Rap culture in America stems from the 1970s, and has evolved ever since. “Gangster” rap is viewed as the original rap culture, and subsequently it was born in urban areas in the US. Rap was and is much more than just a music genre for gangsters. Historically it was a representation of the social atmosphere rappers and more broadly minority social groups lived in, so the lyrics reflect issues regarding societal hardships they faced in their daily lives. This paradigm shift has not been a fluid evolutionary change, but more so a specific transition from a gangster style rap to a generation of new lyrical representations. Pre-2005 rap can be easily distinguished from contemporary rap. Everything from the definition of mainstream hip-hop to the lyrical representations within the genre have changed over time.
For many, this paradigm shift has no significance, especially for those who aren't even fans of hip hop. However, the evolution of hip hop is a direct representation of the evolution of social problems and even triumphs in our country. Not only has the audience of the genre become more complex and broad, the thematic meaning of the songs themselves have changed as well.
My second idea would be that of the decreasing privacy with regards to social media. Former generations have never faced this type of problem with regards to privacy. It takes very little knowledge of current technology to know a person before you even meet them. Multiple social media platforms release your information permanently, and once your information is public you really have no control over it.
Not only is this a personal risk, but it’s also a security risk for entire countries. No one could have ever guessed that an entire US election would face de-legitimization claims, because of hacking from other governments. These hacks influenced voting for the US presidency. The internet and social media is a fluid and changing concept that isn’t slowing down, so we have to adapt and ensure privacy is adequately protected.
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I think both ideas are fantastic and present many opportunities for further research. I have noticed that several people have suggested doing the evolution of music. You presented hip hop in a different light focusing more on the meaning behind the lyrics, but I would still be cautious about picking this topic as it may be similar to others. Good luck picking your topic!
ReplyDeleteLiam, I think both of your topics have quite a bit of substance, but personally, I feel that your topic on privacy is much stronger. In today's society, even if you think you have privacy, you don't. This shift is a huge change from even our parents' generation to ours. It might be important to note the influence of computers, cell phones, and other technology. I also think your point about social media platforms is particularly strong. We can know a person without even meeting them, and that was a concept that is mind-blowing to many adults. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI really like your original idea of the lack of privacy with social media. This topic is one that almost every single person can relate to in our generation and would benefit from some knowledge of these risks, both personally and nationally. Your other topic of music is one that would be very interesting from a literary perspective. If you were able to find some differences in the themes of the rap culture songs, I think you could really do a great analysis on the stories within the lyrics. I am seeing a bunch of other students favoring the topic of music for their paradigm shift, so I am kind of leaning towards your social media topic, considering the fact that this aspect is unique and could really pertain to your audience.
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