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ETHN128/MUS152:HipHop:ThePoliticsofCulture
UCSD|Summer12016SOLIS109|Tuesdays/Thursdays5:00-7:50pm
Instructor:MarkRedondoVillegas,Ph.D.Email:[email protected]:SSB243Officehours:Tuesdays/Thursdays3:00-4:30andbyappointment
CourseDescriptionThiscoursewillengageinhiphop’s“politicsofauthenticity”whilealsoofferingaprimerontheparticipationandcontributionsofavarietyofsexual,gender,andracial/ethnicconstituentsinU.S.hiphop.Rightfullycenteringandhonoringthegenre’sAfro-diasporicinfluences,wewillexaminedebatesinvolvinggender,sexual,andracialboundariesinhiphop.Overall,thisclasswillpromptstudentstountanglehiphop’sseeminglycontradictoryethosof“keepingitreal”whilesimultaneouslypromotingbroaderidealsofcosmopolitanismandglobalcommodification.LearningObjectives• Narratehiphop’slinkstoBlackhistoricalandcontemporarycommunities,aesthetics,culture,andpolitics,whilealso
envisioningthedynamismandversatilityofblackness.• Interprethiphopasacontestedpoliticalterraininvolvingclaimstoauthenticityandpower.• Learnbydoing:activelycreate/curateartifactsandoriginalresearchthatexploredebatesoverU.S.hiphop
representations.RequiredTextbooks/Literarybooks• SohailDaulatzai,ReturnoftheMecca:TheArtofIslamandHipHop(RazorStepMedia,2014)• MarkVillegas,DJKuttinKandi,andRoderickLabrador(eds.),EmpireofFunk:HipHopandRepresentationinFilipina/o
America(Cognella,2014)CourseBloghttps://sites.google.com/site/hiphopucsd2016/homeGradingCriteriaOnlineResponseswithPeerComment/RecordSleeveDesign(45%,3at15pointseach)• Your500-800wordoriginalOnlineResponseisdueby5:00pmthedaylistedonthesyllabus.Your“PeerComment”
willbeduebynoononthedayofourclassmeeting.YourOnlineResponseswillbepostedinyour“Discussion”sectionofyourassignedgroup.o TheOnlineResponsewillinviteyoutoengageinadebate.Withinyourgroup,youwillbeaskedtotakea“side”,
evenifyoudon’tpersonallyagreewiththat“side.”o PeerComment:Youwillthencommentonagroupmember’spost,andplaytheroleofyourdebate“persona.”This
groupmemberthenhasthechoicetocommentonyourcomment.Duringyourdebate,feelfreeto“stepinandout”ofyourpersona.
• RecordSleeveDesign:Substitutesforoneofyour“OnlineResponses”,thisgroupendeavorrequiresyoutocreateavisualrecordalbumtobepostedonourcourseblog.o Thedesignwillkeepinmindthethemesofthecoursesofar.UseReturnoftheMeccaasavisualguide.o Thesleevewillhavetwosides:thesidethatstatesthetitleandisvisuallyrichanddescriptiveoftherecord’s
contentandthesidethatliststhesongscontainedintherecord(thissidealsohasvisuals).
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o Yourgroupwilljustifyyourchoiceofdesignandyourlistofsongs.Whatdothesesongsrepresentforyour
record?What“story”doesittell?Onthecourseblog,writea“curator’sstatement”andinclass,yourgroupwillpresentyourentirepiece.
• OnegradingrubricwillbeappliedtoboththeOnlineResponsesandRecordSleeveproject.Criticism:PopularHipHopDanceMovieorapprovedalternative(25%--[Abstract5%ofthis])• Inyourgroup,youwillwatchamoviefromthegenreof“PopularHipHopDance,”whichre-emergedintheearly-
2000s.Yourgroupwillcreatea2-minutemovietrailerforthefilmyoustudied,playingtheroleofpromotingthefilm,butsatirically.Trainingonhowto“cut”scenesfromthefilmwillbegiven.
• Youwillpostyourvideoonourcourseblogandprovidea“criticalexplanation”ofyourtrailer.• ThesesixfilmsareonCourseReserveandavailableforonlinestreaming:YouGotServed(2003),StepUp(2012),Step
Up2:TheStreets(2008),PlanetB-boy(2008),B-girl(2010),BattleoftheYear(2013)• Yourgroupcanalsochoosetoparticipateinanapprovedalternativeproject.• AbstractofyourprojectwillbedueonTuesdayofWeek3andisworth5%ofyourgrade.FinalOnlineResponse(20%)• Comparativeinnature,thefinalonlineresponsewillaskyoutosynthesizethecourse’smaterial.• Thewordcountisbetween800-1000words.• ThefinalonlineresponsepromptwillbegivenWeek5.• Inadditiontoassignedreadings,youcanincorporatediscussionsfromclassandonlineresponses,andfindingsfrom
youoryourpeers’presentations/projects.• Agradingrubricwillberevealed.ClassParticipation/Attendance(10%) • Studentswillbegradedbasedontheirattendanceofclass.Themissingofmorethantwomeetingsjustifiesthefailure
oftheentirecourse.• YoumustpresentproperandlegitimatedocumentationduringWeek1ifyouplantomissanymeetings.• Studentsmustbringassignedbookstoallmeetings.• Gradingwillgreatlyconsideryouractiveparticipationincontributingtoclassdiscussions.Withthatsaid,perfect
attendancedoesnotguarantee10points.• Imayissueassignments,quizzes,andexercisesthataregradedtowardsclassparticipation/attendance.ElectronicDevicesPolicyUnlessotherwiseauthorized,studentsareprohibitedfromusinganyelectronicdevicesduringclass.Ifyouneedtouseadeviceinanemergency,kindlystepoutoftheclasstoaddressthis.EmailPolicyStudentsareexpectedtochecktheirUCSDemailaccountdaily.Theymustrespondtoinstructororteachingassistants’electronicrequestswithin48hours.AcademicDishonestyAllworkistobeproducedbythestudent.Anyassignment,paper,project,presentation,etc.thatisproducedbyanyoneelseotherthanthestudentbeinggradedwillresultinanautomaticFintheclassandimmediatedisciplinaryaction.Formoreonacademicdishonesty:https://students.ucsd.edu/academics/academic-integrity/index.htmlSpecialAccommodationsandNeedsStudentswhorequirespecialaccommodationsand/orneedsmustnotifymeinpersonorviaemailsothatIcanbestassistyou.ItisrecommendedyouregisterwithUCSD’sOfficeforStudentswithDisabilitiessothatyoucanreceivetheappropriateassistance:https://disabilities.ucsd.edu/students/registering.htmlMajoringorMinoringinEthnicStudiesManystudentstakeanEthnicStudiescoursebecausethetopicisofgreatinterestorbecauseofaneedtofulfillacollegegeneraleducationrequirement.OftenstudentshavetakenmanyETHNcoursesoutofinterest,yetdonotrealizehowclosetheyaretoamajor,aminor,orevenadoublemajor.AnEthnicStudiesmajorisexcellentpreparationforacareerinlaw,education,medicine,publichealth,socialwork,counseling,publicpolicy,andmanyothercareers.IfyouwouldlikeinformationabouttheEthnicStudiesmajororminor,pleasecontact:DaisyRodríguez,EthnicStudiesDepartmentUndergraduateAdvisor858-534-3277ord1rodriguez@ucsd.eduorvisitwww.ethnicstudies.ucsd.edu.
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TentativeScheduleWk1 Tue,Jun28:WhatisHipHopandwhydoesit
matter?Thur,Jun30:BlackAtlanticandthepoliticsofauthenticity
• Differencebetweenappreciationandcritical• BlackvernaculardancearoundtheU.S./world• NewYork-centricityandotherU.S.regions• AssigngroupsIn-classscreening:WildStyle(1hr,20min;Kanopy—needtouseVPN;finishathome)
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:Wed(forreadingpacing)“HipHop’sMama,”ProphetsoftheHood:PoliticsandPoeticsinHipHop,ImaniPerry(PDF)
♪Playlist(see“Playlist”under“Content”folder):“CountryCousins”,TalibKweli(2007)“Ha,”Juvenile(1998)Thur(today)“BloodandFire,withOccasionalMusic:TheGangsoftheBronx,”Can’tStop,Won’tStop:AHistoryoftheHip-HopGeneration,JeffChang(CourseReserves)
In-classscreening:FindingtheFunk(1hr,18min;finishathome)
Wk2 Tue,Jul5:TheUniversalZuluNationas“protectors”ofhiphop?
Thur,Jul7:Women,BlackMasculinity,andHipHop
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:FriBegintostudyrecordsleevedesigns!“MakingaName:HowDJKoolHercLostHisAccentandStartedHip-Hop,”JeffChang(CourseReserves)
Sat-Mon“SoulSalvation:TheMysteryandFaithofAfrikaBambaataa,”JeffChang(CourseReserves)
WatchassignedPopularHipHopMovieandpreparenotesandresponse♪Playlist:“PlanetRock,”AfrikaBambaataaandtheSoulSonicForce”(1982)
Tue(today)“AfrikaBambaataa&TheUniversalZuluNationScandal:TheSecretHistory”(weblink)
“HipHopBreakingtheSilence:AnOpenLettertoOurBelovedCommunity,”DJKuttinKandi,Julie-C,andRosaClemente(weblink)
RecordsleevedesignmeetingtimeResponsetoassignedPopularHipHopDanceMovieIn-classscreening:HipHop:BeyondBeatsandRhymes(Kanopy)
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:Wed“IBringWrecktoThoseWhoDisrespectMeLikeaDame:Women,Rap,andtheRhetoricofWreck,”CheckItWhileIWreckIt:BlackWomanhood,Hip-HopCulture,andthePublicSphere,GwendolynD.Pough(PDF)
♪Playlist:“U.N.I.T.Y.”,QueenLatifah(1993)“TotalWreck,”Bahamadia(1994)“TheBitches,”JerutheDamaja(1994)“AfroPuffs,”LadyofRage(1994)“TheRain,”MissyElliot(1997)“DaBaddestBitch,”Trina(1999)“NoMatterWhatTheySay,”LilKim(2000)DueWed5:00pm:Onlineresponse:Whoisauthentic?Thur(today)“hip-hopfeminist,”WhenChickenheadsComeHometoRoost:AHip-HopFeministBreaksItDown,JoanMorgan(CourseReserves)
“DearBlackMen,It’sTimeForUsToTalkAboutAfrikaBambaataa,”daviddtss(weblink)
DueThurnoon:Peercomment
In-classscreening:HipHop:BeyondBeatsandRhymes(continued)Guestappearance:MightyDelrokz(GabrielDelaCruz),formerUniversalZuluNationPresident,AllTribes(SanFrancisco)chapter
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Wk3 Tue,Jul12:IslamandtheAsiaticBlackMan Thur,Jul14:BlackLatinidad/Albumcovers
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:Fri“RespecttheArchitects:AnIntroductionbySohailDaulatzai”and“TheHungryandtheHunted:AConversationwithYasiinBey,”ReturnoftheMecca,SohailDaulatzai
♪Playlist:“CasualtiesofWar,”EricB.andRakim(1992)“Meaningofthe5%”,BrandNubian(1993)“FearNotMan,”MosDef(1999)Sat-Mon“MalcolmtheTenth:AsEssaybyChuckD,”ReturnoftheMeccaandfinishlookingatbook’simages
“BuildingaNation,”FivePercentRap,FeliciaM.Miyakawa(PDF)
Tue(today)“’TheAsiaticBlackMan’:AnAfricanAmericanOrientalism?”NathanielDeutsch(PDF)
Due:MovieGroupabstractIslamicinfluenceinAfro-diasporicmusicalityIn-classscreening:DeenTight(1hr;Vimeo)
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:WedListening:“ALatinoHistoryofHip-HopPartI,”LatinoUSA(weblink)
Thur(today)“Introduction,”NewYorkRicansfromtheHipHopZone,RaquelZ.Rivera(CourseReserves)
“ANightinTunisia,”AllThingsConsidered(includingaudio;weblink)
♪Playlist:“WordsIManifest,”Gangstarr(1989)“GiveItUp,TurnItLoose,”JamesBrown(1969)“Apache,”IncredibleBongoBand(1973)“JustBegun,”TheJimmyCastorBunch(1972)Due:Recordsleevedesign
Wk4 Tue,Jul19:NewYorkRicans/AsianAmericanMasculinity
Thur,Jul21:AsianAmericanPower,Privilege,and(In)visibility?
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:Fri“EntertheNewYorkRicans,”NewYorkRicansfromtheHipHopZone(CourseReserves)
Sat-Mon“RappingandReppingAsian:Race,Authenticity,andtheAsianAmericanMC,”AlienEncounters:PopularCultureinAsianAmerica,OliverWang(PDF)
DueMon:Onlineresponse:DebateRaquelRiveraandImaniPerry(“Zones”vs.“Mama”)
Tue(today)“EddieHuangandtheriseofthe‘bigdickAsian,’”AnneIshii(weblink)♪Playlist:“LearnChinese,”Jin(2007)“SAFE,”Dumbfoudead(2016)DueTuenoon:PeercommentMovieGroupmeetingtime
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:Wed‘”StartedintheStreets…’CriminalizingBlacknessandthePerformanceofAsianAmericanEntrepreneurshiponAmerica’sBestDanceCrew,Season1,”BrianChung(PDF)
Thur(today)“WeRealCool?:OnHip-Hop,Asian-Americans,BlackFolks,andAppropriation,”KenyonFarrow(weblink)
♪Playlist:“BlackKorea,”IceCube(1991)MovieGroupmeetingtime
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Wk5 Tue,Jul26:FilipinoAmericansRepresent Thur,Jul28:FilipinoAmericansRepresent(continued)/PresentationDay
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:FriEmpireofFunk:“Foreword:FortheMoment,”JeffChang“Introduction:AHipHopStorytoTell:It’sJustBegun,”DJKuttinKandi
“FilipinoAmericanDanceCultureinSuburbia:TheStoryofFunkiJunction,”CherylCambay
“SoulintheWhole:TheSuccessesandChallengesofRepresentationfromKabaModernandBeyond,”ArnelCalvario
♪Playlist:“OrdinaryGuy”(bossanova),JoeBataan(1975)“SaidIt,”NativeGunsfeaturingGeologic(2006)“TurnYou,”RockyRivera(2016)Sat-MonEmpireofFunk:“GettingSchooled:LessonsfromResearchingFilipinoAmericanMobileDJCrews,”OliverWang
“KnowledgeofSelf:FromIslamthroughHip-HoptoFreedom,”FreedomAllahSiyam
“InaStrangeLand,”MarkR.Villegas“Y’allWantThisPartyStartedRight?”LeoEsclamado
Tue(today)EmpireofFunk:“TheQueenisDead…”Bambu“WritingWrongs,”Hopie“BootyPopMadness,”JosephRamirez“PerformingtoSurvive,”DJKuttinKandi♪Playlist:“TheQueenisDead…”Bambu(2010)“Trunk,”Hopie(2010)“SolarSystems,”Hopie(2014)“Comrades,”Bambu(2015)Guestappearance:Bambu
Readings/Listening/Viewingdue:WedEmpireofFunk,3chaptersofyourchoice(youwilldiscusstheonesyouchose)
Thur(today)GrouppreparationsPresentations
FinalsSaturday,July30,10:00pm
