What are we listening to? : a study of uses of profanity and references to sex, drug use, and violence in popular music : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

The content in the lyrics of pop songs has long been used in debates over values in American culture. This project aims to analyze the lyrics of a selection of pop songs from 1976, 1986, 1996, and 2006. The focus of the analysis is on the amount of profanity used and the references to sex, drug use, and violence in the lyrics. After comparing and contrasting the results from the songs, the project will examine concerns raised by the findings concerning social responsibility in pop music. The project will consist of a written essay on the topic with an audio reading of project with examples.