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Home | Product Reviews & Shopping | Music Reviews Over the last decade, the number of Argentines taking drugs like marijuana and "paco" (Argentine slang for freebase cocaine), have increased dramatically. Many blame this rise in drug use on popular culture -- specifically, the music of Intoxicados. They argue that the rise in drug use is partially caused by music that glorifies drugs. Musicians, like El Pity, supposedly glorify drug use with their music and behavior, and they are idolized and emulated. These critics might be right -- El Pity's band name "Intoxicados" is Argentine slang for getting high. There can be no doubt that El Pity is a powerful influence on Argentina's young people. Anywhere you travel in Argentina, you're sure to hear a song by El Pity's Intoxicados playing as someone's ringtone. El Pity isn't just a one-hit wonder -- he's been popular for many years. You can often find the logo of El Pity's old band, Viejas Locas, spray-painted onto walls and buildings all over Argentina. You can hear his music played in popular bars and nightclubs. Walking the streets of Buenos Aires, you'll see people wearing Intoxicados or Viejas Locas shirts. El Pity is commonly featured in popular newspapers and TV shows. He's a media favorite. With El Pity's popularity and high profile, it's easy to believe El Pity is a major influence on young people. Drugs are a part of life for El Pity, and a major part of his musical image. A few months ago, El Pity was arrested for possession of marijuana. All the television coverage of the arrest showed footage of a stoned Pity, bragging that he had a bunch of drugs in his pocket. There was also footage of El Pity in concert at Mar del Plata saying "lets hope none of you will ever be addicted to something." El Pity frequently visits talk shows speaking out against drugs, and he's recorded a variety of anti-drug messages. Clearly, El Pity has a drug problem. But does he glorify drug use or discourage it? In an internet interview, Pity said he did not encourage, and that he did not want, young people to emulate him. But can his message really be that clear? Teens seem to ignore his messages discouraging drug use -- they consume more and more drugs every year. Unfortunately, it seems that many young people don't understand the seriousness of drug addiction. While El Pity achieves international fame and success as a drug abusing music star, teens all over Argentina become addicted to all manner of drugs. Schools don't teach about drugs and drug addiction, and it seems that parents and other family members are ignorant of the drug problem, or they tend to avoid the topic. When teens do find out about drug addiction, it is usually too late. Drugs are not a joke, but it seems that most teens treat it as such. Many young people have songs about legalizing drugs, drug use anthems, and songs glorifying drug use -- and most of these songs are by El Pity and Intoxicados. Regardless of El Pity's personal feelings about encouraging drug abuse, his songs are definitely pro-drug use. While it's not clear that El Pity's music is the cause of Argentina's rising drug problem, it is evident that the influence of his music, combined with the lack of awareness of many parents and the poor efforts of the Argentine education system allow so many teens to turn to drugs. El Pity once said that he wished to be the last person ever to be high on drugs -- the "last intoxicado" -- a title to one of his songs. But with El Pity's glorified drug abuse and his popular music seen as drug use anthems, he may have caused an entire generation becoming "intoxicado". Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
Author Jason Lancaster is a student of Argentine affairs and has a tonos site featuring tonos para movil. You can learn more about Argentina on Wikipedia.
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