While surfing the web
for something interesting to comment on for my first post, I came across an
article called “Class Examines Hip-Hop as Teaching Tool”. The article talks about
a class taught by Professor Gloria Ladson-Billings at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison where the students learn how to think critically about hip-hop’s
music and culture. Ladson-Billings believes that bringing hip-hop into the
classroom will lead to a new type of excitement and energy that isn’t found in
the traditional classroom setting. According to Ladson-Billings, “there’s a
whole new vibe young people are into, and we’re ignoring it. And we could use
it as an opportunity”. I agree with this argument because I believe that there
is a lot of potential in hip-hop that people do not recognize. Many people do
not understand hip-hop and fail to recognize the art form that it truly is. Reading
the comments below the article, I was surprised to see quite a few negative
comments like “what a bunch of freaking nonsense”. I would be interested to
hear why these people disagree with incorporating hip-hop in the classroom
because I personally believe that it is an excellent idea. I think it is a
great way to spread understanding and appreciation of hip-hop music and
culture, and I think it can bring an exciting new element to education. This is
one of the reasons why I decided to take this class, and this is why I am happy
to see that other schools are starting to utilize hip-hop as well.
Here’s the link to the article: http://www.channel3000.com/education/30282568/detail.html
I totally agree with Ms. Ladson-Billings and I believe that the rest of us do as well. The reason I took this class was to start dissecting and gaining knowledge about a field that I haven't necessarily studied with much analysis before. This is an opportunity to take the chaos that is my thoughts when I listen to a hot track off the radio and organize them into something logical...hip-hop music deserves to be studied.
ReplyDeleteIf you guys haven't listened to Chris Rock, watch the beginning of this performance...brings up a few great points with his stylistic spin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR_U5ugcnXU
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ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic to write about for your first blog post. I totally agree with you guys and Ms. Ladson on the idea of incorporating hip hop into school curriculums. And like you, I was very interested in this class because it is on a topic that I love and enjoy learning about.
ReplyDeleteI think schools need more ways to make their curriculums more relevant to today’s times, which is a great way to keep students engaged and inspired. People need to be more open minded, and they need to open their eyes to new ways of going about things. I honestly feel hip hop is great thing that can be taught in so many different fields. For instance, it can be taught in Sociology classes to show how people live in certain areas/neighborhoods and how it is expressed through music. It can be used in English classes as a way to teach poetry and it can also be used in writing classes as a type of creative writing skill. Over all I believe hip hop, and music in general should be incorporated in school curriculums, due to the fact that it is fun, interesting, and yet still educational.
You bring up a great point, I haven't really thought much about the differences in hip-hop and how it is expressed in different areas. I agree with everything you have said, but has anyone thought about how hip-hop can be analyzed with more of a psychological lens? Perhaps, instead of listening to Tyler the Creator's "Yonkers", for example, mainly thinking about his struggle with mainstream music today, take a psychological slant on the track; his use of contradictions can signify his troubled, chaotic mental state, for example. I feel that if people applied this perspective to hip-hop more as they listen, we could get a lot more out of the music.
ReplyDeleteIn 2010, at Vanderbilt University a movement called "Hip-Hop Psychology" has become famous. These "hip-hop" psychologists want to prove hip-hop's therapeutic effects for troubled people. This makes me value lyricism a lot more, considering the fact that I dream of becoming a psychologist.
I actually did try to think of a psychological way to implement hip hop but could come up with one, so good job with that. And I think that would be a very interesting topic to study at schools. I know I would take that class if given the chance.
ReplyDeleteIn an attempt to not write a basic comment saying, "I agree with him, you, and everyone else who already posted," I clicked on the article and went straight to the comments. Some of the responses to this include, "the dumbing of America continues unabated," idiots," "another sign of the apocalypse," and "what a bunch of freaking nonsense."
ReplyDeleteI believe that these people responding so negatively to this concept are missing the main point, which is one of the reasons I took this class. We are not just studying songs about sex, drugs, and violence. We are analyzing the poetry of today's culture. We are studying the world around us in its present setting. Why is studying modern day, popular music any different than studying modern day government or religion?
Really interesting article Krysten and I'm totally in sync with your opinions. Tapping into the hip hop's artistic expression and allowing students to study what they love can't go wrong. True, critical analysis of hip hop can further lead to appreciation of other poetic art forms as well. Also, I'm irked by the fact that ignorant people often post comments on stimulating articles as well. These people often exhibit clouded judgement on the hip hop subject because if its taboo status in much of America. Many of these judgmental people are simply basing their views off of dirty, misogynistic tracks that simply don't represent hip hop as an an art. I'm a firm believer in the expression of creativity in almost any form and hip hop deniers are just missing out on something great. Their loss!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I believe that if you can find something that students are interested in, it will help them to learn. Many times, students are not engaged with what they're learning, which causes a lack of understanding. Using hip-hop as a learning tool is a great technique because it will engage and interest students.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I took this class with the same intentions; I thought it was very interesting and something that could engage me and keep my attention.