Chapter 11 Popular Culture

It is clear that the hip hop culture plays a huge role in the lives of many people. It has influenced the way people dress, the way they talk, and the way they act. Unfortunately, many big corporations have taken advantage of this and commercialized rap music in order to gain a profit (Blair, 497). Commercialization is a very complex topic; however, it is important to understand. This is because of the fact that when something becomes widely known, such a hip hop and rap have, it is vulnerable to change (Phillips, paragraph 9). An example of this is when author Nicole Phillips states, “Hip-hop became more about edge and less about the content of the message. It became about sales….” (Phillips, paragraph 9). Therefore, in order to prevent any further change, one needs to understand commercialization and how it works. This paper is going to explore the complexities and nuances of commercialization of the hip hop culture. In order to do this, this paper will consider what commercialization of hip hop culture entails. This paper will also discuss how Elizabeth Blair, author of “Commercialization of the Rap Music Subculture,” conceptualized commercialization, as well as how she discusses the situation in general. After discussing these topics, the paper will move on to discussing cultural appropriation. This discussion will include how authors describe cultural appropriation, and a debate regarding this topic.

1. How can an understanding of the complexities of culture help us make sense of the day-to-day world which we live? Give an example from your life to illustrate your answer.

Popular culture is consumed through interaction in the social media that includes television programs, movie theaters and virtual social networks. From the media, interests lie in the political developments and discussion concerning governance. These media satisfy appetite for political information while guiding an understanding on the national issues and choices made.

This paper seeks to examine different aspects and arguments regarding the hip hop culture. First, the paper will discuss how Tricia Rose is concerned about hip hop in her book Hip Hop Wars. The paper will then also discuss many arguments that are argued by both critics and defenders. Not only will this paper discuss the arguments, but it will also debate them. Overall, from this paper one will see that there is a reason to be concerned for hip hop and the culture. One will also discover that there is a purpose for the arguments, but sometimes they are not always the best arguments.

Once upon a time there was a young prince named Peter and he was the prince of Egypt. when his father got sick he couldn’t take care of the kingdom anymore, it was his job to take over the kingdom but his father wanted him to find a wife so he wouldn’t have to do it alone other than the fact that he was only 16. So, he decided to go around the world to find a wife he needed oh so bad. He first started off in hawaii, Once he got there he realized how different it was from Egypt and realized he wasn’t dressed appropriately for it was less hot there and they spoke very fluent english for he can barely speak a paragraph “aloha” said the weird man looking man with a smile. Confused you turn to walk away, Until the man shouted “You must be Peter”

taken place in recreational Centre in the inner city of Edmonton, Canada (p.337). The goal of this paper was to explore the different ways the youth adopt hip hop “as a means to contest their subjection

When studying hip hop, one should look at it as the product of historical, political and economic circumstances and observe the role it has served as a voice for those suppressed by systemic political and economic oppression. Many young men in the U.S gravitate towards hip hop culture and claim it as a mechanism of their survival because of this aspect. Not only has it been a platform which allows the voices of many whom would otherwise

This discourse revolves around discussions of what is pure and polluted culture or, respectively, authentic and inauthentic hip-hop culture (p. 144). The first level, old school is defined as pure hip-hop that is reminiscent of the early days of hip-hop music before the culture became widespread, and open to mainstream influences. Older individuals who in their youth participated as break-dancers, DJs, MCs, and graffiti artists shape the old school dimension; those individuals who helped grow hip-hop as a culture, without the goal of making a profit from their participation. The second level of this C dimension, mainstream, is characterized as hip-hop music that is made for the intent of radio and/or television, making it inauthentic hip-hop. Members of the hip-hop community who treat hip-hop like a product, rather than the culture that it is, would be seen as “sell-outs” or members of the mainstream popular

Popular Culture at the Beginning of the 1960's 1960's Britain had not yet developed its own style and was still in America's shadow. Britain was dominated by 1950's fashion and traditional values. But there were elements of change developing in radio, TV and theatre and this is what I'm going to explore. At the beginning of the 1960's music was still heavily influenced by America.

Rap music, also known as hip-hop, is a popular art form. Having risen from humble origins on the streets of New York City during the mid-1970s, hip-hop has since become a multifaceted cultural force. Indeed, observers say, hip-hop is more than just music. The culture that has blossomed around rap music in recent decades has influenced fashion, dance, television, film and—perhaps what has become the most controversially—the attitudes of American youth. For many rappers and rap fans during it’s early time, hip-hop provided an accurate, honest depiction of city life that had been considered conspicuously absent from other media sources, such as television. With a growing number of rap artists within this period, using hip-hop as a platform to call for social progress and impart positive messages to listeners, the genre entered a so-called Golden Age

Annotated Bibliography Stereotypes in media Miller, S. D. (1997). The Reunion of History and Popular Culture: Japan "Come Out" on TV. Journal Of Popular Culture, 31(2), 161-175. This article discusses how on japanesse T.V. today homosexuals are presented as very much a part of the culture but this would not have been possible if it wasn’t for a

The term ‘hip-hop’ refers to a complex culture compromising of four elements: deejaying, rapping, rhyming, graffiti painting, and b-boying. These elements incorporate hip-hop dance, style, and attitude. “Hip-hop originated in the primarily African American economically depressed South Bronx section of New York City in the late 1970s” (Tate, pg.1). Hip-hop is a culture of fashion, language, music, movement, visual art and expression. The genre of hip-hop comes with a very significant history and evolution with its own heroes, legends, triumphs and downfalls. “Real” hip-hop is often stressed in the 21st century due to what is being passed off as hip hop, and it is often made clear that just because one takes a hip hop class, or listens to hip-hop music, does not mean they conform to the true immersion of hip-hop culture. Therefore, “real” hip-hop encapsulates the true essence of hip-hop culture, untarnished by impurities such as rapacious record labels, and vapid, materialistic subject matter. Due to the background of how and where hip-hop first emerged, the African American culture often feel responsible to protect what is for them, and to protect the culture of hip-hop entirely. Boyd states that even though hip-hop as a culture was created as a social movement, the “commercializaiton” of hip-hop demonstrated in film and media construes it to another form of urbanization and popularity”(Boyd, 79). However, in the two movies being examined in this essay (Save the Last Dance

Reflecting on the film, Psycho, many points come to light when thinking in the aspect of justice. One of these points is that Norman Bates’ portrayal is a perfect example of how popular culture can influence the general population to form strong opinions on topics like the treatment of mentally ill prisoners from just watching movies. Another point to reflect on is the development of how Norman became what he is. Finally, Alfred Hitchcock’s use of the peephole scene and the way Norman looks at the viewer during the final scene explains something very interesting. Popular culture, in my opinion, has the power to greatly influence for better or worse.

There are many forms of pop culture seen throughout society. Many people see pop culture in different forms. Some may see pop culture in a comic book series or on social media platforms. There are some things that people do not feel should be considered being a part of pop culture. Everything has a meaning, within the meaning of the object is some form of art seen by others. Pop culture encompasses a variety of work with different styles of art. Any form of art can be considered being a part of pop culture.

The study of popular culture is useful in many ways. To be more specific, this course has reached its three intended main ideas: what it means to be American, how to be more consumption-conscious, and how to apply these studies in our own lives. Jim Cullen puts this in a less specific sense, arguing that the study of popular culture can “afford valuable clues – about collective fears, hopes, and debates” (Cullen, The Art of Democracy, 2). We use these clues to understand the world around us, as well as why we do what we do as Americans and as humans. I will be touching on themes that relate to this quotation by Cullen, escapism, exploitation, and globalization, as well as how these themes relate to the course goals.