Use and Abuse of Music

Eleanor Peters is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology in the Department of Law and Criminology at Edge Hill University, UK. She has extensive experience working as a researcher in the voluntary sector and local government and has authored publications on topics such as youth justice, parenting and the connection between music and crime.

• Introduction Part One 1. 'Deviant' Music 2. Murder Music  Part Two 1. Music: Conflict, Manipulation and Torture 2. Music: Punishment, Persecution, Pacification, Patriarchy Part Three 1. Noise Pollution 2. Censorship Conclusion

The author examines the relationship between music and crime from a criminological perspective. She considers music and crime in terms of social harm and the denial of autonomy, development and growth, and access to cultural, intellectual, and informational resources available to society; psychological harms arising from events and behaviors outside a person's control; physical harms, such as death, assault, and brutalization by state officials; and financial harm. She discusses youth musical subcultures viewed as a deviant; violence in music, murder music, that seen as dangerous to young people, and music that incites hatred or prejudice; music used in war and conflict situations; music used to punish or prevent crime, or in other aspects of the criminal justice system; noise pollution; and the censorship of music and musicians. She focuses on popular music and the political and social aspects of noise.