Moodle

The goal of this course is to trace the historical roots of the hip-hop movement in the USA with an outlook on its global trajectory. In the 1970s hip-hop culture officially started in New York but has now gained acceptance around the world. As a "voice of the people" rap music in particular has a strong political objective that is at once anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-imperial as well as against police brutality. Through listening comprehension, film and academic as well as popular reading the course aims at understanding how African-American culture in the USA utilizes rap and hip-hop music as an art form and as a tool for socio-political commentary. Both musical forms have highlighted inner city Afro-American struggles with identity, marginalization, criminalization and socio-cultural exclusion.

In 2018, the UNESCO added Reggae music to its list of intangible global cultural treasures. Having originated in the late 1960s within the cultural space of Kingston's inner city communities, the Reggae music of Jamaica is a melting pot of various musical and cultural influences: Neo-African styles, soul and rhythm from North America incorporated into early Caribbean and Latin strains. Until today, the music plays a significant role in a wide cross section of society, including various genders, ethnic as well as religious groups. Its contribution to international discourses on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humaniatys underscores the dynamics of the genre as being at once cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual.

   This course seeks to examine the basic socio-cultural functions of the music as a vehicle for social commentary, Black Nationalism, anti-colonialism, anti-capitalism as well as a means of praising God (Jah). The seminar offers students an introduction to Reggae music, historical knowledge as well as conceptual and methodological tools necessary for researching cultural phenomena and their socio-political significance.

All relevant materials will be made available.

Course requirements: Active participation, reading assignments, lively discussion, oral presentation and short final seminar paper.