lostinyesterday posted:

Personally I can also see both sides of the argument. I've listened to heavy metal since I was 13 and I'm now 22, it wasn't until I was at university that I ever even realised that attitudes towards women that are often presented in metal. It's kind of one of those things where when you start to think about it and suddenly you watch videos & listen to lyrics in a different way. Some of the bands or songs I like, I do sit there and think, should I really like this song? It really shows little respect for women but for me, I think it's being selecive and doesn't show the whole picture. Yes there are some bands who sing about girls in a negative way but there are bands and songs that paint a completely different picture but this is only my opinion, hence the questionnaire and wanting to see if other metal fans either agree with my hypothesis or not.

Yes. Um, really... I just think that there is this type of situation with... well with anything really. You pick any genre of music - and there is going to be one argument or another about things that are picked on or things that are singled out or maybe even things that are praised more than in other genres, or even than in similar genres. And I mean anything. Not just women. For example, I have buddies that complain that every country song in the world is about Love. Yeah, even the crazy songs that talk solely about drinking or ... well whatever. IMO just because something is being talked about in a song doesn't always mean thats what the band is intending.

THIS is the reason I love the band Tool so much. I read somewhere, posted by the band personally (maybe it was Maynard, but don't quote me I don't really remember the quote exactly) that said something along the lines of "We don't want people to listen to our music and automatically have an image of what we're trying to say. We want our music to be motivational or inspirational; we want people to be able to relate our music to something meaningful to them".

Music, in my opinion, in all its forms, should be used in this fashion. It is such a creative media, and it should be used in a creative way - with the imagination. I've said too much. But as far as discrimination and such goes - I definitely see what you mean as far as noticing things you didn't notice before. I have found myself doing just this very thing lately, especially with music and my tastes - and as you said, once you take a step back and think about what is being said or done, you realize so much more than you thought you knew.

I bolded your quote because, well you said it really well!

Personally I can also see both sides of the argument. I've listened to heavy metal since I was 13 and I'm now 22, it wasn't until I was at university that I ever even realised that attitudes towards women that are often presented in metal. It's kind of one of those things where when you start to think about it and suddenly you watch videos & listen to lyrics in a different way. Some of the bands or songs I like, I do sit there and think, should I really like this song? It really shows little respect for women but for me, I think it's being selecive and doesn't show the whole picture. Yes there are some bands who sing about girls in a negative way but there are bands and songs that paint a completely different picture but this is only my opinion, hence the questionnaire and wanting to see if other metal fans either agree with my hypothesis or not.

lostinyesterday posted:

I am currently writing a dissertation in my 3rd year of university. I would greatly appreciate fans of heavy metal filling out the questionnaire. It's about the attitudes towards women in Heavy Metal. I want to know whether attitudes artists convey actually represent opinions that fans have.

So if you have some time and would like you're opinion to be known about some of the gender issues than have been raised in the past within heavy metal, then please help me out by filling out the questionnaire.

Heavy Metal Questionnaire

Thanks for your help! :)

I just done did it :D

I'm sorry, but I wasn't smart enough to figure out exactly what you wanted characteristic wise with questions 8 and 9

Did the survey. You know, I agree to a point and I disagree to a point, but overall I think most metal bands are in the business because they want to be. And unlike Kanye West, I don't think they're going to bash on women TOO much. That being said, there are plenty of 'cocky' types of people who are both reserved and outspoken. The ones that are outspoken are obviously going to stick out, but if I have a bad thought and keep it to myself does it make me a bad person? I hope not. If everyone was judged on bad thoughts we'd all be in a shitmess.

Anyways, I have a friend from high school who is female and her MOST FAVORITE bands are all heavy metal German bands. Rammstein is up there on her list. And she is one of the coolest people I know. Nuff said.49519565656516

I am currently writing a dissertation in my 3rd year of university. I would greatly appreciate fans of heavy metal filling out the questionnaire. It's about the attitudes towards women in Heavy Metal. I want to know whether attitudes artists convey actually represent opinions that fans have.

So if you have some time and would like you're opinion to be known about some of the gender issues than have been raised in the past within heavy metal, then please help me out by filling out the questionnaire.

Heavy Metal Questionnaire

Thanks for your help! :)