Hip-Hop and Sterotyping

Hip Hop and Stereotyping

            Jason Hinmon transferred out of on University to attend one closer to home.  His reasoning for the transfer does not matter, what does matter is that when he began to attend classes at University of Delaware, he felt that his appearance left him at a disadvantage.  Hinmon felt that his dark complexion and dread-locks was the reason that he had trouble.  On the other hand, was it the lack of an older generations understanding of culture today? 

            “I came to class and my professors didn’t know how to deal with me,” says the 22-year old senior.  “They took one look at me and thought that I was some hip-hop hoodlum who wasn’t interested in being a good student.” Hinmon also stated.  (Evelyn, 2008)  The student was also heard saying that he nearly dropped out.  Such stereotyping seems to be common among college students.  And rightfully so.  While Hinmon may have been a good student, the look he possessed spoke in volumes.

            Dr. Earl Midgette, the director of the Institute for the Study of Minority Issues at the historically Black North Carolina Central University feels that seeing these students around campus with the ability to recite rap lyrics instead of something they may need for an exam could be cause for professors to easily stereotype.    Midgette also said, “Some of these same students you won’t see back on campus next semester.” 

            Is it fair to judge these students based simply on their choice of music?  Some undergraduates say, “They see hip-hop’s squalid influence on some of their peers.” (Evelyn, 2008)  One student, Kholiswa Laird, stated that it upsets her when people complain that they are unable to get a job, yet they go to the interview with big gold medallions and baggy pants.  Yet, the 18-year old freshman continues, they feel “like they are selling out if they’re selling out if they wear proper clothes.” 

            In the past, as well as in the future, music has, and will influence the culture around us.  In the sixties and seventies, the influence appeared in bell-bottom pants and afros.  In the eighties, everybody wore one glove like Michael Jackson; or lacey ones like Madonna.  Today, students listen to hip-hop and wear clothes like the entertainers.  Nothing has changed, except for the professors and administrators ability to see past the “look” and into the mind of the student.

            What educators, as well as the general public need to understand is that today’s culture is much like that of years before.  The music may have changed, the clothing style has changed, but the message that these students are sending is the same.  In the past, as one aged, they learned how to balance their love of culture, in any sense, with the world around them.  Perhaps, it is time for professors to learn about culture today.                                          

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Language and Pictures

   

          Across the world on any given day, millions of people tune into to watch the news, whether local, national or international.  Millions of other people are flipping through the newspapers picking and choosing the stories that interest them.  Oddly, more people tend to turn on the television than to read the paper these days.  The reasons for this seem to be very clear.  Pictures.

            In print, a person is getting the story, they are able to read what they want, skip over things that they are not interested and get a verbal idea of the events of the day.  On television, however, people get more.  There are colorful, dramatic pictures or video that documents the events.  Stories are unfolding with the help of visual aids. 

            Stationary pictures do not tell the whole story, “they speak in particularities,” states Neil Postman and Steve Powers in the essay The Bias of Language, The Bias of Pictures. (Postman & Powers, 2008).  They are a perspective of the idea. “The picture documents and celebrates the particularities of the universe’s infinite variety.  Language makes them comprehensible. (Postman & Powers, 2008)   When a viewer sees a photo of an event, only part of the story is told.  On the other hand, when video is introduced, more of the event is uncovered.  A person can see the drama unfolding. 

            “Moving pictures favor images that change,” (Postman & Powers, 2008) says Postman and Powell.  The reason for this is that the audience can see the documented changes.  Postman and Powell use a house fire to explore the concept.  “The thing that burned is actually taken away by fire.” (Postman & Powers, 2008)  Viewers are then able to use the videos and words to put the story together.

             Today, American culture is about the here and now.  People want things immediately.  Waiting to read yesterday’s news in today’s paper can prove to be very frustrating.  Our culture does not want to wait to hear or see the “breaking news,” which explains why “moving pictures” in the news keeps people interested.

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The Force

            This wonderful, nostalgic advertisement for the Volkswagen Passat shows a child dressed as Darth Vader, attempting to use “the force” to move objects, like in the Star Wars.  This ad should be very appealing to the upper thirty year olds that may be the target group for the car company.

            Generally, the character of Darth Vader would be male, however in this commercial; it appears that a girl is in the costume.  According to one scene, the child is attempting to move a doll off a bed in a female bedroom. However, there is a Star Wars following still today, thirty years after the first film hit theaters.  Not only is there a following, there is new interest in the classic.  A cartoon series on Cartoon network is creating new fans.  As well as the countless video games, that revolves around the popular movie series.

            The family in the commercial tends to interact like a typical family, in media’s view, for today.  Media tends to show many idealistic forms of the American family.  Two parents, kid(s), family dog, all show in media as the America way.  While in true society today, that may not be the case, it is believed to be the idealistic way of life.  Ideally, the mother and father in a household would interact the way they are depicted here. 

            It appears that the car company is aiming the advertisement to the thirty something year olds.  These age groups remember Darth Vader as the ultimate misunderstood villain.  The age group is also more likely to have a family, a home and be of the working class.  While not all thirty something’s are in the same position, media suggests that the ideas supported in this ad is where they are supposed to be.

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Justin Bieber:  Baby

          Today’s teen population is different from that of years ago.  They act different, growing up quicker than any other generation.  They tend to meet in different ways than before.  The main form of communication between teens these days is through electronics.  No more are they talking on the phone, they text, instant message, or video chat.  They meet in school and “hang out” through “Facebook”.  Times have changed.

            Justin Beiber’s video for the song Baby, shows teens enter acting in a different way than they typically do today.  Years ago, the scene would seem more realistic; however, with the technological advances of today, fewer teens meet in bowling alleys. 

            The video shows many different gender variations.  Here, the girls seem stronger, while the males seem to be making a show to get their attention.  In real life, this seems unlike to happen.  More often, it is the other way around.  Generally, girls tend to behave certain ways to gain the attention of boys. 

            The joining of a young rising star such as Justin Bieber with a rap star like Ludicrous bridges the gap between different types of music.  To the music industry, this can be great.  Regardless of the type of music a person likes, both artists are getting airtime, in different regions.  For the music industry, this means big money.

            The video is almost idealistic.  There are no cell phones or computers involves.  The video is clean; there is no sex, alcohol or drugs involved.  The teens are interacting in a way that may show others that the addition of drugs or alcohol is not needed.  The video is almost pure.

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