...Rhetorical Analysis The title of this article is “Hip hop’s betrayal of Black Women” which first appeared in 2006, and was written by Jennifer McLune a librarian, activist, and writer living in Washington D.C. Although, the author makes valid points in her response she does not demonstrate enough knowledge on the subject of hip hop culture. The author argues black women in today’s hip hop culture are unfairly made out to be inferior to their male counterparts. The article can be broken down into five divisions. The author writes in response to the “socioeconomic” (297) reasoning given for the current state of affairs. The author disagrees with Powell’s response calling it a way to silence feminist critiques of the culture. The author argues that hip hop owes its success to the ideology to women-hating and that poverty is argued to be an excuse of it. The author addresses a range of issues from contemporary artists being too inconsistent, to female artists not being as united when it comes to standing up for a change. For this reason “Hip hop’s betrayal of Black Women” should not be considered by PopMatters and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) for the top prize for persuasiveness due the author’s use of rhetorical analysis and logical fallacy in addressing opposing viewpoints In “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women” the author uses three kinds of rhetorical techniques in the article logos, pathos, and ethos. Logos is used to show facts, reasons, and statistics...
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...Reflecting on American Music, Politics and Culture (5-7 pages) Identify and analyze a genre or subgenre of music (ex. hip hop, gansta rap), or musical phenomenon (ex. feminist music, anti-war music) that we’ve encountered in class and make a case for its contribution to American political culture. Has it had an identifiable social impact? If so, what has been the impact? Why is it significant? Discuss the music/phenomenon in terms of production quality, aesthetic values and strategies, relationship of sound and lyric content, access to the mass media, social functions, and political orientation. (Note: reference must be made to actual pieces of music and/or performances.) Identify the key individuals and organizations that support or oppose the development of this music/phenomenon. Describe the reactions of various constituencies (young/old, women/men, black/white, upper class/lower class, etc.) to this art. Who is the audience for this music? How do they use it (ex. listening, relaxing, dancing, entertaining, educating, making a statement, protesting)? What does it mean to its audience in terms of culture, community, and political expression? What is your reaction to this art/phenomenon? What have been the social, political, economic and cultural successes/failures of this art? Things to remember: A. You will need to consult class materials (readings, movies, lectures, etc.) along with your own research and incorporate them into your paper. B. Make...
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...addresses a topic other than that of your Oral Presentation. While your paper may be on any topic related to course materials; it must synthesize material addressed throughout the semester. For example, if you decide to write about visual culture of hip hop, you should probably refer to Tricia Rose's arguments about "preferred transcripts" suggested by music videos and Todd Boyd's conception of "hyperreal" cinematic imagery. FINAL PAPER INSTRUCTIONS: Your paper should also incorporate research that extends beyond the boundaries of materials on our syllabus. You should also be sure to construct an argument and offer a critique of assumptions surrounding your argument. The most successful papers will allow the "messiness" of researching popular culture to foreground contradictions implicit in your arguments. For example, if you want to argue that misogyny is less of a concern in 2006 than it was in 1995 because many of the gangsta rap groups responsible for "bitch-ho" rhetoric have disbanded, you would probably want to underscore the pervasive lack of feminist female representation in any hip hop idiom in 2002. In other words, less gangsta rap has not meant more positive heterosocial conditions for the production of hip hop. This is a research paper, and it will be graded according to standards of college-level humanities writing. Your paper must be typewritten, double-spaced, and thoroughly edited for spelling and grammar. Composition counts! For compositional...
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...Jennifer McLune proposes that hip-hop has betrayed black women by promoting sexism and dehumanizing black women, in her essay “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women.” The essay begins with a lengthy quote from Kevin Powell, in which he uses socioeconomic reasoning to account for the sexist language of hip-hop. McLune suggests Powell’s ideas are merely a way to hush feminists and promote the current hip-hop conditions. She also explains in her essay, how hip-hop has made it big by way of women-hating and that some of the most famous artists notoriously spat out sexist lyrics. Even artists who are seen to be less misogynistic, continuously praise and defend their brothers who fuel this fire. McLune cites The Roots, Talib Kweli, and Common as artists...
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...Imagine living in a Puritan society 330 years ago. Religious zeal and devotion are the basis of the community. Ministers and pastors promote male supremacy and women are looked down upon. The fundamental rule in society is to follow God’s law and obey His commandments. Harsh, remorseless punishment is inflicted on those who stray from God’s laws. Now compare the Puritan society to today’s society. The American culture is ruled by momentary yet popular trends. Colored skinny jeans, snap-backs, unnecessary fashion glasses and neon clothing can be seen almost anywhere on the street (Lutz). Also modern culture has astronomically altered social norms. Women used to be the ideal caretaker of innocence and purity, but now women dress in revealing clothing and are preyed on by the indecent society. Proper mannerisms have vanished and young people have become straightforward and sometimes even rude. Respect for elders and wisdom has dwindled (The Revolution in Manners and Morals). What is the cause of this cultural shift? In Boston during 1684, a group of strict Puritan religious leaders wrote a letter to the community addressing the issue of dancing. Men could dance together and women could dance together, which was viewed as a natural expression of joy. Also children could dance with their parents’ permission. However if a male and female danced together it was seen as an inexcusable sin before God (An Arrow Against Profane and Promiscuous Dancing). Puritan religious leaders warned...
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...Relation to Hip Hop Music and Poetry Poetry and music are important in the life of human beings. Poetry and hip hop music bring about emotions and feelings among the human beings. In this article, the theme of race come out clearly through the two articles. Hence, this paper will focus on the theme of race and its effect in relation to poetry and hip hop music as brought out by the author Audre Lordes and The JBHE Foundation article. Though there are similarities and differences by the two authors, the theme clearly stands out in both. The article, ‘Poetry is not a Luxury’ by Audre Lordes is analyzed together with the article "Can Hip-Hop Be the New Driving Force behind Increased Racial Integration?" by The JBHE Foundation to find a common theme that relates to both articles. The first essay talks about poetry and women while the second essay talks about hiphop. Poetry is something fundamental and important to the human (particularly female) condition as opposed to a recreation movement. It is the path of womanhood, and the feelings brought by poetry is so effectively ready to express an immediate connection to the aged society. This aged association is kind of antitoxin to the ills of present-day life, which incorporate an unfortunate concentrate on the benefit, direct power, and the institutional dehumanization. Is poetry a luxury? What does poetry relate to women? How does Hip hop music affect the increased racial integration? What if there was no poetry and hip hop...
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...Introduction American culture, being traditionally perceived as quite liberal and democratic, is in fact paralyzed by the overwhelming power of stereotypes which shape the current image of culture at large and its industries, including music, in particular. Even the most innovative and advanced movements’ turn to be submitted to the canons of the ideology that dominates in American culture. Unfortunately, such a situation does not contribute to the development of really free, liberal and focused on spiritual, moral and intellectual progress of the consumers of the culture. Probably one of the most interesting, new and, unfortunately, typical example of the domination of stereotypes in American culture is the development of female black rap music, which has become particularly intensive in 1980s and is still quite dynamically developing. At first glance black female rap music should be free from traditional stereotypes, it should be innovative and contributing to black female emancipation and increasing the role of black females in the society at large but, in actuality, the situation is absolutely different. Despite the fact that many female rappers pretend to be unique at developing the new image of a free and independent black female, it turns to be that practically all of them, or at least the most popular of them, are ideologically dependent on the male dominance in proper and figurative sense of this word. It means that as a rule black female rappers tend to create an...
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...Dione Sibley English 106 16, September, 2014 Hip Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women Hip-hop has been around since the 1970s and has been listen to by many but some see it as a burden to society. Hip-hop is criticized for its content and the “appearance” artists but also on the conspiracy of black women. Women today are being degraded in hip hop songs that lyrically distinguish women through the lyrics of rappers. In Jennifer’s Mclune article “Hip Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women”, she addresses an audience with the different sexism opinions towards women in our society, though many men feel that some of their statements or opinions are not affecting women. Mclune uses ethos, pathos, and logos by giving the audience multiple reasons why hip-hop has become so negative over the years and also explains how some women do not make the situation any better by being ignorant. Within the reasons, the article begins to give very descriptive issues. Mclune’s article, “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women”, which appeared in Z magazine in the July 2006 issue, is a response to Kevin Powell’s opinion in “Notes of a hip-hop head”, “socio-economic” explanation for the sexism in hip-hop. Powell states “just as it was unfair to demonize men of color in the 60’s solely as wild-eyed radicals when what they wanted, amidst their fury, was a little freedom and a little power, today it is wrong to categorically dismiss hip-hop without taking into consideration the socioeconomic condition...
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...industry filled with clothing and other merchandise. The reason this constant demeaning of women exists is because rap as a genre that rewards the objectification of women. The excuses used to justify the misogyny in rap are incomplete and lack accurate support. The most effective way for this continuous cycle ends, is if the fight and protest comes from the women themselves. Men are the problem in the objectification of women but in order for it to stop, women need to step up and take control of the situation. Women need to act sooner rather than later because in recent years the rap industry has become more and more sexual. Ra... ... middle of paper ... ...Society 113 (2000): 255-69. JSTOR. 29 November 2009 . McLune, Jennifer. "Hip-Hop's Betrayal of Black Women." Perspective on Contemporary Issues. 5th ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengag Learning, 2009. 247-51. Print. Thrash, Rodney. "Women Say Rap Videos Demean, Not Define." St. Petersburg Times 14 June 2005. 29 November 2009 . Williams, Dana. "Beyond Rap: Musical Misogyny." Teaching Tolerance (2003): 213-15. Tolerance in the News. 12 Aug. 2003. 29 November 2009 Rap Music's Influence Upon Teenagers :: 6 Works Cited Length: 1389...
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...The Despicable Content in Hip-Hop Music – Making Plato Turn in his Grave In a city where each individual is able to do as he pleases is a city that will be filled with murder, theft, gluttony, deviance and prejudice. Hip-Hop artists, in their music, constantly incorporate these aspects of life within the content of their lyrics. This content is not only described throughout their songs, but the lifestyle of being able to do such things is constantly being advocated. “F*ck the Police” and “Beat a police out of shape and when I'm finished, bring the yellow tape to tape off the scene of the slaughter” (Rap Genius) are lyrics from the song “F*ck the Police” by the world renown hip hop group, NWA. This is one of many Hip-Hop groups that promote violence through music. Other songs such as “She swallowed It” and “Dopeman” both promote greediness, “lawless desires”, sexism and being promiscuous. If Plato were alive today to bear witness to Hip Hop music he would have despised the content of these songs, as the aforementioned contents of this type of music are all aspects of society in what he calls the “Luxurious City” and the “Purged City” and go against his idea of a just society. Hip-Hop’s first major concept that is addressed time and time again throughout its lyrics is the concept of Greed. Greed is defined as an “intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.” (Oxford) Many Hip-Hop songs address accumulation of wealth (among other things)...
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...Introduction + Tone/Meaning The song, written by rapper Tupac Shakur, Keep Ya Head is a song dedicated to black woman. It's a self-love feminist anthem, that showed that Tupac care about the woman in his community. The message of the song is conveyed clearly and concisely, and although it uses similes, metaphors, symbolism, and other literary devices to get the point across, the message is very clear. The song is very upbeat and positive, like it is a song to uplift people, particularly the black woman. It meant to say, life is gonna get better, and no matter what happens you just gotta keep your head up. Song Interpretation The first verse tackles the abuse black woman face from black men, questioning their actions. For example, he says, in the song, “I wonder why we take from our women, Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?, think it’s time to kill for our women, Time to heal our women, be real to our...
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...Religion and Hip Hop Culture Religious Studies 157/311 Fall 2013 Tuesday & Thursday 10:50am-12:05pm Location: Duncan Lecture Hall 1055 * Important: Pay attention to the requirements listed for each of the course levels. The requirements for 311 level students are in italics (this includes extra readings). Also, NO Photos are to be taken. Cameras and cell phones must be stowed away during class. Instructors: Anthony B. Pinn Bernard “Bun B” Freeman Email: pinn@rice.edu Email: Bernard.j.freeman@rice.edu Office: Humanities 234 Office Phone: 713.348.2710 Office Hours: By Appointment Course Outreach Advisor: Anzel Jennings Teaching Assistants: Office: Humanities 215 or Pavilion (ask your TA for the location) 157 Level: * Jessica Davenport, jbd3@rice.edu, Office hours: Fridays, 9:00am-12:00pm * David Kline, david.a.kline@rice.edu, Office hours: Wednesdays, 1:00pm-4:00pm * Cleve Tinsley, cvt1@rice.edu, Office hours: Fridays, 9:00am-12:00pm * Aundrea Matthews, alm2@rice.edu, Office hours: Wednesdays, 10:30am-1:30pm 311 Level: * Jonathan Chism, chism@rice.edu, Office hours: Thursdays, 1:00pm-4:00pm * Darrius Hills, darrius.d.hills@rice.edu, Office Hours: Tuesdays, 1:00pm-4:00pm * Jason Jeffries, joj1@rice.edu, Office Hours: Wednesdays, 9:00pm-12:00pm Course Description: Understanding religion as the “Quest for Complex Subjectivity” or more simply the effort to make life meaningful in complex...
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...movement. For the music genre, see Hip hop music. For other uses, see Hip hop (disambiguation). Graffiti of "hip hop" in Eugene, Oregon Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic subculture that originated in African-American and Hispanic-American communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx.[1][2][3] DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, B-boying and graffiti writing.[4][5][6][7] [8] Since its emergence in the South Bronx, hip hop culture has spread to both urban and suburban communities throughout the world.[9] Hip hop music first emerged with disc jockeys creating rhythmic beats by looping breaks (small portions of songs emphasizing a percussive pattern) on two turntables, more commonly referred to as sampling. This was later accompanied by "rap", a rhythmic style of chanting or poetry presented in 16 bar measures or time frames, and beatboxing, a vocal technique mainly used to imitate percussive elements of the music and various technical effects of hip hop DJ's. An original form of dancing and particular styles of dress arose among fans of this new music. These elements experienced considerable refinement and development over the course of the history of the culture. The relationship between graffiti and hip hop culture arises from the appearance of new and increasingly elaborate and pervasive forms of the practice in areas where other elements of hip hop were evolving as art forms, with a...
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...often reflects a collection and pattern of personal experiences. Hip-hop or rap, an art form and culture nearly thirty years old originating from The Bronx, New York, has provided a forum for Black and Latino youth to express their respective cultures and speak on a number of issues. Today, Hip-hop is a global phenomenon that appeals to almost all ethnicities and is synthesizing a new culture that goes beyond race, education, and income. Hip-hop has been under continual metamorphosis since its 1970’s inner-city inception. Some of the original artists like Kurtis Blow chose to lament everyday life in the ghettos. Others, Sugar Hill Gang among them, took a more dance inspired approach to the music. But for both these and other artists from the early years of rap through the late 1980’s including KRS-One, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah and LL Cool J, fast beats and socially relevant lyrics were among the primary components of the music. By the 1990’s a new face of rap music emerged. It began with Ice T and later gained popularity with artists such as NWA (Niggaz Wit Attitude) whose first album shocked and titillated the rap world with their obscene lyrical content and unabashed “gangsta” style, since then dubbed by the media as “gangsta rap.” Despite the growing acceptance of Hip-hop within white America and the middle class, Hip-hop is, at times understandable, also under siege. Comments made on rap or Hip-hop by Bill O'Reilly, popular talk show host on the Fox News Channel...
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...Rap Culture in Comparison to the Tone of Hughes and Brooks Today it is hard to get into a car and turn on the radio without hearing a song about money, sex, or fame. Modern day rap culture tries to force those three things on our population through their music and lyrics. They have changed many people’s perception of the perfect life through their tone, music, and lyrics. Many poems help express and can relate to the tone of the modern day rap culture. The tone in the poems, “Red Silk Stockings” by Langston Hughes, and “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks, can be tied to the tone in rap culture and express many modern American values. Rap culture in the twenty first century has exponentially grown and in turn has influenced daily American live. Today, everyone is exposed to this new rap culture that is developing everywhere. Rap culture started in about the 1970’s in New York City (Sullivan). In those days rap was about everyday life and race but has greatly change since then. Rap songs these days are all about sex, money, drugs, women, cars, and practically any material thing. Many songs talk about how rich the rappers are and the extravagant ways they live. Most songs in rap culture have poor grammar and language. These songs are crude and talk about women only as sex. The view points of modern day rappers are extremely clouded because of what they talk about and how they live. The tone of the Hughes and Brooks poems help to show the tone and expression of modern day rap culture...
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