reversed from he lower courts decision. The State Supreme Court permitted religious home schooling on First Amendment grounds and curbed the power of education officials to review home schooling policies (Clark, 1994). The other constitutional attack on compulsory attendance laws is non religious, primarily on Fourteenth Amendment due process grounds that parents have the right that is, the liberty, to educate their children as they see fit (Richardson, 1991). This right argued parents is superior to the state's right to compel attendance and regulate education. In Scoma v. Chicago Board of Education (1974), Blackwelder v. Safnauer (1988), and Murphy v. State (1988), the courts specifically rejected the contention that the parents had an independent, non religious, fundamental right in educating their children. In Scoma, the parents sought an injunction and declatory judgment to prevent the Chicago Board from interfering with their decision to educate their children at home. Under the Pierce and Yoder test the Illinois federal district court said the statute is reasonable and constitutional (Richardson, 1991). Now that home schooling s allowed in all 50 states, thenext step for these parents is to incorporate their children's' home schooling with public school activities. One such instance is in Iowa that started the Home Instruction Program giving parents several choices relating to their child. For instance, the curriculum they will follow, the type of assistance they would like from teachers, and whether their child will attend the neighborhood school part time (dual enrollment). This program allows parent to work with public school officials. The public school teacher meets with the home school family every two weeks (Dahm, 1996). The most recent issue being dealt with by local school boards and state governments are the extent to which home schooled students can participate in school sports and other activities. The issues in how far public schools can open their doors to home schoolers include science labs, music classes, and extracurricular activities, but athletics get the most attention according to the Home School Legal Defense Fund (Brockett, 1995). That is because competitive sports are the one activity families can not easily duplicate as their children reach high school age. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, after three state judges ruled against home schoolers being barred from playing on public high school teams, has initiated a one year open door trial program (Brockett, 1995). A Pennsylvania federal court ruled the constitutional rights ofa 14 year old taught at home were not violated, when the Frazier school district refused to let him play sports because the district could not verify his grades and attendance. In a related situation the Governor of Florida vetoed legislation that would have opened extracurricular activities to home schoolers. He explained that no state law bans them from participating. This left standing a policy of the Florida High School Athletic Activities Association banning non students on the theory that they can not represent what they do not attend (Brockett, 1995). This negative attitude of High School Athletic Associations has led parents of home schooled athletes to take their argument to court. For example, in Massachusetts, Melissa Davis was allowed to play on Norton High School softball team even though she is home schooled (Blum, 1996). The state court judge ordered Norton to allow her to play believes she may have a chance to earn an athletic scholarship to college. To be eligible to play athletics a home schooled athlete must apply to the association for a waiver of its initial eligibility rules, submitting documents proving what they were taught at home meet N.C.A.A. standards. Under these standards a home schooled athlete who has sufficiently high standardized test scores and proof that they took at least 13 courses that meet the associations core course standards may be automatically awarded freshman eligibility (Blum, 1996). From the recent decisions handed down by the courts, public school teachers and schools are expected to cooperate with home school educators. The hostility between the two groups has began to disappear and the focus has returned to seeing that the students get the best education they can. If both sides of the spectrum continue to work together this can be achieved.

Why Is the Sea Blue

Have you ever wondered why the sea is blue? Have you noticed that the ocean appears a different color in different regions? Here you can learn more about the color of the ocean. Depending on where you are, the sea may look very blue, green, or even gray or brown. Yet if you gather a bucket of sea water, it will look clear. So why does the ocean have color when you look into, or across it? When we look at the ocean, we see the colors that are reflected back to our eyes. The colors that we see in the ocean are determined by what is in the water, and what colors it absorbs and reflects. Sometimes, the Ocean Is Green Water with lots of phytoplankton (tiny plants) in it will have low visibility and look greenish- or grayish-blue. That is because the phytoplankton contains chlorophyll. The chlorophyll absorbs blue and red light, but reflects yellow-green light. So this is why plankton-rich water will look green to us. Sometimes, the Ocean Is Red Ocean waters may even be red, or a reddish color during a red tide. Not all red tides show up as red water, but the ones that do are because of the presence of dinoflagellate organisms that are reddish in color. Usually, We Think of the Ocean As Blue Visit a tropical ocean, like in southern Florida or the Caribbean, and the water is likely to be a beautiful turquoise color. This is because of the absence of phytoplankton and particles in the water. When sunlight goes through the water, water molecules absorb red light but reflect blue light, making the water appear a brilliant blue. Closer to Shore, the Ocean May Be Brown In areas closer to shore, the ocean may appear a muddy brown. This is due to sediments being stirred-up from the ocean bottom, or entering the ocean through streams and rivers. In the deep sea, the ocean is dark. That is because there is a limit to the depth of ocean that light can enter. At about 656 feet (200 meters), there isnt much light, and the sea is totally dark at about 3,280 feet (2,000 meters). The Ocean Also Reflects the Sky Color To some extent, the ocean also reflects the color of the sky. That is why when you look across the ocean, it may look gray if it is cloudy, orange if it is during sunrise or sunset, or brilliant blue if it is a cloudless, sunny day. Resources and Further Information Helmenstine, A.M. Why Is the Ocean Blue?. ThoughtCo. Accessed March 25, 2013.Mitchell, G. Voyager: Why Is the Ocean Blue?. Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Accessed March 25, 2013.NOAA Ocean Facts. The Ocean Acts As a Sunlight Filter.  Accessed March 25, 2013.Rice, T. 2009. Why Is the Sea Blue? In Do Whales Get the Bends?. Sheridan House: New York.Library of Congress. Why Is the Ocean Blue?. Accessed March 25, 2013.

The Legacy Of The Abraham Lincoln - 946 Words

Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected president in November 1860, and would be inaugurated on March 4, 1861. Tensions had been growing between southern slave states and northern free states. Lincoln hailed from the Northern free state of Illinois, and made his anti-slavery views as he campaigned. Lincoln did not receive any votes from the southern states; his name was not even on their ballots. All of the slave states were outraged when Lincoln was elected, and feared he would abolish slavery. As a result, South Carolina seceded from the union on December 20, 1860. This led many other southern states to consider seceding. 100 Mississippi delegates gathered in Jackson, Mississippi for a convention to discuss secession. An ordinance for secession was read aloud at the convention on January 9, 1861. Most of the delegates were in favor of secession; however, there were a small group of men who did not want Mississippi to secede. Three of these men each proposed one *amendment* to the ordinance in order to delay or halt the secession of Mississippi from the union. In the first proposal, proposed by Jacob Yerger, all the slave states would gather at a convention to â€Å"determine what amendments of the Constitution of the United States are necessary and proper to secure the rights of the slaveholding States in the Union, and to finally settle and adjust all questions relating to the subject of slavery in such manner as will relieve the South from the further agitation ofShow MoreRelatedThe Legacy Of Abraham Lincoln1958 Words   |  8 PagesLeadership and Legacy: Background Research Paper Abraham Lincoln By:Audrey Knight Introduction Great leader and main topic Abraham Lincoln lived in the 1800’s where he accomplished many things in his 54 years of life. He lived in the U.S. through several major events in history and left a legacy that will never be forgotten. 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Suicide A Controversial And Thought Provoking Issue

Discussing suicide can be a very controversial and thought provoking issue. At first glance, one may just think it’s a very black and white topic, and most would agree that suicide consists of someone voluntarily taking their own life. For most people, they would believe it is wrong, but what about in certain cases where the person that chooses suicide is enduring severe suffering? What is the appropriate view about assisted suicide? Why is teen suicide so prevalent? This book addresses these questions, along with many others. The book â€Å"Suicide† gives many different views from many different writers regarding the discussion of suicide in hopes of bringing a new thought and outlook on the topic. (Connors). There are several other discussions in the book, such as suicide bombing, but to focus on a certain aspect of the book I will leave that topic out. In the first section of the book, it begins with asking the question of whether suicide is immoral or not. This boo k offers both sides of this argument, which is very interesting. Those that argue that it is immoral give different views to why that is so. The article â€Å"Christians Believe in the Sanctity of Life† in the book discusses the issue of PAS, which is physician assisted suicide, being legal (p.24). The article discusses the fact that generally Christian conservatives are for preserving state’s rights. However, in the case of PAS, as it relates to the law in Oregon that allows it, Christian conservatives feel thatShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Charles Colsons Essay on Gay Marriage896 Words   |  4 PagesIn his essay titled â€Å"Gay Marriage: Societal Suicide,† Charles Colson talks about his reasons for opposing same-sex marriage. 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Influence of Western Music in India free essay sample

The creation, performance, significance and even the definition of music vary according to culture and context. Music can be divided Into genres and submerges, although the delving lines and relationships between music genres are often subtle, sometimes open to individual interpretation, and occasionally controversial. Within the arts, music may be classified as a performing art, a fine art, and auditory art. To many people in many cultures music is an important part of their way of life. By all accounts there is no single and intercultural universal concept defining what music eight be. Music in India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, and classical music. Indians classical music tradition, Including Carnation and Hindustan music, has a history spanning millennia and, developed over several eras, It remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as sources of spiritual Inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment. India Is made up of several dozen ethnic groups, speaking their own languages and dialects. Having very distinct cultural traditions.However, over the past few decades, there has been a significant influence of various esters forms in India owing to globalization and increase in the use of developed technologies. This research is an attempt to observe this influence over traditional Indian Music and to study whether it has hampered or has added value to Indian music. 1. 2 Reason for selecting this topic Music has been an Integral part of my life since childhood. Have always been emotionally attached to this form of art. The various compositions, Instruments and forms of music have Intrigued me Immensely.This curiousness has led me to choose this topic for research and has enabled me to understand music, especially Indian sic in a better way. 1. 3 Research objective o To study the entry of western music in India. O To study the use of western instruments in combination with Indian instruments. O To study whether the listeners prefer western music over Indian music. 1. 4 Research Problem The mall Idea of research Is to study the entry and Influence of western music on various forms of Indian Music namely, folk music, classical music, film music etc.The focus Is also on the Increasing effect of various western Instruments on Indian music and how the traditional form of music has given way to modern sounds through hey prefer western form over Indian music. 1. 5 Scope and Limitations Like any research project, this research is limited by several constraints that could serve as starting points for further research. While the research report gives an idea about the influence of various forms of Western Music in India, it does not give a thorough indication of which is a better form of music.It only throws light about the preference of the listeners and is completely unbiased in its inference. A second constraint of this research is the time limitation. The research was carried out within a limited time frame of two months. The third constraint is the sample size of the study. The primary research was carried out with a small sample size of 50 respondents, majority of which were students in and around the suburbs of Iambi. 1. 6 Defining the variables Independent variable: Music Dependent variable: (I) Preference of listeners (it) Instruments used 2.LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 1 Theoretical Literature Review Indian music unfurls the timeline of that undaunted Journey from the Vided hymns to the music of the contemporary era. Indians were always comfortable in illustrating themselves amidst the artistry of tune; raga, tall and sure. Quite ideally therefore, Indian music has gradually become one of the much acknowledged genres of the varied art form. The rich chronicle of Indian music unveils its voyage from the ancient Vided hymns to the recent era where music has gained a whole fresh face.Indian music has therefore witnessed a lot of alteration in regard to its style, diction and approach. Gone are the times of Sanskrit songs and it is with the introduction of the Pop, Rock, and western fusion and brass bands, Indian music has become lot more contemporary. The characteristics of Indian music will be evident if compared with Western music. There are essential differences between the two systems: the first is based on melody-single notes played in a given order, while the second is harmonic: a group of notes called chords played simultaneously.The late Dry. Arbitrating Étagà ¨re who was acquainted with both the systems put it thus: The world by day is like Europeans music-a flowing concourse of vast harmony, composed of concord and discord and many disconnected fragments. And the night world is our Indian music: one puree deep and tender raga. They both stir us, yet the two are contradictory in spirit. But that cannot be helped. At the very root, nature is divided into two, day and night, unity and variety, finite and infinite.We men of India live in the realm of night; we are overpowered by the sense of the One and Infinite. Our music draws the the lonely region of renunciation which lies at the root of the universe, while European music leads us to a variegated dance through the endless rise and fall of human grief and Joy. Basically Indian music evokes a spiritual sentiment and discipline-a longing for realization of the self salvation. Vocal singing is an act of worship and not an intellectual display of mastery over raga-technique.In the West, he singing of a song is a secular and formal exercise, not involving devotion or piety as in the case of Indian music. The Guru-sashay tradition responsible for the deep attachment and dedication of the student to the teacher. In the West, usually a music teacher is Just a person hired for giving lessons and there is no intimacy between the teacher and the taught. Indian music, like Western music, is based on melody and rhythm, but it has no foundation of harmony and counterpoint so vital to Western music.Indian music is modal-based on the relationship between the permanent individual noted called the tonic, with the successive notes. That is why the drone is played in the background of vocal music to remind one of the tonic note. The Indian system is horizontal, one note following the other, while the European is vertical- several notes at a time. Hide Menu, the noted composer and musicologist, highlights the difference between the two systems by describing Indian music thus: The appreciate Indian music, one has to adopt a completely different sense of values. .. En must orientate oneself and at least for the period concerned, forget there is a time-clock ticking away and merely sink into a kind of subjective, almost hypnotic trance. In that condition, the repetitive features of Indian music, both rhythmic and melodic, acquire an extraordinary fascination and charm Despite the domination of this hypnotic mood, a characteristic of Indian music is that far from deadening the intellect, it actively liberates the mind. Another notable difference is in the place of composition in both the systems.In Western music, a composer first composes the music and puts it in notation: later the players play the music under the guidance of a conductor. There is hardly any improvisation, and the value of performance lies in the uniformity and the pre-determined conduct of tone and peed of music. In an Indian musical performance, while the grammar of melody and rhythm is fixed, the skill and ingenuity of the musician lies in his improvisation and creativity, especially in evocation of the mood and Rasa of the particular raga.In this connection an international musicologist writes: In the West, we construct solid blocks of music. After having carved out geometrically, in large sections, like building stones, the seven degrees of the diatonic scale, lined them up and placed them on top of each other according to cleverly worked out architectural laws which are called counterpoint and harmony. In this way we erect ed splendid edifices in sound. In the East, no one dreamed of dividing sound into blocks; instead they refined it to a wire- thin thread.They strove meticulously to stretch out the sound, to refine it to the point of extreme delicacy. No standardized materials, no building of two or six or ten floors; rather a simple variegated silk thread which unwinds and rises and falls imperceptibly, but which in every tiniest portion evokes a world of feelings and sensations. In Indian music, melody and rhythm are more developed and offer a great variety of subtleties, not possible in Western music.Indian notes are divided into small units called sureties (22 microphones in all), whereas Western music has microphones adorned with gravestone (gammas) produce a magical effect. Western music is capable of producing many moods and feelings. While Indian music has generally a principal mood or emotion in a raga. The Indian musician improvises according to his own creative genius within the framework of a raga, but in Western classical music such range of individual improvisation is inconceivable, except in Jazz. Moreover, the great use of drums in Indian music emphasizes its essential rhythm.It s only by keeping ones ears and minds open that one can appreciate the special sequences and melodies different from ones own. This will apply equally to Indian audiences attending performances of Western music, and to Western audiences listening to Indian music. Let us not forget that the two kinds of music are complementary, like two halves of classical music. Since the last century, Just as India has assimilated western culture via its language, arts, dress, etc. , so has it absorbed and assimilated the western music in exactly the same way. A progressive culture is never afraid of foreign influence. Even when an excessiveness of imitation does manifest itself, our culture will ultimately reject it and progress towards an all encompassing unity. The long history of India is full of accounts of our defeats at the hands of foreigners and tales of their reigns. However none were successful in uprooting our civilization and culture and sowing the seeds of foreign influence in our soil; rather, India has always managed to enhance its own greatness by absorbing whats good in them.The classical music of the West and India has evolved very differently and consequently though they are worlds apart. In neural the Indian system is either solo with tambala or drone instrument and a percussionist or in a small group setting, whereas its counterpart in the West has developed a highly evolved harmonic system that involves written compositions and arrangements for a multitude of instruments played simultaneously. Trying to combine the t wo worlds does take away something from each others universe and this is a fact. In every age, music not only expresses the style of the times, but is also engaged in the creation of new styles. Thus Chalky was created from Thread, and Thumbs was created from Chalky, followed by other forms of light music. But the source of all of these musical forms is still the traditional Indian folk music. The freedom of the individual and freedom of expression that manifested itself towards the end of the nineteenth century has culminated in todays modern music.The inspiration behind this lay in Indian popular music. It is this freedom of expression which has been successful in breaking the narrow bonds of musical grammar, and to enable the use of new instruments such as the violin, clarinet, harmonium and piano. Even after a thorough research of the old classical Indian musical forms todays sic composer may conclude that these ancient practices, scale patterns, etc. Are inadequate for his own expressive needs.Very early, with the introduction of sound films in the sass, the cinema industry in India discovered that if films were to be successful they had to include songs, and to this day nearly all successful productions are similar to the musicals of the West. The songs were initially taken from traditional Indian sources, folk, devotional, and classical, as well as galahs and seawalls and were presented in a more or less traditional manner. New new instrumentation and techniques were introduced.The influence of Western music was delayed, partly by the fact that India had no indigenous tradition of orchestral music, which involves lengthy compositions and accurate performance from notation. Neither of them were part of the training of the traditional Indian musician. There was also the lack of experience with harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration, techniques which the West had gradually developed over a period of several hundred years. In the early period of ass and the progenitor was of course All Kafka Khan.Later it is in the hands of Rave Shank, the great sitar maestro, western fusions gained its desired contour. The year 1962 is indeed an important year in the history of western fusion in India as for the very first time the musical traits of east Jelled well with melodic attributes of the west. The release of Improvisations which is of course a classical effort of unifying Jazz and sitar aided in taking Indian music that steady step in the arena of global music. The late sass and the early sass were however marked as the Rock and roll era in Indian music history.The Hindustan classical songs coupled with its raga and tall was then not the only genre of music that enchanted a million souls as then the western fusion plopped quite rapidly to befit the requirements of ass whilst captivating the intellectuals. In the modern Indian film songs, the melody generally retains its Indian character and the singer often uses traditional vocal ornaments. Music in modern India has a huge variation that is created keeping in mind the preferences of the new generation.To create a subtle difference in tunes and mood, the blend of tunes and faster beats are added. Sometimes, fusion is created with blending Indian classical music with western music. Keeping pace with the modern world, India pop music is also created. This type of music is created with the amalgamation of Indian and western pop music. Sometimes, raga and tall which are the most important parts of Indian music are removed from the latest compositions to make the music fit to the modern trend.The tunes, usage of some western musical instruments, words and the trend tend to create a new type of music though the replica of western and Indian fusion is always extant in them. The style of orchestration used in Indian music is also borrowed from the western tradition. The tonal quality and instrumental precision of foreign musical instruments have won the hearts of our people, and these instruments have also made it possible to orchestrate Indian music. Orchestral compositions also include Indian musical instruments.Our instrumental artists have always been careful in improving their style and the quality of their playing. While playing in an orchestra it is vitally important to follow systematically the registered notation method. For this reason these artists feel greatly the need for utmost precision in the recording of musical notation, even though we have not yet achieved our desired goal in this matter, and our system of notation is not universally used. Even without amplifying on the topic of the continuous improvement of Indian Orchestral Instrumental Music it may be said that it has developed in response to new needs. And at the root of this innovation and transformation have always been our music composers. All of the efforts to maintain the integrity of Indian music and to effect its improvement are a source of continual inspiration to me. The efforts of the Indian government to hold classical certificates and titles upon talented and knowledgeable artists are all steps full of hope in the advancement of Indian music. Against modern Indian music there has been an accusation by a certain select group that modern Indian music is not Indian at all.This charge has been made by a select and quite influential group of music aficionados. This group is of the firm opinion that: a) Modern Indian music does not follow any of the raga note patterns of Indian music, b) This music has none of the characteristics of being typically Indian in other words Indian folk-music, and c) For accompaniment with this music, it is all too easy to use foreign orchestral The above accusation has been made primarily aroun d Indian Film music. It is through Film music that Modern Indian music finds its most popular expression. Among the above mentioned group of critics is a section which has cultivated the strong viewpoint that the melding of Indian music and western music and the Joint use of these different styles of music is not possible. Contrary to the tendency to blast western music, ace vocalist Bandit Ajar has said pop music and Battles posed no threat to Indian classical music, rather the alien influence has heralded in demagnification of the art unlike the past when masters dealt the accompanying musicians with contempt. The sources of Indian music are endless and its potentials are without limit.In the past Indian music obtained its inspiration and its ingredients from generations of inherited popular and classical music, as well as from western music. Today, as nations have achieved a much greater degree of closeness and cultural exchange has become so much easier, the opportunity for Indian music to disseminate widely and to expand its vision presents itself. Indian music has a great deal to o ffer to the music of the world because it has a rare depth, dignity, and above all a beauty of mood and expression. Behind all of sophisticated techniques of world music today lies a reflection of the individual. Into this, Indian music will infuse life by bringing to it a reflection of the soul. Indian music will send a message of peace and tolerance. And this noble responsibility will have to be borne by the modern Indian music composer. 2. 2 Research based Findings The exposure of music in India to Western influence did not as one might suppose, begin during recent decades as a consequence of the intensifying of international trade, colonization, missionary activity and wars. In point of fact, there has always en a cultural exchange between the West and India, so far as our knowledge of history informs us.In this cultural exchange, as it is affected the domain of music in antiquity and medieval times, it was not only the Orient that was a source of elements of its own musical cultural to people of Asia and India. During the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century, post-Indian rebellion, when the British Raja consolidated its bureaucratic power over many aspects of Indian life, Indian music was examined and researched as part of the scientific description of India, wrought both the mapping of traditional Indian culture for political and bureaucratic purposes and continuing scholarly investigation of Indian music by Western musicologists.Music played a role as a symbol of Indian culture for the incipient nationalist moment, and it was within this sphere of activity that some of the most trenchant debate about the Indian and Western music took place. Western music was being adopted by Indians, notably in the world of princely patronage, where the presence of a European orchestra or professor was a sign of progress, modernization and prestige.The Maharaja of Moser, Inlaid Cruickshank Woodward, for example, maintained a western wind band, string orchestra and full orchestra under the dire ction off European bandmaster tuned to the Indian scale of microphones. The invasion by European and American folk music during the twentieth century has overwhelmed the native music of India during the past decades to such an extent that the national music has often been extensively undermined or completely obliterated. In recent times, partially new national styles have arisen in which Western and Indian cultural heritages have undergone amalgamation.In India, with the continuation of old traditions in music and musical theory, a new national music has emerged which has been evolved by the poet and composer, Arbitrating Étagà ¨re, in conscious imitation of Western music from stylistic elements of classical Indian music. The music of Arbitrating Étagà ¨re School is an amalgamation of the principles of the European art song with the traditions of the Indian art of singing. From the standpoint of the European, the Indian elements make the dominating impression whereas the Indians are more aware of the European model.The novelty n this music is the renunciation of the cramping rules of the Indian music theory. The system of the Ragas and the Atlas is relinquished, the formal scheme of the Variation-suite is abandoned in favor of the concise song form, the far too exuberant mannerisms of tonality, rhythm and melodramatics make way for a simpler, more popular formation. The contribution of maestros like Millie Meta and his son, Cabin Meta, to the enrichment of Western music are such as would make every one of us proud. Besides, we have a number of talented performers in Western music with a large following in India.The impact of Western music in our country is particularly evident in our commercial films and time alone will tell whether it is desirable or not. But it is equally true that our film industry has afforded much scope for gainful employment to a large number of musicians, music arrangers and music directors trained in Western music. Music in modern India imbibes not only the western influence but in some cases the traditional Indian music are presented in the veil of modernity. Following the age of British rule, the Indian mind was especially attracted to the western way of thinking.In music, though the analogy is not that straightforward, the influence of western music is none the less present in a similar way. But as to the question of whether it is possible to meld Indian music with western music, we have already found the answer in recent times and in the century. We live, so to speak, in an era of internationalism. In the welter of confusion caused by conflicting art-theories and art-forms, we also hear a few voices clamoring for expanding Indian music by making it international. And the potent way to internationalism it, we are told, is through orchestration and choral singing to make it acceptable to Western cars. The fundamental point sought to be conveniently overlooked here is that internationalism implies free intercourse of art between different countries which, incidentally, is already there. Introduction of harmony, as understood in the West, will divest our music of its most unique feature. No doubt, Indian music has an unlimited potential for development along orchestra and choral lines.But melody must always remain a dominant factor in these media of expression. They should by all means be allowed to grow along with our traditional vogues and not displace them. The real problem facing our music today is to preserve its traditional values and yet create new forms of expression which would emerge as an organic growth from the past and still be nearer to the idiom of contemporary life. The problem, by and large, involves the stupendous task of making Indian music strong and dynamic to meet the exigencies of modern times.What is needed today is a free and unbiased understanding of the art of music in the context of Indian life and thought. A happy synthesis of the music of the past with the music of the present will be possible only with an appreciation of its past achievements and n equally dispassionate assessment of its future possibilities. One should not forget the fact that heritage of world music is marvelously varied, that its different aspects can speak to us at different times in our lives if only we open our hearts and minds to listen.