My research question is as follows: "Why is music, without a doubt, the most powerful and prominent emotional trigger and alternator in the world today?" My argument will stem from this to argue that music is the most prominent and powerful emotional trigger and modifier in the world today. 

When brainstorming an argumentative topic I was passionate about, I could not stop thinking of dozens of different topics. Argumentative topics like rape, exercise, and wealth swirled in my mind, but none of these ideas I was really passionate about. Then, while listening to music as I was researching a different topic, it hit me. I want to do my research project on music. Music is one of my favorite pastimes. Music has helped me get over hard times, celebrate good times, and relax when I am stressed. I believe I am qualified to write on this topic because I have personally seen how music can emotionally benefit an individual battling psychological disorders. Furthermore, my family has been very active and centered around music for as long as I can remember. My grandfather has worked as a record label executive with Interscope Records and currently resides as an executive with Live Nation. This topic does indeed affect my values and beliefs. Too often people think of music as a passing fancy that is usually lyrical garbage. I know how long of a process and how stressful it is for (most) artists -- with any lyrical and musical talent -- and their team to make a single song. When people ignore lyrically genius songs they are not only hurting the artist, but they lose out on the opportunity to feel the range of emotions the song can convey. Simply put, music is a very unique art form that can create and change ones mood. That is why I chose it as the basis of my argumentative paper. 

The first source for the argumentative paper is the informational work titled "Music and Feeling" by internationally renowned Canadian philosopher of the arts Francis Edward Sparshott. Sparshott's central claim is that music has the ability to create and change emotion (feelings) because it is an "alternative to reality" and an "alternative way of being" (Sparshott).  The major evidence Sparshott incorporates is other psychologists -- as well as his own -- studies on human emotion and music and the effects. These effects include -- but are not limited to -- decreased psychotic episodes, mood elevation, memory enhancement, and decreased stress. The overarching values and interests at stake in this article are the medical as well as music industries. If music is seen as a way to help mental disorders it could create a monetary loss for medical professionals. In a similar fashion, if music is completely worthless in emotion, it could create a loss for artists, producers, music executives, and so on. Related to this, being in the medical community, Sparshott could have some biases. The nature of the article makes me believe a bias is not in play, but it is always important to indicate the possibility. Sparshott is credible because he is an internationally renowned philosopher who has written countless important and well-known articles. This article may be nearly 20 years old, published in 1994, but it is still very relevant. The information in this piece is not only identical to modern research on music's positive medical effects, but is the basis for much of the modern works. 

My second source is a much shorter informational work titled "Turn on the music to soothe your soul" by R.N. Sheryl M. Ness. Ness argues that music can help cancer patients because of its ability to enhance memory, reduce the sensation of pain, encourage relaxation, and so on. She uses the fact that the topic of music's emotional benefits has been well documented to further advance her claims. The values and interests at stake, much like the previous article, are between the medical and musical industries. Cancer treatment is a multi-billion dollar industry and the management of pain is a major factor of that. If music can help reduce the need for painkillers, it hurts the pharmaceutical companies. Like Sparshott, it is possible Ness has some biases being a medical professional. It does not seem, however, that any bias is present in her work. Ness is a reliable source because she is a registered nurse and is published on the well-respected medical site Mayo Clinic. This article is relatively new, being only 4 years old. Much of the information in this article has been further proven by other doctors and psychologists, making it valid. 

My third source is another shorter, supplementary informational article titled "Music and Alzheimer's: Can it Help?" by Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford. The central claim of this article is that music has the power to help Alzheimer's patients with emotional and behavioral malice. Graff-Radford cites music's ability to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and calm individuals as a beneficial tool to help Alzheimer's patients. Like the past two articles, Graff-Radford could have a bias being a medical professional. There is no indication of bias in this article; he is solely praising music and its ability to help. This author is credible and believable because he is a doctor and is published on a very well known and respected medical website, Mayo Clinic. Being less than a year old, this article is the most recent and therefore still holds validity in modern times.

When reflecting on the feasibility of this topic as my research question I have found a deeper, overarching theme. That theme, question really, is: "Are drugs really the best treatment for all diseases?" My original question is still arguable and I believe the findings in each of the sources will help further my argument with the premise of the question above. I have found many sources -- and a popular opinion -- that drugs like Oxytocin, Xanax, Prozac, and so on are the best way to help with any ailment physical or mental. I am not saying medication is a bad thing, it is an amazing technological advancement that has helped every single individual, but I believe we are often too ready to medicate our selves or others. I do not think I need to revise my original argument. I believe with a few more sources I will be able to write a very good argumentative paper. 

