Theorizing Hip Hop Music & Culture

This course explores theoretical issues that frame hip-hop as both a sociological and musical phenomenon. We will examine multi-disciplinary approaches of scholars and journalists in their treatment of issues including aesthetics, authenticity, identity, globalization, music and meaning, and genre classification. We will also examine models constructed specifically for analyzing musical structures and technical components of hip-hop music. One objective of the course is to assess the validity of new theories and methods put forth by scholars in their quest to objectify and broaden the discourse on hip-hop.