Perceptions of Music Performance Students on the Use of Music as Torture

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Abstract

The American military’s use of music and sound as a technique of interrogation and as a vehicle of forced compliance on prisoners in the “global war on terror” has been well documented. Specifically, U.S. interrogators state that music has been used to deprive prisoners of sleep, disorient them, and offend them culturally in order to break their resistance to interrogation. Given that Americans have become increasingly aware of these techniques, we wonder why it has provoked little public outcry?” In this paper, we follow the aforementioned question to ask a very specific segment of the public if an outcry exists and if an outcry is warranted. For purposes of this inquiry we surveyed music majors and music performance students on their perceptions and reactions to the use of music in this way.

Authors

• John Paul, Washburn University

• Stephanie K. Decker, Washburn University