NU Splash Biography

Rudeboys, punks, and anti-racist skinheads abound. Come to listen to music and think about subcultures! The 1960s marked a drastic change in the world and Jamaica in specific. With its roots in American r&b and caribbean calypso, ska emerged as a defiant form of dance music that emphasized its up-beats in direct contrast to traditional western stylings. The class will trace the evolution of ska through rocksteady into reggae and dancehall to windup with a consideration of the ways that it has influenced punk, hip-hop and most recently reggaeton. The class will frame the music through the various subcultures that embraced it. Recommend reading: Dick Hebdige's "Subculture: The Meaning of Style."

Is hip-hop Dead? What does hip-hop look like? How does one see hip-hop? This class will look at hip-hop on film throughout history, with an introduction to early influences (Watermelon Man), classics (Beat Street), and contemporary interpretations (Brown Sugar). This class will think about hip-hop both as an art/aeshtetic as well as a subculture with its own elements. The class will use film analysis to explore hip-hop both as form of social resistance and a creative expression.