ENGL 637 Discussion Thread- Vernacular Tradition Idea Development

.docx

School

Liberty University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

637

Subject

Arts Humanities

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by MajorInternet149

Discussion Thread: Vernacular Tradition Idea Development People worldwide face moments in their lives that are hard and seem impossible to handle and can become very overwhelming. One of the ways that people tend to work through these conflicts in life is by adding humor to the situation. Whether the humor is in something they think or say to themselves or verbalize to others, it tends to help people cope with the world around them. A very specific form of this can be seen when looking at the African American community, who have used what is known as signifyin(g) for decades. Signifyin(g) is a concept within African American culture that uses humor, bragging, slights, and goading to show their true feelings (Britannica, 2023). Many scholars believe that the origin of signifyin(g) comes from the years in American history when African Americans were slaves. This makes sense because as slaves they would have been punished or worse for speaking what they were truly thinking or feeling. A prime example of signfiyin(g) is the work song “Pick a Bale of Cotton” (Gates & Smith, 2014, p.35), in this song the lyrics go on to talk about picking a bale of cotton with various people and when listened to can sound like a happy song. However, when looking at the song through the rhetorical lens of signifyin(g) it is easy to perceive this song as what it is a complaint about their daily lives and the work that the slaves were forced to do. In the past, an issue arose for some people with signifyin(g) because as Fredrick Douglass pointed out some of the people who heard songs of the slaves used them as evidence that they were happy with their lives (Gates & Smith, 2014, p.4). Looking at this now it is easy to tell that these people were only using these songs as evidence that the slaves were happy so they could continue to oppress African Americans. Many examples of signifying come from

when slavery was still legal in the United States, however, it became such a large part of the African American culture that it can still be seen today. In today's world, an area where signifyin(g) is being seen the most is on the internet. Currently, it is hard to meet a single person who does not have some form of social media. Through social media, specifically, what is referred to as “Black Twitter” can signifyin(g) be seen regularly (Florini, 2013). It is through the stage of “Black Twitter” that many young African Americans have found their voice to express their viewpoints on topics that range from what is trending in clothing to political viewpoints. While signifyin(g) is no longer the only way that African Americans can express themselves otherwise they feared being punished the use of it online allows for deep cultural connections. Signifyin(g) is more than mocking or insulting another person it is a valid form of expression that allows for deep thoughts to be expressed and shared among a culture in a way that can make certain topics easier to discuss (Jenkins, 2019). Signifyin(g) should be viewed as what it is a deep-rooted part of African American culture that allows for the indirect expression of thoughts and feelings because being indirect was sometimes the only way that they were allowed to express themselves. Reference Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, October 3). Henry Louis Gates, Jr.. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Louis-Gates-Jr Florini, S. (2013, March 7). Tweets, Tweeps, and signifyin’: Communication and ... - sage journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1527476413480247 Gates, H. L., & Smith, V. (2014). The norton anthology of african american literature (3rd ed., Vol. 1). W.W. Norton & Company. Jenkins, C. (2019, October 30). Signifyin(g) within African American Classical Music: Linking Gates, Hip‐Hop, and Perkinson: Jenkins Signifyin(g) within African American Classical Music . Academic.oup.com. https://academic.oup.com/jaac/article/77/4/391/5981538

Hi L.A., I want to first say that I enjoy your take on this topic because you have firsthand experience with it. While I was writing my post, which was also on signifyin(g) I was concerned with not having a personal connection with the topic, but it interested me because I feel like it adds some context to the African American culture that can help outsiders understand a little more. I also appreciate your analogy of it being, “a lifeline, preserving their cultural and linguistic identity,” (Holts, 2023) because for an outsider this paints a very clear picture. You brought up the point that signifyin(g) was a form of, “subtle defiance,” (Holts, 2023) and this phrasing is something that I thought about while researching the topic but could not find the right words. I appreciate your anecdote about singing “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” because it strengthens the point that these songs and the stories that go with them are still a vastly important part of the culture and should be treated as such. Plus, you added in the importance of singing these songs to your family, which I think this true for many people. In my opinion, your post showcases a very personal side to signifyin(g) that outsiders will never fully understand because we are not living it. It is an excellent example of how vital signifyin(g) is to the African American culture. I think that your anecdotes strengthen your position excellently. I am excited to continue to learn alongside you. Thank you for sharing, Hannah Rauch

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help