Growing up in Oshawa a while back (more years than I’d like to tell) hasn’t really educated me about hip-hop. Not being a fan, I suppose reading this article is itself a rupture in my education pathway (smile).
I have to comment: I found the writing in this article a cumbersome academic burden, especially considering the topic content – MUSIC (and I do truly love music, my iPhone is FULL). I suppose it is a difficult job to deconstruct and describe in words artistic expression of any kind, at one point the author did reference the difficulty using words to describe something that really must be felt (hip-hop). As an aside, I’ve often wondered why so many academic papers are written “academically” – I define this: difficult to read, decode, and process, limiting the audience and their attention. I’ve actually debated this with a few profs: why does academic writing have to be so darn academic??? But I’m wayyyyy off topic now. I did however appreciate a few things I’ve learned from the article, especially around Hip Hop High. I enjoyed reading about Hip Hop High, and I’m impressed by their success at harnessing music while facing so many physiological and psychological stressors and barriers. I absolutely love their “deliberate patience” ethos – it’s something I will reflect on for my own teaching practice. Seeing as the paper was originally published prior to some recent escalations, I have to wonder how the “Stop Coonin Movement” has been replaced or morphed in light of the recent escalating racial tensions and Black Lives Matter. Of course whenever I think about racists lately, my mind turns to Donald Trump...so this triggered some reflection on the latest presidential debate disaster when I heard Donald Trump’s horrific words “what a nasty woman” and the t-shirts and other products that were for sale within hours. There’s politically correct, and then there’s UNACCEPTABLE offensive (and criminal!), way beyond any civilized person’s level of tolerance and basic respect for the individual (I can always hope right?). Week 7 Required Readings: Reading: Emery Petchauer, “Starting With Style: Toward a Second Wave of Hip-Hop Education Research and Practice,” Urban Education 2015, Vol. 50(1), pp. 78–105. Andrew Marantz, “Kanye West For President”, The New Yorker. (31 Aug 15): http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/kanye-west-for-president?mbid=social_facebook
2 Comments
11/4/2016 08:04:02 pm
Glad to hear that you find both the music and the struggle worthwhile. It gets easier. It's wonderful that you're so open to different ideas and approaches.
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Reena
11/27/2016 07:57:17 pm
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