Monday, April 4, 2011

Using Classical Music to Deter Vandalism and Loitering

Oregon has just approved a campaign to play classical music from speakers at all light rail stations in high crime areas in an attempt to deter loiterers and vandals, and surveillance shows it actually works. The primary focus is 18-25 year-olds, for whom classical music "isn't cool". This is not the first time I have heard of such a practice. The train and subway stations in Buffalo, NY have been doing the same thing with similar results. To contradict this, malls around the country like to play classical music like Vivaldi while people shop, for studies show that people actually end up purchasing 20% more in such stores. Television ads often use Classical music to promote high class products and lifestles, such as the Zales Jewelers commercials using Vivaldi's "Spring" from "The Four Seasons". How does this say that today's culture values classical music? Does society value classical music? Is there still value in classical music? If there is, and I believe there definitely is, how do we get others to believe the same?

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