Music, media and school: relations and contradictions highlighted by children and teenagers

Abstract

This article discusses the relation between music, media and school having as subjects of analysis children and teenagers, categories that are socially constructed by economic, cultural, technological and social influences. The theoretical support is taken from authors such as Adorno, Bourdieu and Canclini among others, in order to understand how students from public and private schools live, express and give meaning to musical objects, and also in which contexts and time it happens and under which mediations in a society in which the market influence prevails. The research tools (questionnaires, observations and interviews) show that although television is still an important means used for music consumption and fruition, for teenagers in special, the internet and the digital technologies are taking the lead. The theme is approached from the understanding of its totality and of the inherent contradictions in relation to the cultural objects in the contemporary technological society that promotes an approximation of the universe of distinct social classes by media consumption. School is seen as a mediation that can favor the production of knowledge about music concerning media culture in its social and historical dimension that can be used as an emancipation factor and critical awareness in relation to the wider society.