Most people are aware that the novels by George Orwell, 1984 and Animal Farm, detail the hazards of a totalitarian/authoritarian government. Orwell’s lesser known writings include a treatise on science, detailing the same kinds of potential hazards. Orwell maintained that science is the “method of thought which obtains verifiable results by reasoning logically from observed fact”. Society, from Orwell’s perspective, hands off authority to scientists when their narrow view makes them narrow minded and so unqualified to exercise broad authority.

Orwell further argues that a narrow field of study narrows a person’s ability to realize pleasure and appreciation for things such as art, music and literature. Orwell’s position is that broad education and methods of thought narrow a person’s perspective of the world in addition to losing the ability to appreciate the finer things.

Music has long been used by younger generations to define their identities and their places in society and the world. The self-perceived “disenfranchised youth” has utilized a variety of musical forms to express their discontent, their apathy, their sadness and their rebellion. Music has affected and defined behavior and even trends in society through the eras. Well-differentiated groups have formed based on musical affinity. A case in point would be the punk rock era of the 1970s. Within the era of Generation X, we find rockers, punks, alternative, hippies and more, all designated groups based on their choices in music. Music has been used to justify many psychologically negative behaviors including suicide, substance abuse, racism, gender disparity and violence.

The alternative band, Jane’s Addiction, presented a song by the name “Jane Says”, detailing heroin addiction. Addiction is a fairly common theme in contemporary music and this song details the destruction of personal boundaries, depression and loneliness – themes not unfamiliar to more than one generation of young people.

The Smashing Pumpkins explore coming of age, maturity, the importance and precious nature of time in the song “Tonight, Tonight”. The depth of the lyrics generated by the Smashing Pumpkins has reached into the very souls of the darker element of Generation X.
In the 1960s, the hippies had the Grateful Dead. Generation X has Phish. Their music is folksy in feel and generally has a distinct story to tell. Phish promotes the concept of taking the time to live life, stop and think and appreciate.

The band, Sublime, promotes the epitome of Generation X, detailing the ups and downs, the unpredictability of life, encouraging people to find the light – the fun in difficult times.
“Hope in a Hopeless World,” by Widespread Panic carefully, succinctly and genuinely portrays the issues inherent in society. It examines an entire generation’s disconnection from reality, descent into depression and where things went wrong. The singular line in the lyrics, “Whatever happened to the golden rule?” brings home the apathy felt by this generation, who used music to not only define themselves but to express the feelings of being stuck and paralyzed by the difficulties of life in this era.

The music produced in this era has affected more and a greater range of society and any previous. Clearly delineated sectors of society formed and more expression has been affected by this music that is relatable to a very broad range of the population. Music has always affected people and society as a whole and very likely always will.