LLS 1314 - In Between the Rhymes

Credits: 3 hrs.

Does hip hop music cause or perpetuate violence and criminality? Does it exacerbate the maltreatment of women? Can hip hop promote social change? Why is it such a relevant force? After all, “it’s only entertainment” – Jay-Z. This seminar examines the true power of language, how it assists in the construction of realities, identities, influences behavior and simultaneously creates and divides localities. The seminar is also concerned with the unspoken language of videography and the subconscious messages articulated to the consumer. Hence, you will utilize a triangulation of audio, visual and written forms of hip hop music to address the prevailing inquiries regarding the role and function of hip hop in societies.