Race and Riot Grrrl

The topic of race is tough to cover in any forum, but felt especially strained in our class’ discussion, due to the fact that the majority of conversation in class is from the white perspective. What we covered in class is that women, black women in particular, find it difficult to fit into many “scenes”, which are dominated by men. What most people get out of being a member of a subculture is a feeling of belonging, which is difficult to find when you’re a member of the minority in a culture. This feeling of not quite belonging is what led to the creation of the riot grrrl culture, where being feminine and being punk were not mutually exclusive. The fact remains, however, that most of the girls involved in that scene were white. The feeling we got from the readings was that this left black women with no scene to call their own, as they felt excluded from all cultures due to either their race or their gender. Of course, our opinion is part of the white perspective, which proved to cause some strife in our class discussion. Still, even if we aren’t part of this marginalized group of women, can’t we question why it is that black women don’t have a specific subculture that belongs only to them?

Riot Grrrl's Lost Potential

I have somewhat a love/hate relationship with the riot grrrl subculture. I think I like the idea of riot grrrl more than I actually like riot grrrl. When I first learned about the riot grrrl culture I thought what they were doing was great, and I still think what they did had a largely positive impact overall, but as I read more about certain behaviors of people of the subculture and looked more into the validity of the critiques others had about the subculture, the more I came to dislike some of the riot grrrls. I guess my problem with the culture isn't so much with the fans of the culture as it is with the artists who created the subculture. I think my particular problem just happens to be with Kathleen Hanna, the woman who had the idea to make riot grrrl an actual subculture; her views seem wildly inconsistent and in retrospective pieces she seems to be re-writing a bit of riot grrrl's history by stating herself and her remaining friends as the only true riot grrrls and by negating any impact any other female artists who were not part of the big 4 riot grrrl bands (Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Heavens to Betsy, and Huggy Bear) had. I understand that riot grrrl is her big contribution to society and so she would want to pump up her own role and the roles of her friends, but I feel that by excluding the importance of other female artists aligned with riot grrrl she is contradicting one of the most important aspects of the riot grrrl manifesto - that any girl can be a riot grrrl. I am certainly not the biggest Courtney Love fan in the world, yet if you read past comments from Kathleen Hanna and music journalists who actually were friends with the riot grrrls (pre-1992), they acknowledge that Courtney Love and her band Hole were riot grrrls before they made their major label debut album, Live Through This. However, in any interviews past 1994 (which is the year that Hanna and Love stopped being friends) Hanna consistently denies Love ever being a riot grrrl. While Courtney Love may not have been an actual member of the riot grrrl subculture after 1992, past accounts would indciate that she was a part of the movement for at least 2 years. When I was looking at blogs from riot grrrls though, all these blogs seem to be emphasizing the importance of Courtney Love and highlighting her as an influential figure of the movement though. I just wonder why Kathleen Hanna wants to remove certain former members of the riot grrrl subculture from written history even though the fans, members, and journalists involved with the subculture want them so badly to be a part of it? Do these actions imply that only riot grrrls that conform to Hanna's standards can truly call themselves riot grrrls? Unfortunately, I feel that one must have the same brand of feminism as Hanna in order to be considered a member of the community. I guess that happens though when you allow a subculture essentially center around only one person's ideology. I feel like the riot grrrl subculture had more potential and got bogged down the same way that many other subcultures do; the riot grrrl subculture decided to start defining itself by its exclusive qualities rather than its inclusive qualities. Essentially, the riot grrrls started to promote a certain brand of feminism that emphasized that all women have a certain number of identical qualities and that aside from different anatomical parts, women and men have some inherently different qualities solely because of their born gender and not social constructs. This to me, is irresponsible because it still puts women in a gender box; riot grrrls say that all women are equal, yet different to men. While this is not the worst perspective one can have on gender relations, I feel that riot grrrls could have brought a new perspective to gender relations. I just wish that the riot grrrls would have promoted the position that people are not different because of their gender, but rather from the combination of experiences and influences they have come in contact with over their life. Instead of saying that women are men are different, they could of said that women and men are perceived as being different because every single person is different from every single person because every single person does not have life experiences identical to anyone else (people of different sexes, gender, races, sexual orientations, or classes are not inherently different). They could have transcended the idea of gender and showed the people of any marginalized group how to go outside of the box they put themselves in by focusing on the aspects that bond all humans together rather than focusing on the aspects that divide humans into sub-groups and then make people question their worth (since most humans have a fear of the unknown, including "unknown" peoples of different classes, races, sexualities, and genders). I guess transcendence can only happen gradually though (like any other aspect of total human progression) and riot grrrls were only meant to be a stepping stone to this eventual transcendence. This will just have to be the job of some other humanist (not necessarily feminist) group.

And don't even get me started on the hypocrisy of certain riot grrrls who made males pay more to see their shows and made males stand in the back of the venues....

Urban Bush Women

In relation to our discussion about African American women in hip hop, Urban Bush Women is a visible, established dance company comprised of all African American/ethnic women. They create dances based on the history of black women in America, focusing on the idea of bringing to light the untold stories of disenfranchised people. They also aim to use their art and work to engage communities and inspire new generations to take pride and ownership over their bodies and the layers of connotations associated. Their dance pieces are often multi disciplinary, involving spoken word and imagery. Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, their director, has made pieces asking questions about hair, butts, storytelling and hands as symbolic of the transition from slavery to empowerment of identity. Here is their website and there are some pictures and excerpts of work there.. http://www.urbanbushwomen.org/

Jazzmen Lee Johnson

I performed with this young woman at a multidisciplinary show this month. She classifies her music as folk hip-hop and creates her own animation to accompany her work. Her music also includes influences from South Africa where she's spent a significant amount of time throughout her life. I love the fusion, and I think the content of her music applies to what we've been talking about in class about women in hip hop culture.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEGAXCAYBzY&feature=player_detailpage


http://www.myspace.com/jazzleejohnson

Homeless LGBT

I thought this was relevant to our discussion of a few classes ago: I just got this email from the Human Rights Campaign about a fundraiser in New York (where I'm from, and therefore where I registered with HRC) to benefit the Homeless LGBT community. I copy/pasted it below. NY has been an exciting place in the last couple years in terms of the advances made and momentum gained in the struggle for equality for homosexuals in our society. A surprisingly diverse group of celebrities from NY have lent their support to the movement, from actors and musicians (not too surprisingly) to politicians and professional athletes (a more unexpected demographic for this issue), in addition to the many "common" citizens who support the cause. It was exciting to see all the support from so many different people in the last year, and then to watch it culminate in the legalization of gay marriage in our state this summer. If you look at the list of performers and speakers at this benefit, you'll see they are also a fairly diverse and influential group that are supporting this issue that I had thought did not get much attention.

Here's the email:

Dear Rosie,

Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund, with the support of the Human Rights Campaign, today announced a star-studded benefit concert on December 4th at New York City's historic Beacon Theatre to help raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness. "Home For the Holidays" will feature a night of music from Cyndi as well as special appearances by Norah Jones, Amy Lee, Lou Reed, Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Carson Kressley, Chely Wright, Skylar Grey, Vanessa Carlton, Angelique Kidjo, Harvey Fierstein, Deluka, Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming and Clay Aiken.

"I am honored to once again work with HRC to spread a message of equality and acceptance through music and comedy as we did on the True Colors Tour," says Cyndi Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund. "Up to 40 percent of all homeless youth in this country identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and it means a great deal to me to have the support of HRC and its members as we work to bring attention and develop resources to help bring an end to this epidemic. My hope is that through this inspiring evening we can raise awareness and much needed funds to help these young people."

Lauper was inspired to help after meeting an extraordinary group of young homeless gay and transgender people several years ago. Already a longtime advocate for the LGBT community and equality, she co-founded the True Colors Fund in 2008 as a major step in this effort.

100% of the net proceeds from "Home for the Holidays" will benefit the True Colors Fund so that Lauper and the organization can continue to further its mission to help homeless LGBT youth.

Have fun!



Joe Solmonese, President

How Riot Grrrls Encompass More Than Their Subculture

When I was doing outside research of the riot grrrls, I came across a lot of riot grrrl tribute blogs by teenage and college-aged girls of today that revealed how many aspects of popular and underground culture that riot grrrl has trickled down to within the last 20 years or so. I got great insight into how riot grrrl has influenced many aspects of culture from movies and TV in the 1990s and early 2000s (when the movement was at the height of its popularity and cable tv allowed for niche programming still), comedy and spoken word, popular music, fashion, major magazine publications, and literature. Since another group is going to talk about riot grrrl later this week and some people may be considering doing that subculture for their final project, I thought these would be interesting reference points people could look at.

Movies and TV shows that riot grrrls enjoy (according to many blogs) since they show realistic and strong female characters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4YaLJKFw4&list=PL747CD84EB1BB4D63&index=51
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTmpKgocyYg&list=PL747CD84EB1BB4D63&index=53
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq6AOc0ATnU&list=PL747CD84EB1BB4D63&index=50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhXGDDN4PMI&list=PL747CD84EB1BB4D63&index=52

Here are some visual representations of comedy and spoken word:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Q-Y3dllVQ&list=PL747CD84EB1BB4D63&index=26
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqX3QUw864I&list=PL747CD84EB1BB4D63&index=54
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76lqs6_QuaY&list=PL747CD84EB1BB4D63&index=49

Agenda for a Gamer

After discussing the gaming subculture in class, I started to really consider what it means to be an avid gamer. Growing up, I was enamored of video games. I could be seen sneaking out of bed at 2:00 am, traveling down to the basement where my playstation was. I spent an ample amount of time with my eyes glued to the screen, meticulously trying to collect every gem before moving to the next stage of Spyro. I remember the days of Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet and Clank, and Kingdom Hearts. I would readily refuse an offer to hang out with my friends, if that time would interfere with my gaming schedule. Looking back, I wonder if I would be considered part of the gaming subculture. This culture is one that knows no age boundaries and has the most eclectic following out of an subculture we've discussed. The question I pose is: Do you have to be a member of MMORPGs to be considered a member of the gaming subculture? I was never involved in the interactive games, those in which you rely on other team members to help you with quests or war escapades. I devoted a lot of time to playing video games, but I never once did interact with other people in the game. The only contact I had while gaming was a physical experience, when a friend would come over my house and we would play on multiplayer mode together. So although I do not have the luxury of spending a mass majority of my time gaming anymore, I wonder if I could consider myself part of the gaming subculture. I am no less passionate now than I was before, knowing that if the chance arose to replay a game that took me 24 hours to complete, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I guess this question is merely a matter of opinion, so in that case I would still consider myself a member of the gaming culture. I may not be as enveloped into the culture as many members are, but I believe it's the passion that keeps this subculture alive, and I know I'll never lose that spark that I ignited as a child.

MMORPGs

After reading the chapter and discussing gamers this past Thursday, I became very interested in the Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs). Like with other subcultures, there are many misconceptions about those who play these games. A lot of outsiders may assume that people who indulge in MMORPGs spend too much time in the land of fantasy and do not know how to operate in the outside world. While that might be somewhat true of some "hard-core" gamers, there are many gamers who are fully engaged and in the non-virtual realm. It's similar to other recreational activities, such as participating in sports or watching reality television shows, in that it fulfills the need for entertainment and relaxation. However, there may be some differences regarding how social interaction becomes shaped within these games. I'm curious about how a player's virtual self reflects his or her presentation of self in the outside world. I wonder if most people maintain the same character traits inside the game as they do outside, or if they use the game as an opportunity to take on a different persona. Perhaps it is possible that a person's social interactions in the "real" world become transformed by advancements in the game. For example, if one has significantly more power in the game than in real life, does this affect his sense of powerlessness and agency in real life?

Virtual Identities

This web series was brought up briefly in class, but I just wanted to post a link here. The Guild is a spoof on MMORPG games, and though it's comedic and definitely not entirely realistic, I think it can give a good insight to certain parts of the gaming world. The first four seasons are also available on Netflix and the fifth (on their website) features aspects of steam punk (although I'm not sure how realistic it is, not knowing much about steam punk). It's a funny web series, that could give you insight into the basic culture and make you laugh if you have time.

http://www.watchtheguild.com/

Slutever

While doing the reading on Riot Grrls and Slash writers for this week I was reminded of a popular Philly band that seems to be an offshoot of the Grrl movement. Recently, a female duet grungey punk band deemed 'Slutever' as become quite popular in this here city. Check 'em out!

http://slutever.bandcamp.com/

http://sluteverforever.blogspot.com/

love them!

follow up to goths & stigmas

I hope that everyone enjoyed the discussion today. John and I tried to ask questions that would provoke different types of conversations than what we have been speaking of.
There were a lot of good points made today. The one point in the conversation that was most interesting to me was when none of us could pin point what the goth subculture was or what it stood for.
I have been thinking about this all day and have even done some secondary research.
The thing is that goths do not stand for anything specific. People of the goth subculture listen to many different genres of music, have different political ideologies, follow various religions, and so on. Now, "how then could this be considered a subculture?" many of you either said in class or thought about. Foremost, we are all individuals and all have different interests. Just because they are all within the goth subculture does not mean they all have to share common beliefs.

Goths are not afraid to simply be themselves and are accepting of everyone. I know that sounds contrived and cliche, but that is a consistent value among the culture. The reason that there is such a variation of character among members is because of how accepting they are. Goths are free thinkers and express it, which is more than I can say about myself.
We could all pull something away from the goth mentality. We constantly exercise stigma management because we are frightened of judgment. Let us all try to be a little more okay with who we are, let us all be a little more 'goth'. I'll pass on the whole anachronistic and loud get-up. However, I will strive to be more accepting of others and myself.

I know that this post seems like a Disney special about accepting people for who they are. But honestly, I think it's something that we could hear a lot more. I have heard the message countless times and it still hasn't hit home.

-Bryan

Research

I'm interested in looking into subcultures that are similar to myself. At first I thought maybe this was a selfish idea, but now I'm leaning towards introspective. I never want to pass up an opportunity to re-examine what I do/am doing, and why. How tight are my affiliations with a particular group? I thought about groups that I'm often lumped into (by others), and realized that I don't necessarily disagree with these categorizations, but I don't really think about them consciously either. The two main groups that I came up, and which I want to look more into are vegans and cyclists. I'm also interested in how these categories interact with a larger hipster subculture, because I am certain there is a large overlap, at least in Philadelphia.

Sex Culture

After discussing the ideals of virginity pledgers, I began to consider how the media has influenced an adolescents' perception of the "sex culture." I really believe that I fully grasped the concept of sex around the age of 12. At that point in time, I viewed it as possibly the most disgusting thing I have ever heard of. Now I hear stories about the younger generation and how many are losing their virginities around the age of 14. At what point, did adolescents become mature enough to completely mentally and physically give themselves to another individual. In middle school, I was still discovering myself and trying to establish my identity, by no means was I ready to give my heart and soul away to another. Many of these young girls deal with low self-esteem issues, and at the tender age of 14, these issues provoke irrational decision making motives. Acting out and looking for love when one does not love oneself, is basically a disastrous scenario. It seems that true love is no longer a requirement for sexual intercourse. In movies and television shows, the excuse of "everybody else is doing it," seems very frequent and very convincing. People no longer act off instinctual feelings of preparedness, but just jump into a serious situation. Many times the outcome is detrimental and often a source of regret.

One show in particular, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," portrays sex in an unrealistic and often exaggerated manner. In some instances, it seems as if the show is condemning premarital sex, but the next episode could show high school girls planning and expressing their excitement over getting pregnant. This fascination with motherhood is innate, but it seems that girls don't comprehend the level of matureness and commitment that it entails. When the show began, I would consider it one of my guilty pleasures. Now entering it's fourth season, the plot has just been blown out of proportion with so many scenarios that make it impossible to follow. Here is a trailer from the first season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAxXSfZWi-A

Seems like the pilot for a moderately decent show right?

In another season, they make one of the other main characters pregnant. They portray it in such a casual manner. They show the negative sides of having sex and the emotional havoc it often evokes, but they sort of glamorize the process. Although the characters go through ups and downs, they seem happy and are eager to get pregnant. Maybe it's because they need a stable attachment in their life, seeing as a baby wouldn't desert them. In this scene, Ben is shown losing his temper in an altercation with Adrian. I am aware the acting isn't Emmy worthy, but the message in this scene is powerful. Losing one's baby is a terrible occurrence, but instead of showing it happening in teenagers' lives, it should be displayed in a more realistic and stable environment, like that of a married couple.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft003Zdte5A&feature=related

Subculture Participants

So far we've studied some very interesting subcultures that I had previously only heard of. The most interesting aspect for me has been the socio-economic status of the participants. I think it's fascinating that the majority of the cultures we've studied were started by/ targeted at/ primarily supported by lower class blue collar workers. In my inquiry assignment, I tried to focus on this side of it and found some very interesting ties between lower class workers and violence, which is also a big component of a lot of the cultures we've studied. I don't know how important this correlation is, but it's so interesting to me that the majority of the subcultures we've studied appeal to such a narrow audience. Aside from virginity pledgers and LGBTs of course, the skinhead, metal, punk and hip hop cultures share fairly comparable groups of participants: lower class blue collar young males.

It makes me wonder what aspect of a person makes them most susceptible to deviating from the mainstream and joining a subculture. That question becomes even more complicated when you add in cultures like virginity pledgers. To me, virginity pledging is one of the most interesting subcultures because, like John and I were discussing in class, their deviance from the mainstream is questionable. Given our society's two vastly differing views of sex, it's hard to know where the dominant culture lies and therefor it is very hard to judge where virginity pledgers fall. On one hand, they are very much in line with the dominating Christian views of the wealthy, able-bodied, straight, white men. On the other hand, they deviate significantly from the dominant youth views that worship promiscuity. Also, the youth that become virginity pledgers do not fit the demographic of the subculture participants we've studied thus far, so I think their position in the world of youth subcultures is most interesting.

Top 3 Subcultures

As I was perusing Wikipedia's list of subcultures, I found three really interesting ones that we haven't talked about in class: Rave, nudism/naturalism, and military brats. Rave culture to me is interesting because I know a lot of teens who are really into that subculture. I actually like dub step myself and just went to a concert where everyone had binkies in their mouths (thanks to ecstasy!) and glowsticks around their necks. Nudism is a subculture that intrigued me because it seems so far-fetched...but they actually have ideals, other than just being naked all the time. Military brats are so relevant today. I went to a regional high school with a LOT of military base kids whose parents were almost always overseas. I think it'd be interesting to research the effect of living without a parent/both parents are on teens. Any of these three subcultures would be awesome to research!

Virginity/LGBT Follow-Up

In class, we talked about how the abstract idea of sex is worshipped, but the reality of sex is taboo or forbidden. This division is also further enforced in the sense that Christianity has a huge impact on teens’ decision to have sex or to wait, yet the media often portrays casual sex as glamorous and fun. In order for us to figure out what we think is right or wrong and develop our own opinion of sex, we must respect ourselves and choose our own paths. We also debated virginity pledging as a real youth subculture: some say the teens are choosing to be virgins themselves, but some people say they are only doing it because their parents or religious affiliations are pushing it on them.

We talked about the LGBT homeless community but didn’t get too in depth. Though the conditions of living on the streets were harsh and dangerous, for many of the members, it was their only way to find a sense of family and escape the emotional torment at home.

So, the question is, how might we make society more accepting of the LGBT community? LGBT members should not have to be homeless and engage in prostitution and drug use in order to survive, but they fear constant ridicule in their own families and communities. This is a problem that must be addressed, but how?

P.S.— If anyone is interested, check out Paris is Burning on YouTube or go back to the e-mail that Ellie sent out!

P.S.S.—Remember, condoms don’t protect the heart! (Thanks Hannah)

Interesting Subcultures

The three subcultures that I find most interesting to study are heavy metal, straight edge, and riot grrrls.

I find the heavy metal subculture intriguing because it is so far removed from what I am accustomed to. It is interesting to learn about what draws people to this subculture and how it's ideals and practices affect its members.

The straight edge movement is appealing to me because out of all the subcultures we have studied, it is the one that is most relevant to me, and one that I could see myself taking part in.

Riot Grrrls is an interesting subculture because the issues it deals with (such as rape, domestic abuse, sexuality and racism) are issues that I am concerned about and affect me.

More Clips about Satanic Panic Caused by Metal

We didn't have enough class time Tuesday to talk about the moral panic caused by the metal subculture, but I felt compelled to share some of the reference points I have about the subculture that are also touched upon in the Goths, Gamers, and Grrrls book.
Although Heavy Metal Parking lot showed the more humorous and lighthearted side of the metal subculture, there was a lot of hostility towards it in the 1980s and 1990s that culminated in multiple court hearings that put both metal artists and fans on trial for simply listening or making certain types of music.
There was a senate hearing in 1985 where metal artists (among others) testified in front of the Parents Music Resource Center (the group that puts the Parental Advisory stickers on CDs) for objectional content in their songs. Here's a clip showing a metal artist talking at the hearing:

Judas Priest (the band the kids were talking about in Heavy Metal Parking Lot) also was put on trial for alleged backmasking of subliminal messages in their songs that supposedly caused a teenage metalhead to commit suicide. The case was eventually thrown out of court by the judge. Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvvLL_oAvus&feature=player_detailpage
On a more current note, the West Memphis 3, who were finally released from jail in August of this year, stood trial in 1993 for the murder of 3 boys in 1993. They were found guilty and one was sentenced to death, even though there was no evidence that linked them to the crime. Many believed that the only reason they were accused was because they were young, poor, and disposable, and most of all, were outcasts in their small town because they were heavy metal fans. This case is considered the most famous out of all the cases coming out of the Satanic Panic in the 1990s. Here is a trailer for the documentary that helped expose their case to the nation and helped free them:

Race in youth culture and rowing culture

Yesterday, someone pointed out that most youth cultures are predominantly made up of white, middle, or working-class men, because subcultures tend to mirror the dominant culture. This got me thinking about how the rowing culture in Philadelphia also mirrors the dominant culture. Although female rowers are just as prominent as male rowers, they are still predominantly middle-class and white. There are programs today, such as Philadelphia City Rowing, that aim to bring inner-city kids into the rowing community, but the lack of diversity in the Philadelphia rowing culture is still very noticeable. Coincidentally, I just found out about a documentary that addresses the exclusion of racial and ethnic groups from the rowing community in Philadelphia. It premieres tonight at 10 PM on WHYY if anyone is interested. Here's a link to a webpage giving information about it.

http://leewayfoundation.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/makingwaves/

Rage Against the Machine's Sleep Now In the Fire

Occupy Wall Street and Metal

I thought this Rage Against the Machine music video was pretty relevant to both the Occupy Wall Street movement and the chapters about metal we had to read, since Rage Against the Machine is considered a metal band that fuses elements of punk and hip-hop into their music.
The video was directed by Michael Moore and shows the band playing in front of the New York Stock Exchange (the video was shot on Jan. 26, 2000). The song is largely about American corporate greed (which is largely reflected in the video) and the video shows a short clip from the 1999 Battle in Seattle which we had to read about in the Youth Subcultures book.

Here is the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w211KOQ5BMI&ob=av2e

"Book of Judges"

My favorite rap song is probably "Book of Judges" by Pharoahe Monch. It's a cool blend of rap and rock- great for jamming in the car with the windows down! The beat, however, is only one of the reasons why I love this song. The lyrics are especially powerful. I was thinking, and they're actually pretty relevant to the whole Occupy Philadelphia protest. Pharoahe Monch describes how the government has always been about human rights, equality, and democracy, yet it constantly fails to live up to its ideals. "America the ugly," as opposed to a widely popular song about our country, "America the Beautiful", demonstrates the hypocrisy in our nation. While presidents are "living marvelous", the masses are left starving and broke. He repeats, "Piss on the Constitution, burn the Magna Carta" throughout the song. I think these lines are a calling to Americans to take action against that 1% of rich in the country and the hypocritical government. Here are the lyrics! Check out the song.

Lyrics to Book Of Judges :

[Verse 1:]
America the ugly raped my mother
Deceived my sister separated my brother
Murdered my children hung my father
Now they want me to rock the vote the fucks why bother?
Seen them commercials for the army of whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never!
My minds too short my brain's too clever
My spine is too strong every line pulls your lever
Limitless rhymes for the indigenous the remedy
PLAT! Getting' my money like the Kennedy's
Flip it! Put em' in stocks collect anemities
Rock, roll behold my epiphanies and
Read em' and weep, heat I beat em' to sleep
Mislead em' until we even-steven defeat em' with freedom of speech
And we let them know that I'm the motherfuckin' fire-starter
Piss on the constitution and burn the Magna Carta

[Chorus:]
All I know is what I feel
Deceive my eyes and distort what's real
All truth will set you free
I rather die on my feet than deliver my knees

[Verse 2:]
We dying over black gold they harvesting in the sand
Presidents living marvelous, they starving in Sudan
It's obvious we walk a blind path to oblivion
The book of judges read the scriptures unlike Gideon
Light my fire, start my engine
When Pharaohe becomes Moses its medicine for who listens
A veteran with the might bringing with prophecy to fruition
Motivation verses on an adverse condition
Caught on the mainframe I see the maze man
They watch you from the street light you and your main man
The bar code around your neck same as your name brand
You're lost in strange land no thoughts of a game plan

[Chorus:]
All I know is what I feel
Deceive my eyes and distort what's real
All truth will set you free
I rather die on my feet than delivery my knees

[Outro:]
Piss on the constitution, then burn the Magna Carta

Sims Urbz

Growing up, I was addicted to the Sims video games. I loved the idea of creating my own characters and seeing how they advance through life. In the game the Sims Urbz, you go around the city as a poseur, advancing to new levels through the gaining of rep points. There were a plethora of areas to explore: Central Station (goth subway station), Kicktail Park (skaters), South Side Bridge (mafia gambling scene), Diamond Heights (rich and famous), Foundry (artsy area), Neon East (anime scene), Gasoline Row (bikers), Cozmo Street (Black Eyed Peas hangout), and Skyline Beach (hip-hop area). I do not have the time to explain, nor do I remember every aspect of each area; so I'll describe Skyline Beach as it seems relevant to our recent topics. The Skyline Beach area was a bunch of rooftops in which "gangsta" males and "hip-hop divas" would congregate. In this area one would have to buy hip-hop attire and learn social moves applicable to that demographic in order to progress in the game. If you gained enough rep points, you would be invited to enter the Red Room (a secluded area that contained a hot tub and huge speakers). In the game, if your sim gathered around a huge stereo system they could start to breakdance, and eventually other sims would join in also. If you befriended the people in that area you would learn Skyline Beach moves such as: Rap, Bust a Move, Knuckle Up, and Grab Booty. Depending on each individuals' interests, those social moves could damage or improve relationships. Each area had different jobs that you needed to do in order to make a living. In Skyline Beach you had to box ferrets, which is one aspect I never really understood. Another aspect that I found interesting about this game, was the emphasis on tagging. Each area had their own specific tag, and when different cliques entered different ares, you would see them with a spray can marking there territory. Below I posted a few links that show the game so enjoy:

Skyline Beach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbpHKvBzzws

Central Station: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGyLoYVdzJM

Neon East: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYgUBZZdpIA

the b-boy dilemma

I feel a sense of discomfort when I think about what place b-boy culture should have in modern hip-hop.

I was somewhat familiar with the b-boy component of hip hop, but the documentary, "The Freshest Kids", gave me a thorough socio-historical background and filled in the lot of the gaps in my knowledge. From watching the film, it's clear that breaking was an integral element in the origins of hip hop. It was and still is exciting, dynamic, and raw. Despite it's importance in hip-hop history, it doesn't get the dues or attention that it deserves. Like one of the commentators said in the film, "it's the body manifestation of hip-hop".

With that being said, I have reservations about b-boys being brought back into the limelight because of the evolution of rap music. Rap has been transformed by its commercialization. It doesn't have the same feel as it did at it's inception. One could argue that today's popular, commercial rap isn't as authentic as old-school or underground rap. Also, rappers who produce popular music aren't in complete control of their art. Although a part of me wants the world to know about the b-boys, I fear that if they become too popular, they will not only loose some of their authenticity, but they will loose control of their art form to financial powerhouses that may want to dictate their creativity. Maybe Rosie proposed a good compromise when she suggested that instead of bringing b-boys to the mainstream, people who have an interest in learning about it can use resources like the internet to educate themselves.

Yarn Bombing

An interesting response to graffiti that I've seen around Philly is called yarn bombing. You might've seen it around, or heard of it by now! As a knitter I'm particularly interested in this phenomenon. Below is a link to a website of user submitted photos from Philly. I think this form of "vandalism" or taking of public space is more accepted/ less threatening than graffiti because it seems more temporary/removable and also because it can be quite charming. Admittedly, I've done a bomb or two myself. Thoughts?

www.http://crochetguevara.com

Recap from Oct. 4 Hip Hop Class

The context from which subcultures arise are very important to consider when discussing the reasons subcultures do certain things. Questions that go beyond what happened, and into the reasons for events and actions are more beneficial if one wants to truly understand a subculture. One idea we were talking about at the end of class is the prevalence of hip-hop in dominant culture and why it is so dominant. We discussed certain elements of hip-hop (relatability, accessibility, and its exotic/foreign aspect) that causes it to be so prominent in mainstream culture. Are there any other elements of hip-hop that can lead to this result? One other question to think about: How do subcultures fight against the individualistic nature of American society?

The Underbelly Project

We've talked a lot about how music, in general, is widely accessible and this is one of the reasons why it gets commodified so easily. This got me thinking about the others aspects of hip-hop culture and why they haven't reached the popularity level of the MUSIC part of the culture. Last year in my journalism class, we read an article about this awesome underground graffiti project. It's called the Underbelly Project- in an abandoned subway station in the Chelsea district of Manhattan. A couple of the project's creators speak anonymously about how they don't want anyone to see the graffiti. In fact, "Collectors can’t buy the art. The public can’t see it. And the only people with a chance of stumbling across it are the urban explorers who prowl the city’s hidden infrastructure or employees of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority." I encourage you guys to read this article and check out the accompanying video!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/arts/design/01underbelly.html?pagewanted=1

The effects of architecture on music

This doesn't have much to do with Hip hop, but I thought it was interesting. The video is from a TED (Technology Entertainment Design) talk on how venue changes have contributed to the evolution of music throughout history. It's only 16 minutes long, and I thought it was intriguing.

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_how_architecture_helped_music_evolve.html

Hip Hop

The most interesting thing that I learned about hip hop recently through reading, was that people commonly say statements such as "In the beginning, hip hop was not about the money. People were not looking to make a profit". I also recall making similar statements in regards to early hip hop.

The thing is, that the reason that early hip hop artists did not seek profitability was because they did not know that their hobby would appeal to consumers. Once artists found that people were indeed interested in their innovative sound, many started to market themselves.

And honestly, that is not to say that they have lost any credibility in my perception. These artists were still the innovators that have influenced all of the hip hop & rap music that we have the privilege of hearing today.

Interactive Approach

Last Tuesday we discussed the interactive approach to culture as introduced by Grazien. We talked a lot about the role of social networking and internet media in furthering culture. The interactive approach is strongly based in networking sites that can help small businesses, musicians, and others find their niche and advance. It has made it possible for fields to become more specific and highly specialized because a wider audience is now available. However, there is a disadvantage to this specificity as well, because there is limited room for advancement. If your field has become so highly specialized that there are few people involved and few people interested, there is little room for growth and development. The primary benefit of social networking and the internet in the furthering of culture is the access to such a large and diverse population.

In terms of the role of groups in the formation of a social identity and a social self, we discussed the relative benefits of associating with either one specific group or multiple groups. Some very different perspectives were offered, most based in people's high school experiences. The general consensus, however, seemed to be that identifying with multiple groups during identity formation lead to a stronger sense of self and a better understanding of one's own interests. The biggest question in this seems to be if the benefit of trying new things outweighs the risk of isolating one's self from a tight-knit social community.

A third point we discussed was if the global nature of today's media is calling people's cultural identities into question. It is interesting to think about because we have access to an overwhelming quantity of culture today- music, art, traditions, belief systems- through the internet. I believe that this has a huge impact on how we shape our cultural selves, but I also believe it makes us more attached to and supportive of our cultures once we have decided what we associate with culturally. So, though it takes some of the regional and familial aspects away from cultural development, it has lead to stronger association and greater unity.

The question we left off with at the end of our discussion was this: Grazien says, “It is unclear whether we are simply attracted to those who share our cultural tastes or if we naturally absorb the styles of our peers.” In what ways are both true? Which do you agree with more?
I see this as being one of the central questions in any discussion about pop culture or sub cultures. Especially in youth cultures which are so concerned with identity development. Please feel free to post your responses to this question. There is certainly no right answer to this question, and the answer differs amongst individuals, but it is a central question none the less.

Lyrics vs. Beats

It was very clear that although we talked about other hip hop artists who had a message to their music, the class agreed that the majority of artists sing about violence, wealth, and women. I was thinking about these messages, because I don't agree with any of them, but I still listen to the music. I assume that most other casual listeners are like myself as well. Why, then are these lyrics still so violent and sexist? In my opinion, it's the beat that makes a song popular in mainstream these days, rather than the lyrics. Many people don't even really listen to the lyrics, because these songs are most often used in dance or party settings, or to just get pumped and have a good time. Hip hop songs in the mainstream almost always have a fun, dance beat. Lyrics certainly seem to be secondary, but since all the previous songs concern money, violence, and sex, and they are still selling, that is what is still being created. I do think that a song with a message could be widely accepted, if it had a good beat, albeit the artist might not like if their song were popular only for the beat, when they were trying to get a message across.

Hip Hop as a Cathartic Outlet

When I think of authentic hip hop artists, I think of the artists who tell stories through their lyrics. The ones who express grief and sorrow, and talk about overcoming adversity are much more deserving of revere, as opposed to those who talk about mundane subjects such as money, women, sex, and drugs. Rather than just focus on catchy beats, a true listener should analyze the lyrics and realize the not-so-obvious metaphors and connotations present in the words. The martyrs in hip hop, Biggie and Tupac produced numerous songs in which they delineate their childhood, life on the streets, and feelings of imminent death. Although often controversial and offensive, these lyrics tell stories. You can hear the emotion present in the rapper's voice. One of my favorite hip hop songs is Tupac's "Keep Ya Head Up," in which, rather than offend and view women as mere lust objects, he encourages men to stand up for their woman and realize all the hardships they constantly face. The lyrics of this song are only strengthened by the use of The Five Stairsteps, "OOh Child (Things are Gonna Get Easier)" as the backing track. The following link below contains the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfXwmDGJAB8

Another hip hop song that I personally believe deserves more credit is Immortal Technique's "Dancing with the Devil." This is by far the most disturbing song I have ever heard. It's one of those songs that require you to really analyze the lyrics and not just be entranced by the beat. By the end of this song, my mouth literally dropped open, displaying how much shock I was in. Growing up in the suburbs, the concept of this "gangsta" lifestyle was enough to make me cringe. I won't go into depth about this song because I don't believe my interpretation will do it justice, but I encourage everyone to listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qggxTtnKTMo

Graffiti!

Since we didn't really discuss the whole graffiti aspect of hip-hop culture in class on Thursday, I thought I'd look more into it on my own. I remembered this film that I watched with my friend Dom who is really interested in graffiti. It's called Bomb the System. I think it does a great job illustrating how passionate artists are about expressing themselves through this less-accredited art form. Even the cops and the Vandal Squad, who are constantly in pursuit of the main character and his crew, cannot stop these artists. The film portrays the battles artists face in order for their work to be recognized as true "art". It also displays some of the obstacles that may come along with the subculture that hold the artists back from getting proper recognition for their art (drugs, crime, etc.). It's really intense. I immediately fell in love with it last year when I saw it for the first time.

Here's a link that will allow you to watch the full movie:

http://www.romaniangraffiti.ro/bomb-the-system-full-movie.html

Hip Hop Day 1 Follow Up

I think we had a really good class on Thursday and we discussed a bunch of interesting issues related to the hip hop sub-culture. Here are some more questions for you all to discuss and ponder.

1) How has hip hop transcended or remained true to certain racial stereotypes and themes?

2) Hip hop has obviously had a strong affect on urban life given its origins, but what affect has it had on the suburbs and rural communities?

3) We discussed how hip hop has very offensive lyrics in some cases. I was wondering how strongly that affects all your purchasing of certain songs and artists work?

4) Music obviously has an affect on certain aspects of our society. What do you think the ramifications of a shift away from the classic themes of cash, money, women, and violence to topics more like the samplings of Lupe Fiasco we heard in class?

5) We have learned that subcultures are very volatile and ever changing. Do you see any changes in the nature of the hip hop subculture coming to pass in the near, or not so near, future? Why?

Also here is a link to a YouTube video of the live Grammy performance of Stan by Eminem featuring Elton John: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY2p7oE7Bpw