Relax in the world of music
 

Welcome to our music Archive. Have fun browsing

 

Article #5: Beliefs and Ideologies Represented Within Popular Genres

(Browse for more articles)
 
Popular genres represent aspects of The characters clash with a local police
cultural values, beliefs and ideologies officer that they involved to find out
by both affirming and subverting the who was sending the letters under the
views presented to us by society. For assumed name of Leah, before they found
instance, fantasy, as a genre, allows the out that is was really her. The officer
observer to escape from constraints involved begins to enquire about the
burdened upon them by society. Some circumstances surrounding Leah's death
genres, such as the family domestic, but hits a dead-end, as no one involved
affirm with the 'norms' of culture by is willing to speak in detail about her
showing the observer ideological opinions death.
such as the patriarchy and structured It is not until the officer pushes for
nuclear family models. These popular information that he finds out that the
genres can emphasize and challenge the girls' death involves witchcraft.
norms of society depending on the Witchcraft in its own right has, in the
opinions and beliefs of the creators and past, been looked down upon by society.
writers of the work. This involvement allows for many
The novel Blood, by Joseph Glass, is an questioning enquires to be considered to
example of a popular genre that can both the case. Although witchcraft played no
affirm and subvert the norms of society. part in her death, it plays a major role
The novel allows the reader to view a in the beliefs of Catholic and many
behind-the-scenes aspect of police work. beliefs of religious practices. This
This view in the novel confirms to the clash of faith can be seen through the
reader a social belief that the police eyes of the police officer heading the
force is put in place to help protect the case, who does not 'believe' in such
community and to reinforce the governing things as witchcraft as it is considered
rules set out by society. By giving the evil and from the devil.
chance to see what the conditions are Through the novel Back From The Dead the
like for police to go about their work, issue of life and death is addressed in
the reader is being shown how the police an unusual manner that also challenges
fight to protect the citizens under their the normal presentation of a novel. The
care. This attitude tries to make the motives of the characters involved make
reader understand the dangers they face it hard to draw a concrete conclusion to
each day to do their job. the involvement of Leah's death and
Blood also delves into the complex topic resurrection, though it is assumed that
that concerns serial killings. Society, witchraft played apart of her
in general, has stated that these killers resurrection. Although a conclusion is
can seem to be 'normal', but very precise never made as to why or how these events
and ritualistic in their actions. Blood have occurred, by using this formula the
conforms to this traditional belief by author, Chris Petit, can raise the topic
creating the character Kenneth Tower. of whether or not an occurrence like the
Tower is given a 'normal' profession as a one presented within the book could
doctor and uses the ritualistic behaviour actually occur in reality. Cultural
of pouring blood into his victims' wounds beliefs state that this highly unlikely,
to act in accordance with the familiarity but through the hazed arguments within
of a serial killer. This behaviour also the book, it leaves the possibility that
conforms to the beliefs held by society anything can happen.
involving the ideas surrounding serial The novel The World On Blood, by Jonathan
killers. Nasaw, is relatively different to that of
Due to the influence culture and society Blood and Back From The Dead. Throughout
bestow upon the reader, Kenneth Tower is the entire novel the story tends to
regarded as a monster and dangerous challenge the authority of cultural
killer and is thought upon with disgust beliefs and the morality that society
and distain. It is the readers' curiosity tries to uphold. By using a complicated
that makes them rebel against cultural subject matter such as addiction and
ideologies about serial killers and twisting the viewpoint to that of the
believe them to be interesting characters addicts, the reader is able to see an
to read about in fiction. Because society unusual opinion to that would otherwise
has ordained that these people should be be unavailable to the reader.
treated with disgust not much is known to It does not matter that this story
the public about serial killers or their follows the story of a group of vampires
motives. It is this lack of knowledge because these vampiric characters do not
that makes the reader want to become more follow the same characteristics that they
familiar with the working of a serial are normally involved with. If the blood
killer. that they drink were to be substituted to
Another issue that the novel Blood deals a drug like cocaine or amphetamines the
with is the topic of whether a convicted novel would still send out the principle
murderer has the right to live. In the idea that is faced with by many addicts.
novel the character Susan Shader Society gives the view that all addiction
addresses after the death of a murderer, is bad, so that when a person becomes
Calvin Wesley Train, who had attempted to addicted, they become criminals in the
kill her, "[She thought] Of dead people eyes of the law enforcement agencies.
who should not be dead, and living people By reading this book, the impression that
who should not have been alive." This not all addicts feel that what they are
statement deals with the feelings that doing is wrong or harmful to them. It
the seemingly innocent victims of murder gives the impression that if what they do
should never have been in the position of does not harm anyone else then it should
having their lives cut short because be okay for them to do as they like. This
those that slaughtered these people notion of thinking is a form of
should never have been able to become challenging the authority held by
killers. society, by challenging the main ideals
Society holds two separate views on the held by society the reader is able to see
subject of crime and punishment; one side a view that is generally unable to be
believes that these killers need to be viewed by people who are not addicts
punished for the crimes that they have themselves.
committed (in some cultures these It has been seen that popular genres can
offenders are put to death themselves). both affirm and subvert ideas held in
The other side of the argument states belief by society. These statements found
that even though the murderer needs to be within popular genres help shape the view
punished, he still has the right to life of the world held in the trust of its
and does not deserve to die himself. readers. Without the challenging views
The novel Back From The Dead, by Chris that are embedded within the popular
Petit, also deals with the topic that genres that are viewed or read, the
involves life and death. Because many stories trying to be told would be unable
cultural ideas about death and life to hold the interest of the reader.
exist, it is hard to disagree or agree The world and its occupants do not always
with what happens after death, though it hold true to the idealistic standards set
is generally accepted by many religious upon them through cultural and social
domination that after the body dies the beliefs. If popular genres did not
soul goes elsewhere to the after-life. confirm and challenge these views upheld
Back From The Dead challenges this belief by society then people would no longer be
by having a character, Leah, who interested in the views set within them.
apparently comes back to life after dying People read and view programs and novels
under mysterious circumstances fifteen that bring challenging new ideas to them.
years earlier. These perceptions shape our personal
The novel presents many different avenues views, beliefs and ideologies of culture
to the issue of life and death by and society.
offering reasons as to how and why she References:
has returned from death. Although the Glass, Joseph. 2000. Blood. Macmillan
novel does not go into the particular Publishers, London.
details surrounding Leah's return, the Nasaw, Jonathan. 1996. The World On
story follows the reactions of those who Blood. Dutton Books, New York.
surrounded her death. Petit, Chris. 1999. Back From The Dead.






1- A- B- C- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- 27- 28- 29- 30- 31- 32- 33- 34- 35- 36- 37- 38- 39- 40- 41- 42- 43- 44- 45- 46- 47- 48- 49- 50- 51-