StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Is Hip-Hop a Positive or Negative Force in Modern Society - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "Is Hip-Hop a Positive or Negative Force in Modern Society" discusses hip-hop that has had bad press lately. Hip-hop artists are stereotypically associated with drug-taking and gun crime, while certain lyrical content has been perceived as aggressive, misogynistic and offensive…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94% of users find it useful
Is Hip-Hop a Positive or Negative Force in Modern Society
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Is Hip-Hop a Positive or Negative Force in Modern Society"

Is hip-hop a positive or negative force in modern society? Hip-hop has had a bad press lately. Hip-hop artists are stereotypically associated with drug taking and gun crime, while certain lyrical content has been perceived as aggressive, misogynistic and offensive. The already degenerate youth of today, if we believe the press, are being further corrupted by this under-belly of popular music. Violence amongst young people, it is claimed, is becoming increasingly common and hip-hop is partly to blame. However, not everyone sees it quite like that. Despite its negative press, hip-hop has also been seen as a creative outlet for urban youth and a musical form which they can relate to. It reflects the realities they face on a daily basis and their struggle to come to terms with the world around them. Far from encouraging young people into a life of drug addiction and gun crime, hip-hop can actually save them from it by proving a form of expression which can release their anger, stress and anxieties. This essay will explore the two sides to this hotly debated topic and attempt to understand just what role hip-hop plays in modern society. Jennifer McLune is a supporter of the idea that hip-hop is a damaging influence on modern society. Her focus is particularly on females, since she argues that hip-hop betrays its black women listeners by objectifying them. The basic premise for her argument is that far from offering an outlet for young black females, it actually encourages them to conform to roles delimitated along the lines of ‘baby mommas’, ‘chickenheads’ or ‘bitches’. Rather than offering positive role models for women, this music instead attempts to limit the role that women play in a society where men set the rules. This is an often levied criticism. At first listen lyrics to many hip-hop songs appear to have little respect for women beyond pure sexuality. McClure takes this point and develops it, in a distinctly feminist tone. McLune argues against Powell’s idea that the overt misogyny in hip-hop comes from socio-economic factors which have encourages this approach. She argues this point by indicating that women, too, have been raised in the exact same socio-economic conditions. Further, rich white males are just as capable as poor black ones of sexist slants. Her approach is an overtly feminist one which argues that women should not accept this war which men are waging on them. She argues that hip-hop culture is driven by sexism and that even artists which are opposed to this do not openly publicise the fact. It is so mainstream to hate women, it would appear in McLune’s argument, that no artist is willing to challenge it. The presence of women hip-hop artists does little to reverse this trend, she argues, because they remain marginalised. If they have any hope of main stream success they have to be just as ignorant and aggressive as their male counterparts. A sorry state indeed if McLune’s argument is to be believed. For her, the male dominated, sexist world of hip-hop should not be accepted just because it is a multi-million dollar industry. Women should not be expected to take the anger of black men who have been subject to years of racism and repression. Hip-hop should change its tune and until it does, women must unite to fight against this entourage of abuse. While McLune’s argument is compelling given the force of its tone and the undeniable presence of misogynistic lyrics in the industry, it begs a question however; if hip-hop is so offensive to women, why do so many consume it? Could there be a more positive side to this musical genre? Cathleen Rountree certainly claims that there is. While being as professionally interested in women’s issues as McLune, she adopts an altogether different view on the subject. Given that her argument is also less militaristic than McLune’s it also comes across as more convincing. She initially points out that hip-hop has long been the scapegoat in the popular press for violent youth crimes and the degeneration of acceptable social mores among young people. However, she argues, this is a gross over-simplification of the role that hip-hop plays. Perhaps, she argues, it is not hip-hop which generates a culture of violence and misogyny, but rather the other way round. Hip-hop documents the nature of the culture it develops in and if this is a flawed one, then this negativity will be reflected by those that choose to express themselves in this way. Hip-hop goes far beyond the condemnation of the press, argues Rountree. It is, in fact, a highly developed musical form which, in its rawest state can be as powerful as any other genre. In Rountree’s experience it is an all encompassing musical movement which speaks across divisions of class and race because it is based on humanity and compelling social commentary. It is designed to make people question what goes on around them and to engage them both politically and spiritually. It is a powerful force, she stresses, which cannot be reduced to mere sexism. She concludes by citing the ‘Hip-hop Project’ which encourages young people to express themselves and confront the difficult issues that they face in their lives through the media of hip-hop. This life affirming use of a publicly reviled music genre is compelling evidence for the good which it can do, for young men and women alike. Clearly, then, hip-hop can be damaging but, if channelled in the right way it can help those who relate to its origins and deeper messages to express themselves. It would appear, if Duncan-Andrade & Morrell’s article is to be believed, that this positive use may even make its way into main stream education in the US. As the number of students from ethnic minorities in schools across the country soars, teaching methods are having to adapt to engage people whose social and cultural experiences vary greatly from those which the so far white dominated education is designed to engage with. This is where hip-hop comes in. In Duncan-Andrade & Morrell’s paper, there is evidence that hip-hop can appeal to a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and that students naturally apply the kinds of critical reading skills to hip-hop texts which teachers need to encourage in the English classroom. As hip-hop appears to be a representative voice of urban youth, it therefore makes sense for teachers and students alike to engage with this music as a way of developing students analytical skills. Teachers can tap into the role which rappers have made for themselves as educators and help students to approach their education from their own perspective, rather than forcing them to adapt their thought-process to a thoroughly alien environment, as has so long been the case. It is therefore clear that hip-hop can be considered both a repressive but also a liberating force. At its worst, it is commercialised misogyny, repressing its female fans and encouraging female stereotypes in a way which flies in the face of all that feminism had fought so hard for. However, at the core of the music lies a strong tradition of social commentary which many young people, from across the racial and social divide, relate to. When this powerful tool is harnessed it can even be used in the English classroom to encourage young people and help them to express themselves. Bibliography Duncan-Andrade, Jeffrey M. R. & Morrell, Ernest (2002) ‘Promoting Academic Literacy with Urban Youth through Engaging Hip-Hop Culture’ The English Journal, Vol. 91, No. 6 pp. 88-92 McLune, Jennifer (2006) ‘Hip-Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women’ in Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings across the Disciplines. Ed. Ackley, Kartherin Anne, London: Thompson Rountree, Cathleen (2007) ‘In Defence of Hip Hop’ in Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings across the Disciplines. Ed. Ackley, Katherine Anne, London: Thompson Outline Introduction: A discussion of the positive and negative viewpoints on hip-hip. Paragraph 1: Hip-hop is sexist. It objectifies women and encourages them to conform to negative stereotypes. Paragraph 2: Socio-economic factors cannot be blamed for sexism in hip-hop. The rappers must be held accountable. Paragraph 3: Women must therefore fight against hip-hop until things change. However, hip-hop might also have something positive to offer. Paragraph 4: Hip-hop does not create a sexist culture, but rather reflects the sexism already present in the culture from which it develops. Paragraph 5: Hip-hop is actually a powerfully engaging social and political force. The Hip-hop project is one example of young people’s positive engagement with this genre. Paragraph 6: Hip-hop may even be beneficially in mainstream education as it helps to engage ethnic minorities. Paragraph 7: Hip-hop has been seen to engage children from many different cultural and racial backgrounds successfully. Conclusion: A comparison of the various viewpoints discussed in the essay. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1552347-argument
(Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words - 6)
https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1552347-argument.
“Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words - 6”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1552347-argument.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Is Hip-Hop a Positive or Negative Force in Modern Society

How does hip hop music affect black youth

Rap artists have emerged as the modern orators, the present-day Black icons (Rose, 1999).... Many studies indicate that teenagers, who spend more time than their peers listening to negative hip hop music are more likely to disrespect themselves, their teachers, be arrested, and be promiscuous.... outlines the connection between listening to hip-hop music and teenagers behaviour.... Youths who immerse themselves in the music and with such fervor embody the youth oriented culture known as hip-hop....
22 Pages (5500 words) Essay

How the Hop Hop Music Culture Spread Into Eastern Countries

This essay describes the origin of hip-hop music and how it became popular in Eastern countries.... hip-hop music's origins are accredited as beginning in the Bronx of New York in the United States of America in the 1970s.... This "How the Hop Hop Music Culture Spread Into Eastern Countries" essay outlines the phenomenon of hip-hop music's popularity....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Dance Music: Hip-Hop

This indicates that hip-hop is not only involved with production of music and entertainment but the need to create a sustainable society.... Hip-hop aims to create a society that is established on the hip-hop culture to enlighten the people and save them from their suffering.... Culture is the overall patterns of human beliefs behaviors and way of life that characterize a society.... The hip-hop society share common beliefs that play a vital role in hip hop culture....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

Is Hip Hop a Culture

The location of the inception of Hip Hop and the period in modern American history in which this happened is not a coincidence.... There are, of course, many critics weighing in on how valuable Hip Hop has been to American kids and society in general (Lewis, 2009).... Many argue that Hip Hop is an art belonging to the hooligans of society.... In fact, many a time, Hip Hop dancers and rappers are frequently associated with criminal tendencies and do not always harbor a stellar reputation among the more conservative and orthodox members of society....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Sociology of Hip-Hop Music

The compilation of this research will examine what it is about hip-hop that has made such an impression with the younger people in particular and why it has such a hold on society.... However one musical art-form known as 'hip-hop' has swept over the world with a long lasting affect that is particularly noticeable in many people's daily activities and their individual actions.... This new wave of music which was stated to be 'hip-hop' has definitely taken America by storm without question....
49 Pages (12250 words) Coursework

The Sociology of Hip-Hop Music and the Affect of it in Society Today

The Hip-Hop music becomes more and more popular nowadays and it's influence on the social media and society hard to overestimate.... The compilation of this research will examine what it is about hip-hop that has made such an impression with the younger people in particular and why it has such a hold on society.... However one musical art-form known as ‘hip-hop' has swept over the world with a long lasting affect that is particularly noticeable in many people's daily activities and their individual actions....
32 Pages (8000 words) Essay

How the Hip Hop Music Culture Spread Into Eastern Countries

Though America, back then, was a for the most part considered to have a 'white' majority, with many of its most successful business people being 'white', hip-hop music was actually created primarily by the African-American and Latino-American cultures (History, 2011) who chose to share their hard life and street experiences as a 'minority' in a primarily 'white' society through the use of 'street poetry', or 'rap' music, if you will.... Through the mandatory learning of the modern English language in Eastern countries during the 80s, to the technological revolution, including the accessibility of the internet and television, hip-hop music has been embraced, as well as evolved, within the East, as well as the rest of the world....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

Hip-Hop Culture as Reflection of Individual Lives

"hip-hop Culture as Reflection of Individual Lives" paper aims to address a more personal, tougher question: does hip-hop music and culture reflects individual lives, or least to say, an artist's free expression or conception of how he sees the world surrounding him.... hip-hop, which today is one of the most controversial forms of expression in the United States, is not only about rap music and a lifestyle, but a multibillion-dollar industry also....
12 Pages (3000 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us