Richard Wagner was a composer and conductor in 1800s Germany. He was well known and conducted many popular orchestras and other forms of media. For most of his life, he was not involved in any controversies regarding his music or any notion of racism towards anyone. However, in the 1850s it began to gain popularity, but also experienced a rise in anti-Semitism. Whether his success and his lyrics against the Jewish people are directly related or not, it is obvious that he can thank his anti-Semitic views for some of his success, even finding himself as one of Hitler's favorite composers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned'?Get the original essay His career has also influenced his views, as evidenced by his writings such as 'Das Judenthum in der Musik'. He believed that Jews who had succeeded in making music were responsible for his difficulties in the industry and the downfall of many German art forms. He attacked many Jews, even those who helped him in his career. Somehow, Wagner still managed to live his life and even had Jewish friends and colleagues. Despite this, Wagner's music remained extremely controversial and was banned outright in Israel. It also led many people to discuss his ideas, analyze his works for anti-Semitism, and, over time, question whether the banning of his music even made sense anymore. Not all of Wagner's music was filled with bold, anti-Semitic or blatantly cruel lyrics. themes. His music was by no means bad, but the man behind the work certainly was. For this reason, people don't always agree on how one's work should be handled. People tried to play Wagner music in Israel after the ban was enacted, but protests and debates are still underway to keep this music out. There are arguments that censorship as a whole is not the right thing to do, but there are also arguments that Israel should be a place where his work is absent and cannot be heard out of respect for people affected by his anti-Semitism. This may seem more reasonable when considering specifically the Holocaust survivors who may have even been forced to hear his works as they were performed in the concentration camps. Although music does not have the same connotations for everyone, for many people it is associated with terrible messages and memories and should not be played. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper from our expert now. writers.Get a Custom EssayThe breadth of Wagner's works and ideas sparks much debate. Some people believe that trying to discuss his work and messages is an act of revisionism and can be considered racist in itself, others believe that his work is not intrinsically linked to the Nazis or the Holocaust since Wagner wasn't even alive at the time. at the same time as Hitler, and that it is necessary to discuss it in order to manage it well rather than banning it outright. Whichever side comes closest to the morally justified end of the scale, Wagner left a legacy of hatred and racism not only on himself, but also on his works. They have been vilified by many and for several years, and potentially many more, have been the subject of debate and censorship in/.