I think there is no doubt that music shapes emotions and can lead an individual toward dperession, happiness, action, relaxation or the urge to dance, but killing someone requires premeditation, not just simple emotional response. I think that society helps create an individual, but the individual helps create society. Yes the music, if it glorifies and encourages murder and destruction of another human would definitely share the blame in enciting a violent action from an individual. The fact that everybody who listens to the same music doesn't perform the same actions of destruction should be proof enough that such a phenomena should not be used as a defense. The individual is still responsible for acting upon the "advice" contained in the lyric.
An artist should be aware of their suggestive power though, and be careful about releasing something that say, encourages suicide. Given the right circumstances it may indeed be the straw that breaks the camels back. That saying however, implies a lot of other "straws".
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I am the walrus!.... er, no hang on....
A fair dinkum laughing Hyena!
[This message has been edited by Yorick (edited 08-20-2001).]