Theories of Pop Culture on Hip-Hop Music

           The theories of pop culture discussed in this class were the cult of celebrities, beliefs, icons, rituals, heroes, stereotypes and myths. The pop culture hip-hop music can apply any of these theories. The one theory that stands out the most for hip-hop music is stereotypes. Hip-hop artists are stereotyped all the time.

            Some of the stereotypes are positive, but I think hip-hop music receives many more negative stereotypes than positive stereotypes. I think many people think of these musicians as vulgar because of the language and also because of how they dress in their baggy pants. I find this interesting because country musicians wear cowboy hats, but they don’t get the same rap as hip-hop musicians. I also find it interesting that many people think of hip-hop musicians as musicians from the streets and uneducated. But how does the one even know the education level of a musician?  And do people who don’t like hip-hop music even understand the culture? I feel these stereotypes are unfair, and I for one enjoy hip-hop music and will continue to enjoy it.

            So after studying the theories of pop culture, I will keep an open mind about other pop culture items. I know I don’t like the negative stereotyping of hip-hop music, and so I need to keep an open mind about other pop culture items liked by others. After all, I don’t want to talk down pop culture items important to my children just because I find no value in them. So this class taught me this great lesson.  So thanks for teaching me not to repeat my parent’s behavior and put down pop culture items of the younger generation.

Formulas in Popular Culture

Hip-Hop: Concept of Formulas

Erika Kamph

Popular Culture

Professor Burriss

September 12, 2016

            As I explore the concept of formulas on my chosen pop culture item, hip-hop music, I will be discussing the categories of conventions and inventions and how these relate to hip-hop music. In popular culture, conventions are parts of the culture that remain the same and do not change and can and are repeated over and over. Whereas inventions are new parts or processes of popular culture that create change.

            So in the hip-hop music industry, the convention formula is the basic process of creating hip-hop music. Someone writes the lyrics to a song and adds the notes of the music to the song.  This formula is repeated over and over by not only hip-hop musicians but all musicians that create songs. Where the invention formula comes into play is the style of the instruments or technology used in the music and the lyrics of the song that go along with the actual music. As technology is used more and more in the music industry – the convention formula is growing even more in the popular culture of hip-hop music. Also because each piece of music is unique – even voice changes are an invention because new styles are being created by new artists.        

            Now that I understand the concepts of formula in popular culture I pay more attention to the makeup of popular culture items and trends.  I appreciate the inventions by new musicians that have new sounds because it opens what I like to hear. And in watching TV, I like to watch romantic movies, but I can’t believe how many shows have a convention of the same old story – girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, and girl and boy live happily ever after. Now I watch for the formula invention – how interesting can the story be told with the same old story line.

            To conclude I’ve always said if I could just invent the next popular toy or item, I would be rich. Little did I know my future product is a formula of popular culture - invention.

New American Hero: Dexter, Serial Killer for the Masses

New American Hero: Dexter, Serial Killer for the Masses

Erika Kamph

Popular Culture

Professor Burriss

September 6, 2016

            The journal article, The New American Hero: Dexter, Serial Killer for the Masses was written by Ashley Donnelly. Ashley’s article is about how people are fascinated with vigilante characters in TV and film. She explores this concept from the book “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” which became a TV series. The TV show Dexter – is about the character Dexter who is a forensic technician, who has a secret life as a vigilante serial killer, killing people who have slipped through the justice system. This TV show was highly successful, and the author makes note that some of the highest rated TV shows are about crime and vigilante “heroes”. Her article labels these characters as deviant Others and Ashley explains “The serial killer, in particular, gave us something real to fear within our own society. The fears provoked by serial killer films are those fears we have about ourselves as human beings” (Donnelly, 2012, para. 11). Because Dexter kills those that have slipped through the justice system, he is embraced as the “new American hero” by many Americans.

            The article jumped around a lot making it choppy to follow. It started with the discussion of the TV show Dexter and then on to vigilantes throughout the history of America. The same point was made over and over about how serial killers are stereotyped as people with mental disorders or were abused at some point in their life but that vigilante serial killers are different. I felt Ashley could have done a better job explaining why Americans are attracted to these types of TV shows or movies and why Americans make the vigilantes heroes. But one good point Ashley made was with all of the ugliness going on in the United States shows like Dexter empowers all of us to cry out for justice thus characters like Dexter become heroes to many of us. 

            There were parts of the article I did agree with Ashley. One being throughout time Americans have been fascinated with vigilantes as heroes which make TV shows or movies about vigilantes very popular. In the movies or TV shows, Americans feel people like Dexter are justified to murder because those they kill are people who have committed crimes and gotten away with it. If the law does not punish them – they still need to be punished and if it takes a vigilante to do it so be it. Another point Ashley made was that Dexter is the “new American hero”. I do agree that Dexter ia considered the “new American hero” especially since acts of terrorism are so rampant today. I feel Americans label people heroes if they are doing good for society such as by getting rid of “bad people” even though vigilantes may be committing the same crime as the “bad people”.   

            I think this article is important because it showed thru the different time periods Americans were fascinated with vigilantes especially in movies or TV shows. I think this article shows where Americans have come to as a society that vigilantes are being hailed as the “new American hero” which says something about America. This article also is also important because it makes all of us look inside of ourselves to see why we like the show like Dexter so much.

            In conclusion, Ashley’s article is good because it shows the mental state of Americans and so in our popular culture deviant characters labeled Other are well liked in TV shows and movies. Americans even label vigilantes as heroes and Ashley showed this fascination throughout American history which was very interesting to me. 

             

Reference

Donnelly, A. (February, 2012). The new American hero: Dexter, serial killer for the masses. The Journal of Popular Culture, 45(1), 15-26.

Heroes and the Cult of the Celebrity

Hip Hop Music: Heroes and the Cult of the Celebrity

            As I have been studying theories of the popular culture hip-hop music, I have learned a lot. This paper will explore the theories of heroes and the cult of the celebrity as it relates to hip-hop music.  

            First I will define what a hero is - A hero is “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities” or “a person who is greatly admired”  (Hero, 2016).  An example of a hero can be a real life person who saves someone that is drowning, or a hero can be a sports figure that young players look up to or a musician that is respected and admired for the work the musician creates. Many fans that listen to hip-hop music have their favorite musician that is called a hero because fans admire them. They admire them because of the words in the songs that are about real life problems and fans relate to the words and feel a connection to the hip-hop musician sometimes because they have experienced the same thing. Courage is another characteristic of a hero and with a hop-hop musician, it takes courage to expose real life experiences to fans.

            Hip-hop musicians are part of the cult of celebrity which is a cult you join once becoming a celebrity. Celebrity is defined as “the state of being famous or celebrates” or “a person who is famous” (Celebrity, 2016).  Many hip-hop musicians who reach celebrity status show their status by the material things they have such as expensive cars, expensive jewelry, and mammoth homes. The reason they show their wealth this way is that many of them came from poor backgrounds having nothing, and these items are status symbols to and have become part of the culture of being a hip-hop celebrity.

             The insights I have gained from applying these theories to hip-hop music is that people relate to heroes for many reasons. One a reason hip-hop musician is thought to be a hero is because they may have shared the same experience with a fan. I never thought of hip-hop musicians as heroes but after doing this research, I better understand why some fans do. As far as hip-hop musicians being part of the cult of celebrities, I do understand when you come from nothing and become famous and wealthy your possessions are important to you. To me, celebrity becomes a hero when they use their power and wealth to help society either financially or through supporting causes.

References

Celebrity, 2016. Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-

            webster.com/dictionary/celebrity

Hero, 2016.  Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieve from http://www.merriam-

            webster.com/dictionary/hero