Music in the '10s

                Music nowadays covers a major part of formal or informal, business or social and adult or infant activity. Spreading rapidly through internet and its revolutionary downloading and merchandising applications, various types of music can be accessible almost everywhere in the world.

                Primarily an expression of art, music has educated and entertained people through the ages. Going back to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey epic poems, music still serves as a narrative for spoken history and as a means for it to travel and survive through time. Moreover, it plays a key role in entertaining people whether accompanying fiests and religious celebrations or in the form of opera as part of  theatrical act. Furthermore, music is used by people to express their common culture, language and identity. On the other hand, music is also used within societies to express differences among social groups or differences in beliefs. Rap music and punk music stand as characteristic examples of that phenomenon.

                   In latter days, music has began being used systematically for educational purposes as well as medical treatment. Specialised schools employ music to facilitate kids with special needs to adapt easier in crowded environments, learn to work better in work groups and eventually aim to speed up the learning process. Recent research in medical science also proves that certain types of music, such as classical music, can have a positive effect on patients and reduce the need for medicines.

                   Despite all kinds of music appear to create an audience, hence proving a level of significance, people seem to adopt a hostile opinion for the types they are not fond of. This trend is perhaps the reason one cannot easily shed light when the question over the importance of traditional compared to international music arises. In my opinion, it would be substantially false to address this issue with a plain affirmative or negative answer in favour of either party. I believe both are important for the evolution of cultures and ethnicities. Traditional music, as stated before, carries the weight of a people's history, customs and moral beliefs besides its entertaining value. It also helps different ethnic groups to observe and comprehend their similaraties and differrences, thus enforcing tolerance towards diversity. International music is a rather expected byproduct of a broader socioeconomic globalisation. As such it will naturally vary in quality and purpose. To simplify a complex argument, both Mozart and Madonna belong to what is considered international music. Nevertheless, their audience rarely bears any resemblance. In addition, recent global disturbance and rise in ethnicism prove that we are much further away from the birth of a global culture, than even well respected political scientists implied.

                        In conclusion, whatever the type of it, music has been and will always be a means for humanity to express itself.