Hip Hop and Black Social Life

3 credits

The course explores how Hip Hop, as a Black expression of the sociological imagination, helps us understand how individual experiences connect to broader social structures. We will analyze how Hip Hop mirrors, challenges, and shapes place, class, and gender. To do so, we will critically evaluate Hip Hops role in conveying society's truth, examine Hip Hops quintessential locations (e.g., New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta), and investigate class issues across the working, middle, and elite classes. We will conclude by examining masculinity, femininity, and sexuality. Satisfies Core requirement for: Social Science,Cultural Diversity