Music Producers: Identities and Genres Revealed
This is my Final Portfolio Project for my ENC 2135 - RESEARCH, GENRE, AND CONTEXT class with Alexa Doran
Project 1
Music Producers: Identities and Genres Revealed
Music production is the process that turns lyric and melodic ideas into an audio composition. Without a music producer, one does not have a song created, to begin with. People of the music industry know the importance of a music producer in creating commercial tracks that appeal to the masses. The masses, on the other hand, are generally unaware of the masterminds behind the top hits, depending on the genre, and give their full admiration to the lead vocalists and the DJs who play the records in clubs. My four main genres I will focus on to reinforce the idea of how music producers can be seen in a different light are examples such Billboard’s Top 100 mastermind Max Martin pop music producer, the in-depth analysis of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) sensation Armin Van Buuren, popular TV shows such as the American musical drama Empire, and a comprehensive interview of Clean Bandit’s music producer Jack Patterson. Each genre shows that within the music industry music producers can have different identities, responsibilities, and roles to fulfill.Pop music is a genre that is designed be catchy, unforgettable and appealing to everyone. It takes the most popular aspect of all other genres, including rock, jazz, and country and arranges the melodies and chord progressions in a simple and memorable verse-chorus structure, using lyrics that can catch people’s attention and hook their emotions to one song. Surprisingly, the target audience for this type of music is girls ages 13 to 26, while this includes males, females are primarily the targeted group. This first genre can be summed up in one single person: Max Martin the Swedish king of pop. Max Martin wrote so many Billboard Hot 100 number one hits, including Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl”, The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face”, and Kelly Clarkson's “Since U Been Gone”, as he has ultimately shaped the pop genre with these and other songs since the 90s. His secret is to combine the songwriting process with the production process. In an LA times written the 4th of June 2000, Geoff Boucher explains how Martin’s unorthodox approach along with this new class of producers “not only shapes the sound of today’s biggest hits but also revives the tradition of producer as record mogul.” Artists are expected to work on the songwriting of their singles and albums, and then seek a producer to generate their songs into the sound desired. But Martin hacked the model by taking control of the songwriting process too, leaving the artist with one task which is learning how to perform the songs. “I want to be part of every note, every single moment going on in the studio. I want nothing forgotten, I want nothing missed. I'm a perfectionist. The producer should decide what kind of music is being made, what it's going to sound like–all of it, the why, when and how.” Even though Max Martin has been instrumental in the creation of these number 1 hits, he does not ever seek fame or attention for his work and is in a sense isolated and detached from the outcome of his projects. Artists such as Katy Perry and Britney Spears who receive the obvious credit and praise singing these songs with the accompanying fame that goes along with it have a music producer behind their success. Max Martin is one of these individuals the public does not realize is behind most of pop culture’s music and his identity is one that is behind the scenes. His responsibilities and roles as a music producer are different than others in the music industry, specifically my other music personas in my chosen genres there is extreme contrast and difference.The next genre is Electronic Dance Music, which although is not as popular as Pop music, still gets the most engaged fans of all musical genres today. The reason being that EDM’s audience is best described as the consummate music fanatic and social media consumer. According to a study by Eventbrite, EDM fans tweet “an average of 11 times per day, roughly 6 times more active than the average Twitter user, who tweets roughly 1.85 times per day”. (“The EDM Audience Analysis”, 4). EDM Fans are ready to buy tickets to the nearby festival and invite their friends on social media to embark on the adventure. While the fans do enjoy listening to the music, they usually are more interested in the festivities of the event and being seen socially than seeing the individual artists behind the music. Fortunately, at least EDM artists do receive some fame and recognition and a clearappreciation for their creative work as opposed to pop music producers like Max Martin. They are the stars of the nightclub! My favorite EDM producer of all times is Armin Van Buuren, a trance DJ, record producer and remixer who started releasing radiant tracks in 1996 (the year I was born) and never stopped since. His music consists of unforgettable melodies played by synthesizers and sampled sounds that he designed himself from scratch and arranged in repetitive but somewhat ever-evolving loops and rhythms, a craft that Armin Van Buuren has mastered over time. His music evolved over time to be closer to the current trends, a move that cost him the respect of his true fans, who used to love his old music. This kind of behavior in the music industry is common among music producers of commercial genres such as EDM and Pop music, the reason being that those artists are being controlled by record labels, which are mainly influenced by the media and what the audience’s wants. The brand of an EDM artist must remain up to date with the latest trends, a bit like in the fashion industry. The problem, however, is the lack of authenticity that this approach promotes. If every artist must follow the same strict rules of what fans demand in their music, the result is a less diverse range of possibilities in the music creation process and very predictable songs limiting the genre and developing inconsistency.The third genre that I am analyzing is musical drama television series that consists of a storyline and predominant musical numbers which complement the characters’ identities. It is important to note that this genre does not include talent contests or reality series such as The Voice or X Factor. It does include established musical talents as part of the show’s music production. For example, Empire, an American musical drama Television series, includes well-known super producer Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley whose worked with some of pop's biggest artists including Missy Elliott, Madonna, Brandy, Destiny’s Child and Justin Timberlake. The show centers on a “fictional hip-hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of it” (Empire (2015) TV Series). The Actors playing the main characters are natural singers and sometimes play music producer roles such as Jamal Lyon who is seen performing a beat with his brother Hakim at the beginning of the pilot. Interestingly, the artists are trying to make it as singer-songwriters in the series as well as in real life. Cookie and Luscious, the parents, are managers in the process of music production. They do not create the product themselves, they are just entrepreneurs and bosses. They do not create the lyrics, melodies, or compose anything, they simply direct everyone and manage the enterprise but have an influence on the final product once the music is released. The actual producers in the show are seen during recording sessions and are constantly working in a subservient manner, while Cookie and Lucious take all the credit. They are shown as introverts, living in a cave, doing the behind the scenes work, similar to how real producers do their jobs in this business in real life. In real life though, music producers would at least be getting more notoriety, but the show Empire conveys a different tale. In this analysis of the TV show, you see how the family are all music producers in a sense and a part of the process escalating them to become a powerful empire. This show is considered a very accurate depiction of the Hip-Hop industry, without hiding the secrets of the music industry from the audience. Since TV shows like Empire are targeting the largest audience, they must be rich in quality of content to catch young music lovers’ attention, while bringing value to more advanced watchers who know the music business in and out. A very popular show that exemplifies this genre and music industry in all its glory.The last genre that I am considering is Interviews with music producers, taking Clean Bandit’s YouTube video called, “The Making Of Clean Bandit’s, “Rockabye” |Deconstructed”. This genre that would be considered the least popular because is not used as entertainment, but rather exposes the tricks and behind the scenes footage of what takes to make big hit songs that we hear every day on the radio. In essence a day in the life of a producer reality type show. In this video, we see Jack Patterson (Clean Bandit’s main music producer) in the studio, going into depth on the making of the hit “Rockabye” which is dedicated to single moms. The producer explains how each musical element contributes to this main theme and create a harmonious piece of art that is ready to be consumed. For example, the singer Anne-Marie’s lyrics are indirect, metaphorical, and emotional, which contrasts well with Sean Paul’s more direct, straight to the point rapping: “Single mom what you doing out there? Facing the hard life without no fear”. He then demonstrates the individual sounds in the record including the live instruments and the processing that made each track stand out in the mix. In this video, the music producer proved his role as the mastermind behind the music, controlling the whole interaction between the players in the band. This video is not meant for any type of audience, it is aimed at experts in the field and amateurs who want to learn more about the music production process or catch inspiration.Overall, we can get a sense of how music producers are portrayed differently in various genres, ranging from subordinates doing the dirty work like recording producers in Empire to huge venerated artists like Armin Van Buuren who dedicate their lives to provide their fans with awesomeness and euphoric melodies getting all the attention. Myself as a musician I can relate be every identity being shown with these music producers can take because I know the importance of each step in the music process to achieve perfection. It saddens me that the world only gives credit to the names that are put on the records, while in reality, it is usually a team’s effort that creates such results. At the same time, not everyone wants the same thing: some people chose fame while others are after much greater agendas. Works Cited Bucher, Geoff. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2000, articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/04/entertainment/ca-37230.Howard, Jack. “Target Audience For Pop Music.” Prezi.com, 30 Nov. 2016, prezi.com/qvbi8lnirvyu/target-audience-for-pop-music/.“THE EDM AUDIENCE ANALYSIS.” Eventbrite, Mashwork, eventbrite-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/marketing/britepapers/Eventbrite_EDM_Social_Media_Listening_Project.pdf."Empire (2015 TV Series)." Wikipedia. April 19, 2018. Accessed April 19, 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(2015_TV_series).“Clean Bandit (Ft. Anne-Marie & Sean Paul) – Rockabye.” Genius, 21 Oct. 2016, genius.com/Clean-bandit-rockabye-lyrics.RapGeniusVideo. “The Making Of Clean Bandit's ‘Rockabye’ | Deconstructed.” YouTube, YouTube, 18 Mar. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=skuQyvgcxfE.
Annotated Bibliography
Is Depression a Choice?
Depression is not a choice.Principally, depression is a frequent and severe health problem which negatively affects the way one feels, thinks and behaves. It is caused by various factors. These include heredity, differences in particular brain chemicals, individuality, ecological factors such as constant exposure to violence and abuse among others as well as individuality. Apparently, these types of factors are beyond human control. However, various ways of treating patients with depression exist. Bianchi, Renzo, et al. "Comparative symptomatology of burnout and depression." Journal of Health Psychology 18.6 (2013): 782-787.In this article, the author compares the relationship between burnout and depression. Specifically, the author compares depressive signs in forty-six employees who were burned out, forty-six outpatients suffering from a main depressive event, and four-hundred and fifty-three employees without burnout. The author does this to test the uniqueness of burnout as a health issue. Consequently, the author found that participants suffering from burnout as well as key depressive events depicted the same severe degrees of general depressive signs. The between-syndrome overlap again confirmed for 8 of the principal event investigative criterion of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders. The author’s results, however, do not support the idea that depression and burnout are distinct issues hence query the nosological additional value of burnout assemble. This is a good piece of academic work since it leaves room for more research on depression.Burton, Christopher, et al. "Activity monitoring in patients with depression: a systematic review." Journal of affective disorders 145.1 (2013): 21-28.The authors of the article define depression in great detail and the factors that lead to this type of condition. Such factors include personality and ecological factors. In addition, the authors of the article explore the way one can identify an individual suffering from depression. Among the major ways according to the authors is a change in the physical behavior of the patients. Specifically, the authors argue that the change in physical activities is portrayed by lack of interest in normal daily activities and anxiety among others. Again, they highlight some of the modern equipment used to watch physical activities of an individual experiencing depression. Additionally, in the article, the authors also compare both day-time activities and night-time activities of patients with depression. The findings indicate less activity during the day and a decrease in activities during the night in people experiencing depression. However, the authors propose more surveys to be conducted on activities of patients with depression. It is an excellent academic work suitable for students.Carey, Mariko, et al. "Accuracy of general practitioner unassisted detection of depression." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 48.6 (2014): 571-578.The authors of this article offer a detailed definition of depression. According to the authors of the article, primary care is a critical arrangement for management of depression. In the article, the authors also conducted a survey to illustrate the correctness of unaided general healthcare judgments of patients’ despair in comparison with a uniform depression screening device delivered through touch-screen computer. Consequently, the authors of this article used patients aged eighteen or over who speak English. The number of participants was one- thousand five hundred and fifty-eight. They filled a questionnaire (PHQ-9) while presenting for care to a general healthcare provider in Australia. Later, the judgments of the general healthcare provider concerning the position of depression were compared with Patient Health Questionnaire-9. According to the results, 20% of the participants were identified as suffering from depression by the PHQ-9. Similarly, the general healthcare providers estimated the same frequency. Nonetheless, when compared with PHQ-9, the general healthcare provider’s finding had a sensitivity of fifty-one percent. The authors, therefore, conclude that unaided judgments concerning depression lacked sensitivity.Cukor, Daniel, et al. "Psychosocial intervention improves depression, quality of life, and fluid adherence in hemodialysis." Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 25.1 (2014): 196-206.In this article, the authors focus on patients suffering from ESRD. Consequently, they highlight the link between ESRD and the rates of depression. Notably, the authors argue that depression is linked to reduced quality of life and endurance. They highlight a study which they conducted to determine whether personal Cognitive Behavioral Therapy minimizes depression in hemodialysis individuals suffering from high depressive affect. Sixty-five people participated in the study, though only fifty-nine completed the survey. Consequently, according to the authors of this article, among the participants suffering from depression, eighty-nine percent in the first group did not suffer from depression at the end of medication in comparison with thirty-eight percent in wait register. Additionally, the authors argue that treatment-1st group realizes a higher improvement in the quality of their lives. The authors, therefore, conclude that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy caused a substantial improvement in the quality of life, despair as well as compliance with prescriptions. Again, they conclude that surveys must be conducted to evaluate the long-term impacts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on death in people experiencing ESRD and morbidity.Duntas, L. H., and A. Maillis. "Hypothyroidism and depression: salient aspects of pathogenesis and management." Minerva endocrinologica 38.4 (2013): 365-377In this article, the authors link a condition known as hypothyroidism to depression. They argue that this condition triggers emotional illness as well as psychic turmoil. In addition, they argue that patients suffering from depression have a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism. On the other hand, the authors argue that individuals suffering from hypothyroidism exhibit a higher incidence of depressive signs. Hypothyroidism portrays significant changes in glucose metabolism and in the circulation of the blood. Additionally, people with depression may have abnormalities related to the structure of the hippocampus which affect the performance of their memory. Moreover, the authors argue that thyroid peroxidase antibodies have been directly linked to mannerism markers of depression. Additionally, glucose homeostasis, as well as fast weight loss, is linked to thyroid hormones and raised depression signs. In the article, Duntas and Maillies argue that treatment for thyroxine in individuals over sixty-five years does not boost cognition. They also highlight some of the drugs used to treat depression.Gautam Saha, I.D Gupta, Navendu Gaur, Tushar Jagawat, Anita Gautam, T. S Sathyanarayana. "Clinical practice guidelines for the management of depression." Indian journal of psychiatry 59.Suppl 1 (2017): S34.In this article, the authors provide a detailed definition of depression and its effects on an individual. Again, they highlight the signs associated with depression. These include minimized concentration, lack of interest and fatigue among others. Moreover, they associate depression with most of the illnesses afflicting the globe as well as its link to other negative social impacts such as suicide. In addition, the authors highlight numerous strategies for managing depression. In this article, the authors also provide a detailed description of the procedures required to diagnose cases of depression. The authors further discuss various treatments used to treat depression and the procedures to be followed in case the patient is suffering from depression for the second time. On the other hand, the authors discuss why it is necessary to disregard bipolar disorder when conducting a diagnosis of depression. Notably, this article is an excellent piece of academic work since it offers detailed information related to depression.Hare, David L., et al. "Depression and cardiovascular disease: a clinical review." European heart journal 35.21 (2013): 1365-1372.The authors of the article provide details regarding the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease. They argue that individuals suffering from cardiovascular illnesses experience more depression compared to the general populace. Similarly, patients with depression have a higher risk of ultimately developing cardiovascular illnesses besides having a greater death rate compared to the general populace. According to the authors of this article, individuals suffering from both depression and cardiovascular sicknesses suffer a worse result compared to those without depression. In addition, the authors argue that a graded association exists. As a result, there is a direct correlation between depression and consequent risk of death and cardiovascular-related episodes. The authors nonetheless argue that irrespective of the existence of a causal association, depression is the principal driver of the life hence needs avoidance, diagnosis, and control. Furthermore, they highlight some of the extra administration strategies appropriate for depressed people suffering from cardiovascular illnesses.McIntyre, Roger S., et al. "Treatment-resistant depression: definitions, review of the evidence, and algorithmic approach." Journal of affective disorders 156 (2014): 1-7.In this article, the authors focus on adults suffering from main depressive disorder (MDD). They argue that such type of patients do not realize a decrease in index pharmacological medication. Again, they argue that almost a half of these types of patients can neither realize nor maintain a decrease after many pharmacological interventions. They, therefore, briefly analyze treatment methods that are effective in resistant depression. Basically, the authors conducted an appraisal of computerized databases namely Google Scholar and PubMed for 23 years. Their findings are that evidence-based expansion of traditional antidepressants having atypical antipsychotics is the broadest and most accurate of all the pharmacological methods in TRD. Again, budding facts support the application of psychostimulants and aerobic exercises. Conversely, the authors suggest some of the treatment options available for treatment-resistant depression in adults. They also compare surveys conducted on both TRD and depression that is not resistant to medication. This article is a good piece of academic work since it provides greater insight into a depression that has not received a lot of attention.Ploessl, Cady, Rebecca S. Pettit, and Jennifer Donaldson. "Prevalence of depression and antidepressant therapy use in a pediatric cystic fibrosis population." Annals of Pharmacotherapy 48.4 (2014): 488-493.In this article, the authors focus on the issue of depression in patients suffering from Cystic Fibrosis (CF). They note that depression is linked to a major morbidity as well as death. In addition, they note that though as information concerning depression increases, there is still limited information with regard to the frequency and administration of depression with pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) populace. Again, in the article, the authors explore the reasons behind the increase in cases of depression. Besides, they highlight some of the treatment routines for patients with depression. Furthermore, in the article, the risk factors associated with depression are discussed. According to research conducted by the authors, the number of people with recorded depression diagnosis was nine percent. Conversely, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the main type of treatment for patients experiencing depression. Moreover, the risk factors identified must be employed to raise screening for depression in cystic fibrosis pediatric patients.Yonkers, Kimberly. "Depression: snapshot: protocol 3." Contemporary OB/GYN 61.3 (2016): 38-39.The author of the article highlights the pathophysiology, identification, administration as well as follows up of depression in great detail. Specifically, he explains numerous causes of depression. These include the individuality, differences in particular chemicals found in the brain and heredity among others. Again, he highlights the way one identify a person suffering from depression and how depression is managed from a medical point of view. In addition, the author of the article mentions various steps that are taken to follow up cases of patients who have received treatment for depression. Dr. Yonkers also highlights pharmacotherapy’s role as well as the selection of medication with regard to the risks of teratogenic. Furthermore, the author explains why one out of five women experiences depression during the course of their lives. He also discusses why the risk of suffering from depression is higher during their reproductive period. This article provides excellent scholarly material for students, lectures, and people who are interested in conducting additional research on the issue of depression.
Project 2
Is Depression a Choice?
IntroductionDepression refers to a normal and severe medical condition which negatively impacts the way an individual feels, thinks and behaves. Mainly, this type of condition is caused by numerous factors. These include heredity, individuality, a change in certain chemicals found in the brain and factors related to one’s surroundings like regular exposure to violence and abuse. In addition, depression causes a low quality of life as well as damaged role operations. Notably, depression is a principal contributory factor to the international burden of illnesses. It is also linked to increased rates of suicidal tendencies and death. When this condition happens within the context of health morbidity, it is related to a rise in health care expenses, long periods of hospitalization, and poor compliance to treatment among others.Similarly, this condition is known to be linked to hardships in role changeovers such as unsteady employment, low levels of education, matrimonial disturbance and increased adolescent child-bearing. Besides, it is considered as a risk factor for the beginning of many chronic secondary disorders. Available information indicates that between a third and a half of people experiencing depression also suffer reappearance of depressive events.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this type of condition is the fourth major factor causing disability internationally. It is forecasted that by the year 2020, depression will be the 2nd most frequent cause of disability globally. Nonetheless, numerous approaches to managing this condition exist.Mainly, the signs of this medical condition differ from gentle to severe. They include problems sleeping or sleeping a lot, exhaustion, loss of appetite leading to rapid loss of weight, feeling unhappy, feeling hopeless, and problems concentrating, thinking or arriving at decisions. Others are thoughts of suicide, lack of interest in activities which one used to enjoy and changes in speech and movement.Some individuals face an increased risk of experiencing this condition compared to others. Apparently, the risk aspects include individuality, some types of recommended medication, life events such as separation, and work-related problems, previous head injuries, drug and substance abuse and hereditary factors among others. Basically, depression is not a choice. This is due to numerous reasons.Why Depression is Not a Choice. Various factors lead to depression and these factors are beyond the control of a human being. Among this is first, heredity. This makes depression to run in families. To illustrate, if an identical twin suffers from depression, the chances of the other experiencing the same condition are seventy percent (Burton et al. 22). An individual thus has no control over his or her genetics. Consequently, he or she cannot choose whether to be depressed or not.Similarly, depression is caused by certain medical conditions such as cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, and ESRD among other chronic illnesses. According to Hare et al. (1366), people suffering from heart illnesses experience a lot of depression compared to individuals not suffering from such conditions. These types of chronic conditions are, in turn, caused by numerous factors that an individual cannot control (Duntas and Maillis 370). Most importantly, no one chooses to fall sick. In fact, most people do not like falling sick or seeing their close relatives or friends falling sick.Another cause of depression is environmental factors. These include exposure to violence and abuse. Basically, a person can find himself or herself in a violent environment unexpectedly. For instance, political violence may break out in an area which for a long time has enjoyed peace (Burton et al. 23). Such violence may lead to a disruption of one’s life as a result due to unavailability of basic needs like water and shelter. Consequently, this can lead to feelings of sadness and loss of hope in life.Similarly, no one is immune to depression as it affects people of various ages and also from people from different backgrounds. These include children and people from well-off families (Bianchi, Renzo, et al 785). Well-known leaders like Abraham Lincoln of the United States of America, Winston Churchill of England and Mahatma Gandhi of India once suffered from short periods of depression. As such, depression is a real sickness with real impacts and is definitely not an indication of failure. Notably, no one chooses to be sick hence depression cannot be a choice.Depression is also caused by some life events. These include divorce or separation, work-related issues, and other relationships problems. Mostly, these occur sometimes when least expected. As such, no one has control over them hence cannot prevent them from depressing him or her (Cukor et al. 198).Moreover, depression is caused by differences in particular chemicals which are found in the brain. This type of reaction in the brain is also beyond the control of a normal human being. As such, the chemical differences can only be balanced by application of certain medications. According to Yonkers (39), “one out of five women experience depression during their reproductive years. This is due to changes in the chemicals in their brains. These changes are, in turn, caused by changes in their hormones.”Similarly, McIntyre et al. (5) argue that people suffering from main depressive condition portray a reduction in hippocampus volume. This is a minute section of the brain found in the brain’s medial temporal lobe. Notably, it comprises of 2 halves, with one residing in every brain’s hemisphere. The major function of the hippocampus includes the formation of fresh memories, long-term recollection as well as spatial steering. Subsequently, the amygdala contains the hippocampus. These two are associated with depression hence cannot be controlled by an individual.Again, depression may not be caused by a particular factor or event hence can affect an individual at any given time or place. As such, there is no way a person can choose when he or she will suffer from depression or not. This type of medical condition can also not be fixed fast. Some people who experience it sometimes try to reduce sign associated with depression by self-medication (Gautam et al. 34). Subsequently, they resort to alcohol, drug and substance abuse, sex, or any other risk behaviors to assist them to manage their feelings as well as thoughts. Unfortunately, these attempts to fix this ailment fast can only lead to a self-destruction life (Hare et al. 1366).Furthermore, just like any other health condition, depression normally responds to medication. Studies indicate that in almost eighty percent of cases of depression, patients who get specialized treatment say that the treatment made them feel healthier. These types of treatment may encompass a mixture of drugs, therapies or other approaches (Ploessl et al. 490).Similarly, the administration of this condition encompasses a wide-ranging evaluation as well as the appropriate establishment of identification. The evaluation must be founded on a detailed past, physical and psychological state assessment (McIntyre et al. (3). Again, in most cases, this type of medical condition manifests itself with a mixture of signs of depressed feelings, reduced appetite, and reduced energy among others. In addition, according to the state of the condition, some of these signs can be more noticeable hence develop aspects which are extensively considered as exhibiting unique medical significance.Counter ArgumentConversely, depression can also be a choice. Among the reasons is that this type of condition is caused by factors that one can avoid. These include taking a lot of alcohol, sugar, caffeine and using some genres of recommended drugs and adopting a negative attitude towards life and failing to take medication s as prescribed among others (Bianchi et al. 785). These types of food cause low moods which lead to anxiety, anger, despair and low concentration and so on.Again, this type of medical condition is apparently a desperate condition of the mind whereby an individual assumes exceptionally negative thought patterns to be facts of life. A person who experiences depression, therefore, generally has a discouraged sense of himself or herself (Burton et al 25). Additionally, such a person has a flawed view of the world around him or her as well as the way he or she perceives himself or herself in that type of world.This state also portrays itself through the individual repeatedly regretting his or her past. As such, such an individual has doubts concerning the future. Thus depression is not a remarkable cognizant choice but a result of recurring thinking patterns which lead to an unconstructive point of view concerning life and the person in it (Carey et al, 575).Subsequently, this type of situation can be changed if an individual decides to adopt a positive attitude towards him or herself in particular and the world and other people in general (Cukor et al. 200). Particularly, a simple yet effective device which can assist one gain freedom from this type of condition is to be in contact with the current moment. In addition, surrounding oneself with people who have a positive attitude towards life is one way of avoiding depression.ConclusionBasically, depression is not a choice since it is a type of mental illness. Notably, this type of medical condition is increasing tremendously throughout the globe. Various factors lead to this type of condition that is beyond the control of a normal human being. These include ecological factors, hereditary factors, and differences in the specific chemicals within the brain. Subsequently, numerous depression management strategies exist just like in other medical conditions. Such strategies include using various types of medications in combination with some types of therapies.However, cases of depression can be reduced if the risk factors are identified early and avoided. For instance, in cases where depression is caused by ailments like cardiovascular illnesses, greater awareness must be created through education. Such a move will enable people with a higher risk of developing this condition going for medical screening to help them seek medical intervention early.Conversely, this type of condition can be considered as a choice since some of the factors that lead to it are avoidable. Such factors include taking alcohol, using some types of drugs. Besides, some types of activities exist which an individual can undertake to avoid getting depressed. These include exercising, employing problem-solving methods to handle stress as well as anxiety.Various ways also exist which can be employed to help individuals suffering from depression. Among these is first, listening to the patient without judgment. Second, being patient since depression is a sickness that requires professional treatment. Third, concentrating on the current situation and taking small actions. Principally, it can be overpowering when one looks at the bigger picture. Fourth, getting more information concerning depression since such type of information can change the way depression is perceived. Lastly, getting involved and taking action can lead to improvement of the condition.In view of the above, whether despair is a medical disorder or not does matter. The reality is that this type of condition is devastating and afflicts the lives of so many people across the globe. Basically, it is not merely unhappiness, neither is it a sign of weakness. Additionally, it does not discriminate against gender, racial or religious background. As such, it is not a choice. Works CitedBianchi, Renzo, et al. "Comparative symptomatology of burnout and depression." Journal ofHealth Psychology 18.6 (2013): 782-787.Burton, Christopher, et al. "Activity monitoring in patients with depression: a systematicreview." Journal of affective disorders 145.1 (2013): 21-28.Carey, Mariko, et al. "Accuracy of general practitioner unassisted detection of depression."Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 48.6 (2014): 571-578.Cukor, Daniel, et al. "Psychosocial intervention improves depression, quality of life, and fluidadherence in hemodialysis." Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 25.1 (2014): 196-206.Duntas, L. H., and A. Maillis. "Hypothyroidism and depression: salient aspects of pathogenesisand management." Minerva endocrinologica 38.4 (2013): 365-377Gautam Saha, I.D Gupta, Navendu Gaur, Tushar Jagawat, Anita Gautam, T. S Sathyanarayana."Clinical practice guidelines for the management of depression." Indian journal of psychiatry 59.Suppl 1 (2017): S34.Hare, David L., et al. "Depression and cardiovascular disease: a clinical review." European heartjournal 35.21 (2013): 1365-1372.McIntyre, Roger S., et al. "Treatment-resistant depression: definitions, review of the evidence,and algorithmic approach." Journal of affective disorders 156 (2014): 1-7.Ploessl, Cady, Rebecca S. Pettit, and Jennifer Donaldson. "Prevalence of depression andantidepressant therapy use in a pediatric cystic fibrosis population." Annals of Pharmacotherapy 48.4 (2014): 488-493.Yonkers, Kimberly. "Depression: snapshot: protocol 3." Contemporary OB/GYN 61.3 (2016): 38-39.
Project 3
Write a rationale (at least 200 polished words) that explains the rhetorical choices you made in each genre and how you see those choices as rhetorically effective for you context and audience. In other words, for each of your creations, you’ll write a 200 word explanation (minimum of 600 words in all) of why you did what you did and how well you think it works or doesn’t work for your intended purpose and audience.Kahoot: https://create.kahoot.it/details/is-depression-a-choice/d2664b22-c920-4279-8bb4-fd8e9f573c5bKahoot is a great game to play in class as it allows students to quiz each other, open discussions, engage in surveys and have some competitive fun. In this genre, my goal is to make my classmates think about the issue of depression because it is considered a major problem and every one of us either go through it or know someone who does. I am appealing to Logos as the questions we are dealing with here are mostly facts. Ethos is there as well given the credibility of clinical Psychologist and Harvard professor Jordan Peterson who appears in the video loading page and in some of the quiz images. Pathos is used in the ambiguity of the answer choices, which might cause some of my colleagues to laugh, others to question, and some to consider the options deeply. Laughter is a great tool to warm people up for a discussion. It can also be as a cure for depression with the old adage saying, “humor/laughter is the best medicine”.Poem:
Writing this poem made me more mindful of my own feelings which I often repress because of a fear of not being understood or judged. In this poem, I am mainly appealing to Pathos as I am expressing my feelings of exhaustion towards my daily routine. This poem is dedicated to people who can relate, mainly depressed people. The goal is to show them that they are not alone. I used the pronoun “You” in an attempt to put myself in somebody else’s shoes or vice versa. I am also using the present tense in order to make people feel present in my reality and the experience as I share it. By sharing my intimate perspective of the world, I invite people to accept their vulnerability in order to free themselves from negative emotions. My hope is that readers find a connection between my story and theirs in order to feel the same emotions that I felt when writing this poem. Ultimately my poem hints to point out the absurdities modern life can sometimes bring and how the mundane nature of a daily routine can start to wear you out. Happiness, with the obligation to conform society’s norms, and the sadness of depression many do not know or see in individuals, are subtly conveyed in the poem I created.Piano Solo:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A51QChhQyko[/embedyt]
This Piano Solo begins with a minor chord representing sadness, followed by a descending pattern that repeats in various octaves. This genre might cost me some points as it is high up to interpretation and subjective and does not present a concrete argument, as suggested. However, the audience will experience the feeling of depression by the sounds of melancholic arpeggios. The question of whether depression is a choice was in my mind while I was playing this piece and the conflict of what I feel and think about depression was happening between the left hand and the right hand on the piano. The left hand is constantly repeating the same chord progression forming a loop, meanwhile, the right hand is trying to escape sadness with new melodic ideas which seem to always fall back to the depression theme represented by the left hand. The idea is that depression is a mood disorder that causes individuals to believe that they will never feel better. The feeling itself cannot be described in words as well as it can in music. I do not expect people to realize exactly what is going on in my head, but I do hope that my interpretation will touch some people’s hearts.Write a final reflection (at least 400 polished words) that explores what you learned about genre and rhetorical situation and how the project added to, challenged, or complicated your theories and practices of composing. During this project, I learned that genre is an important tool to express ideas and convey messages to a multitude of audiences. A genre is characterized by a set of rules and constraints in which a composition fits where specific shapes, forms, subjects, and style reside. With the understanding of what a genre is one can develop a unique style that can resonate in their compositions and in people’s minds when they interpret the art. It’s a form of storytelling, where interpretation is the medium of communication between a creator’s work and its audience. Some genre can be very direct and straight to the point, like self-help books, while other genres are meant to make people use their imagination, like Electronic Dance Music or Mozart Classical music. I found out that each genre can talk to a different audience, making it possible to express complex ideas from scientific research papers to children through much simpler and funnier genres like animated comics for example. I also found that the choice of a genre can lead to different conclusions, as depression can be portrayed as a choice by a picture of a person getting drugged with his friends, or it can be portrayed as a curse through a painful poem. Rhetoric is great to present opinions and thoughts to the world in strong and questioning arguments. With the use of ethos, I can now create convincing points which are backed by credible sources, like clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson. Logos can be used to make strong arguments which make logical sense and therefore persuade my audience similarly like I did in my Kahoot quiz. By making people feel certain emotions with pathos such as in my piano piece, one can influence their cognitive thinking and decision making, which can be useful to change people’s stubborn or skeptical minds sometimes. Empathy, for example, is a powerful emotion that can make a person understand and feel the world through another person’s eyes. When that emotion is triggered, one is more likely to be considerate of another’s feelings when making a decision, which can result in them changing their minds. This project taught me how to express myself freely but more than that it taught me how to address an issue in different lights to a range of audiences. The possibilities from now on are endless. It is definitely the beginning of a world that I am excited to explore!