I gave students a handout from Dyson's book: Know What I Mean: Reflections on Hip Hop, Track 1: "How Real Is This?" Read the chapter, annotate it and be prepared to discuss it in a short essay Tuesday morning. Pull out the arguments and its supporting evidence. What themes run through the conversation? What is the tone of the discussion? Are there any questions you'd weren't satisfied with the answers? What would you like to know more about? How would you rate the conversation? What did you learn?
We will use this formula for most of our responses.
You can wait to respond to until Thursday, August 28, in class and post your answer then.
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12 comments:
I think the themes are very hard to discribe. They are very subtle in his writing. Instead of themes I think that it is more about what its about. I think it's about racism maybe even sexism. I think the tone is in an open minded tone. While criticizing things, it is also looked upon as something that is good and has effected the outcome of things. For example, while many colors of people trying to understand eachother, many are offended by the lack of correctivity in that subject. Whether it be language, clothing, music, etc. Rather than encourgaing and or helping others understand your cultures, they are looked down upon. So when you see a caucasian guy dressed with REALLY long clothes and talks with a language adopted by the African American community, some African Americans may feel offended... And vice versa. I am not really satisfied with the whole idea of pitying ones self since everyone has many different degrees of hardships. Rather then singling out one another or in groups rather, we should try to understand eachother just like the passage says. I think the questions in the ends are all yes's. As in it can happen if they keep trying. I think the conversation was very informative and educational. I think there was a deep meaning that sprouted from this converation. It brings in a diversity of ideas that should be viewed in a serious tone. Many people have had hardships, chinese, african americas, mexicans and even caucasians. What seperates us is not these labels but ourselves.
I think the themes are very hard to discribe. They are very subtle in his writing. Instead of themes I think that it is more about what its about. I think it's about racism maybe even sexism. I think the tone is in an open minded tone. While criticizing things, it is also looked upon as something that is good and has effected the outcome of things. For example, while many colors of people trying to understand eachother, many are offended by the lack of correctivity in that subject. Whether it be language, clothing, music, etc. Rather than encourgaing and or helping others understand your cultures, they are looked down upon. So when you see a caucasian guy dressed with REALLY long clothes and talks with a language adopted by the African American community, some African Americans may feel offended... And vice versa. I am not really satisfied with the whole idea of pitying ones self since everyone has many different degrees of hardships. Rather then singling out one another or in groups rather, we should try to understand eachother just like the passage says. I think the questions in the ends are all yes's. As in it can happen if they keep trying. I think the conversation was very informative and educational. I think there was a deep meaning that sprouted from this converation. It brings in a diversity of ideas that should be viewed in a serious tone. Many people have had hardships, chinese, african americas, mexicans and even caucasians. What seperates us is not these labels but ourselves.
Dominique West
English 1B
Sabir [Tues, Thurs]
9-10:50am
Track 1: "How Real Is This?" Read the chapter, annotate it and be prepared to discuss it in a short essay Tuesday morning. Pull out the arguments and its supporting evidence. What themes run through the conversation? What is the tone of the discussion? Are there any questions you'd weren't satisfied with the answers? What would you like to know more about? How would you rate the conversation? What did you learn?
The theme[s] that I consistently see in the conversation is on the attempts and consistent standard that some rappers seem to keep giving on how hard the street life is. Like Dyson said, most of these rappers have never had to struggle, never went hungry, never been locked up , and never been held back. They seem to think this is the best way to attract attention. In some cases, yes it is. They do this in order to sell records and relate to the community that they are enticing with their fast lyrics and smooth words. I believe that the entire conversation was insightful, enlightening, and very eye opening. I think the tone was calm and easy, but strong at the same time. I think that Dyson made sure to be respectful, but remain solid in his stance on what he was saying. I would rate the conversation as an 11 on a scale of 1-10. Because Dyson was powerful in his words and that he seemed genuine in his answers to all questions. And because all his answers had deep meaning to them and held plenty of substance. Even though the questions may have been simple Dyson went and took it upon himself to expand more on it.
Deon Johnson
English 1B: (Tuesday/Thursday)
August 28, 2008
Know What I Mean: Reflections on Hip Hop, Track 1: “How Real Is It?” was a notable conversation between Michael Eric Dyson and Meta DuEwa Jones.
I believe the theme is simply, How Real Is Hip Hop; which so happen to be the title of this chapter. I also think a recurring theme was defining Hip Hop; race, age, sex, etc was just a few things they discussed. “Color can’t be the basis for analyzing culture because some of the best insight on black folk has come from white brothers and sisters,” Dyson uttered.
The tone of this dialogue is very relax and informative. I’ve seen Michael speak and get interviewed and I can, through the pages of this novel, just feel the “knowledge vibe,” that Dyson is giving to Jones. Jones is asking wonderful questions, and then listening to the answer with contentment, which he should.
Overall the exchange in this interview where very alarming to me, I marked up my paper with frustrating and pleasure. Through the Chapter, I questioned Dyson answers or explanation to some of Jones questions. Just to name a few unsatisfying answers that I didn’t agree with was “multiple streams of authenticity flowing [through hip hop].” I also didn’t like how he said, “the artist who are obsessed with holy trinity of contemporary rap….make it that much harder on the rest of the hip hop world.”
Dyson and Jones touch on the topic a little bit, but I would have loved to know more on how he felt and why he felt there weren’t many female rappers in the music industries.
I would rate the oral examination an eight (8) out of ten (10). I thought the message was good, and they had great topics. I didn’t like the locution so much; I wish it was more simply so I didn’t have to stop and look the word up then reread it, it messed up my flow; overall excellent chapter.
I learned a lot about what and why Hip Hop is what it is. What I enjoy learning was “technology [imposing] brutal confines and blunt restrictions on black life’s…”
Aaron Lederer
8/30/08
In Dyson's opening chapter, he discusses the "authenticity" of hip-hop. He differentiates between what hip-hop listeners consider "real" music and what they consider "commercial." He states: "There's a rift between underground hip hop and commercial rap. The underground claim's to be an authentic expression of hip hop…it resists white music executives who would rather watch rappers feature a black female shaking her behind…" In other words, commercial hip-hop artists may be considered sell-out's by some. Instead of choosing to detail their roots in their songs, they feed the media's demands and make the simple, catchy songs that everyone can sing. I don't have a problem with either underground or commercial. I think people should get money the best way they can. Most people who dislike the commercial brand of hip-hop are either hard-core underground fans that still believe in the struggle, or are just envious of the money the artists receive.
Dyson then discusses the "realism" in the lyrics of hip-hop today. He states that yes, while some things may be exaggerated, they have to be. You can't just take a camera and put it in the hood, film, and call it a movie. Effects need to be added. The same as in rap. Sometimes you have to overdo something in order to get an important point across.
Benjamin H.
English 1B: (Tues/Thurs)
Sabir
The major theme that runs through the entire Track 1: “How Real Is This?” is mostly about the authenticity and originality of hip hop, and also that many debates exist today on the question of how real is hip hop in today’s society? This question is not easy to answer but Dyson did and he used a lot of facts to prove that the more authentic a hip hop song is more people are going to appreciate it more it than the songs that are being played all throughout media stations in the U.S today. Dyson also brings up the idea that class status, sex, prison, youth, and technology play a very important role in determining if a hip hop song and even rap is real and genuine.
The tone of the discussion is very business like and it is very obvious to me that this discussion is very important to both the author of the book and the guest artist. Overall I believe that Dyson did an outstanding job answering all the questions and it left me well satisfied with no complains at all. I would like to know more about this statement that Dyson makes in one of his answers, “There just isn’t much room for independent women in rap music and hip hop culture” (21). I would have to agree with Dyson’s statement because there really are not a lot of women in today’s hip hop and rap music, but I would like to know more about Dyson’s opinion on why this statement is very true? I would have to rate this conversation to be a 9 out of 10 because it was that great and interesting, and the only reason that is not an overall ten is because to me the language that Dyson uses is very complex. One thing that I learned from this is that the originators of hip hop were both African American and Latinos and I found this to be very interesting because I did not know this.
Kimberly Peterson
"How Real Is This?", Track 1 from Know What I Mean. The themes that run throughout this conversation inbetween Meta DuEwa Jones and Michael Eric Dyson continue on with the the discussion of the history within hip-hop. They discussed the culture of hip-hop, and who really can "define" what true hip-hop is all about. I think the music and the lifestyle is run on by the people, therefore we are able to make it whatever it becomes and judge it however we want to judge it. I almost felt like Jones was kind of suggesting that Dysons ideaology was suggestive of misjudging since Dyson was backing up his ideas with true facts, dyseacting every little topic.
Ironically, I enjoyed the idea of "home-i-cide," of a sense of homecoming. The black male feels like home is his jail. Dyson stept away from that with having an education and knowing that doing wrong is not any good. I would really love to hear more about this idea, and even where the roots of the word "homeicide" originate from.
I guess to even critic this a little bit, I felt like Dyson did most of the talking. It was not too much of a conversation, but more of an interview.
Aerin O'Leary
After reading Track 1: "How Real Is This?"I began to understand a great deal about hip hop on a deeper level. It is so much more than we know and see on TV. Dyson goes from point to point and says how hip hip started and got its name. How now in today's time it has begun to take different turns but the style and message is still there. The tone throughout this chapter is almost defensive against the critics of hip hop. When Dyson compared Madonna to hip hop and asked if anyone challenged her through her various "transitions" it made a solid point that there truly is some unique about hip hop. The critics and people out there are perhaps uneducated on what hip hop really is and therefore they continually lash out towards the industry. How hip hop is being studied in school throughout the world to understand our society. How people are inspired by their our culture and make music that touched upon their lives and issues that they deal with. The article also spoke again about hip hops authenticity and talked about home female hip hop artists are being recognized today on the same level as men. Dyson makes many good points and answers all the questions with style and flow.
Dyson takes the debate of "authenticity" and describes it with full details between what people think is authentic or fake. For most, hip hop is only real when the artist has experienced it before, and was writing something from his past. However, from what Dyson say, an artist, is an artist because they have the ability to make you believe they had gone through these experiences before. Life in jail was bought up in the conversation. How, while people go through school and education to learn their experiences, for an African American, his/her life is bought out to them with part of their life spent in jail. Jail might be considered as hell on earth for many people in this world. However, African Americans see it as almost a necessity in their life. No matter where they go, they will end up or past a part of their life in jail. The genre of hip hop can be differentiate in three ways. From the young, to the old, from the real, from the fake, and from the rich, and from the poor. People think you can't be a real hip hop artist unless you're poor. But Dyson proves that there are many artists out there that are rich but sing out reality. He brings out how hip hop is being criticized by their elders and how most consider hip hop nowadays to be rude...etc. I can sort of in a way relate that one difference. Between the young and the old. In how my parents would criticize in the kind of music that I listen to.
John Rawson
English 1B (tue/thur)
Track 1
In track 1 there is one very strong theme that is expressed repeatedly and extensively through the chapter, and that is authenticity. Authenticity is discussed may times and the differences in the way people view that word. In the chapter it is constantly made to show how important the idea of being authentic is and the way it differs from group to group. He talks about the differences of being real between commercial hip hop, and underground hip hop, young and old, rich and poor hip hop.
I believe his opinion is valid ad hat the audience who you speak to definitely impacts the message you’re trying to get across. A main point he speaks about in the chapter is the fact that in hip-hop they believe that authenticity is seen a lot of the time in a “ghetto centric” way. “Artists can’t inherit stories of the ghetto from others who have been there… since it seems to argue that unless you’ve lived it, you cant write or sing it.” (Dyson, 10) I like this quote a lot because it gave a perfect description of the unwritten laws of hip-hop music. I also really enjoyed the passage because it heavily related to the topic, he brings up next; that music is art, and that art strongly conflicts with the unwritten law of, “ live it to write it.”
“But that’s the magic of artists; they can inhabit spaces and idea and worldviews they have never actually touched or tasted.” (Dyson, 10) I think Dyson says a lot with this quote; music is art but he shows that in hip hop its rules keep it from making creative change, because people are only allowed to rap about things they’ve seen and done themselves.
I enjoyed this chapter a lot. It made me think deeply about these concepts of authenticity in hip hop, which was something that I was aware of but never thought too hard about. Any art form with rules and boundaries, are limited and lacking. I believe these rules hold current hip hop from obtaining its true sense of art and instead keeps it as commercials and product placement.
Wendy Estrada
Track 1 “How real is this”
This chapter is about answering many questions about hip hop. After finishing reading this chapter I realized that I did not know as much of hip hop as I thought I did. Dyson started it of by saying how “Black humanity and art have always been viewed, on the one hand, with suspicion and skepticism, and on the other hand, with paranoia and fear.”While annotating I came to the conclusion that is true we do get a lot of stereotyping towards this culture, but like Dyson also said as much as they fear of it they want to learn from it. Another very important theme was when they were discussing “authenticity” within hip hop? And how you need to be original when it comes to hip hop. He also said that authenticity have many different flows.
The tone that they were having while there conversation was a answer question thing. They were both having a discussion on the same topic and when one didn’t understand the other one clarify and supported wit evidence.
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