What is Culture?

Interesting topic of conversation today during class.

Hip-hop the world over is thought to be a culture. What defines a culture?

The Merriam-Webster Dictory defines culture as the following:

... "the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education [...] expert care and training [...] enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training b : acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills [...] the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations" ...

When applied to hip-hop, it would seem that the definition would aptly apply. Of course we like to dissect both sides of an argument, so here we go: what about, for instance, bicycle culture? Residents of the city of Los Angeles are currently working hard to fight for recognition of the biking community, to make streets more bike-friendly for those who utilize bicycles as part of their daily lives, whether for fun or for function. But is bicycle culture a culture, or rather is it a dimension of an already-established culture that allows its participants to express themselves in a non-threatening environment?

What about hip-hop?

Think, and discuss.

Confederate History Month

It is by no means news at this point, but it still needs to be said: Governor Robert F. McDonnell of Virginia has declared the month of April as Confederate History Month.

The first thought that came to this writer's mind was "hard to swallow, tougher to digest", but I digress. Some parts of the nation are outraged at the idea as much as other parts are accepting of it. Where on the spectrum do you lie? Is it on either end? Is it in the middle?

One side of the argument, naturally, is as follows: how can we as a nation support the recognition of a number of slave states that intended to declare their secession from the union if we are in fact, united in this twenty-first century? How does that upbuild and move us continually forward out of what were considered by many (and is still considered as such) to be dark times? A revolt? A rebellion? A move that was considered by the government in 1861 to be illegal? A move that was never recognized as real and permanent, but unofficial and - despite any so-called efforts - null and void?

theGrio.com - African American Breaking News and Opinion - sheds light on the subject, suggesting ways Confederate History Month can be acknowledged and recognized, if not willfully observed or, interestingly, celebrated:

[...] we must apply what political scientists call the "politics of re-articulation" to the Confederate History Month.

Re-articulation is simply giving a political act or symbol a new meaning based on one's own interests. Progressives can easily achieve this end by staging a remembrance ceremony in Richmond (and other state capitals where there are Confederate History Months) to honor the slaves whose toil provided the foundation for America's rise to global supremacy.

Instead of the normal histrionics that accompany most modern political rallies in America, these ceremonies should be solemn affairs akin to the NAACP's protests against lynching in the early twentieth century. Moreover, instead of speeches, these ceremonies should simply feature the testimonies provided to the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s by African-Americans who lived through the horrors of slavery. Imagine the moral and spiritual clarity that would fill Richmond as Americans of all races--rich, poor, famous, and unknown--took turns at the microphone reading the lived experiences of these survivors. Could men like Governor McDonnell or Governor Barbour deny the importance of slavery in the face of this testimony? Would they even continue to issue these proclamations if progressives showed up at the beginning or end of Confederate History Month to wreck their fantasies with the power of truth? The answer to both of these questions is likely a resounding no.

Sure, April is almost over, but in the meantime it is up to everyone of varied ethnicity, background, gender and orientation to get together collectively where it counts - if only in spirit, and not in body. Let not the wounds of slavery be torn open by what might be interpreted to be thoughtful attempts to break down the human spirit, otherwise they will never heal. What we can do every day is to honor any and all affected directly by slavery, not just during the month of April. And fortunately for all of us, honor and respect doesn't require a special month.

Back to Business

Welcome back from Spring Break, CSUN students, staff, and faculty. And to everyone else, good morning to you.

We are still working steadily on this year's annual Hip Hop Think Tank Journal, and as previously mentioned, are excited about the contributors and what their pondering, analytical minds have brought to the table.

One of the topics of discussion in the world of hip hop - from its formation to the present day - is one of culture vs. genre vs. state of mind, and all other such variants. While some may consider it an academic atrocity to quote Wikipedia, for definition's sake we'll be referring to it briefly here, on the topic of culture:

"Culture [...] is a term that has different meanings. [...] However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:

-Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
-An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
-The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group

With the definition available, it would seem that hip hop is a culture, live and breathing, kicking and screaming, krumping and grooving. Whether it is the punctuation mark or as sentence, or even a whole paragraph is the question. As a neutral topic of conversation, we invite your opinion - what is hip hop to you? If it is indeed a culture, what makes it so (according to 'scientific' definition or personal experience)? Is it a genre seperate from its presumed cousins R&B, rap, soul, groove, and/or funkadelia? Is it solely musical or is it a way of life? What is it to you?

Don't be shy... when it comes to personal stance, we have all the time in the world.

Running Thought

Hello world, and good morning. We sincerely hope you weren't expecting any elaborate April Fools Day jokes from us today. We're cool, but that's not our style. Just an update today, and more in the very near future (read: today, tomorrow, and whenever the desire strikes)... so much is bustling in regards to our yearly Hip Hop Think Tank Journal. So many concerns, opinions, strong points of view - working with brilliant young minds who, whether they realize it or not, are paving the way for future generations with the attitudes they cultivate and maintain.

Of course, being based on the foundation of hip hop means more than being based on the moving and the shaking, the booming beats and infectious rhythm. We'd like to think that the message behind the music is what's keeping hip hop in the forefront. Some questions being raised regarding the genre revolve around responsibility, positivity, and reliability. For example: how are women being portrayed in the genre - as an accessory like gaudy bling, or as an equal contributor to society? How are relations to one's fellow man being conveyed? Is it brotherly, or is it violent? If it is, how can we change it? And if we think it isn't, are we in some sort of denial?

Forgive the running thought, but sometimes it's imperative, if not cathartic. Allow your mind to run around rambunctiously today. Think about The Something that consumes you the most, and whether it's taking you to where you want to go. And if it's not, take out a piece of paper - notebook, receipt, or napkin - and figure out how to make it happen.

Peace...

March in March

(Click on image to enlarge)

The issue of the California budget in respects to education is one of heated debate on and off campuses across the state. Students attending respective UC and CSU campuses along with the Community Colleges of California (CCC), along with friends and family, are continuing to make their stance on their opposition of budget cuts, and the support of furthering of quality education. Of course, the students and faculty of CSUN are not exempt from such sentiments.

To many involved, the walkouts taking place on March 11th was considered just the beginning. In support of the collective peoples' voice, a March in March is set to take place this coming Monday, March 21st, at our state's capital in Sacramento. Buses will be departing at 2:00 am, transporting students, faculty and community members alike to march with other supporters residing in this state in the hopes that we will finally be heard.

For those who have not already made advance plans to join the march or who may not be able to attend for various reasons, there is still a way in which you can show your support. CSUN will be hosting a March in March Eve on Sunday, March 20th. Events will start at 8:00 pm at USU Quad (Plaza del Sol), with music from DJ Gomez IV. In addition to all night teach-ins and workshops, there will be free food and poster making activities. Everyone who is able is encouraged to support and join in with the CSU community for an important cause.

"Compton Cookout" Not a Laughing Matter

Various news outlets have recently touched on an issue at University of California San Diego, in which invitations were sent to students via Facebook for an off-campus "Compton Cookout" party (source: Los Angeles Times). This supposed "Compton Cookoout" required its attendees to take on assumed roles of various members of the Black community, which - according to the suggested attire and personas to be emulated - was so ethnically debasing that we won't print it here. Perhaps we're a more than little affected here at the Hip Hop Think Tank, but the goal of this "cookout" encouraged an air of mockery and insult towards the Black community as a whole, doing nothing to 'show respect' to the ideology of Black History Month (as they so detestably joked).

Whether whether ethnic- or gender-based, terms that debase who we are or who anyone is as people should never be accepted. Sure, there is an understanding in the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", but there is definitely no truth in it. The very idea that our women are referred to as "bitches" and ho's", and our men are referredd to "niggas" - it is of no doubt that ancestors are rolling around in their graves. And in some ways, we as a nation or possibly (admittedly?) as a culture have allowed this to happen. Now before you get up in arms, reader, I have a question for you: what have you done to stop it?

Sadly, some members of the African American community have accepted culturally pejorative terms and supposedly "comedic" cultural exaggerations, having turned them into something "acceptable" in casual use. Where did it all begin? From the minstrels of the 19th century that poked at Blacks with "blackface" make-up to - dare I say it - Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns", we have to ask ourselves: when is it not funny anymore?

This is the stuff that racial profiling is made of, not to mention the perpetuating of unwarranted prejudices and strong feelings towards the societal term of race. What does this say about the present state of things? What does this say about respect for all ethnicities? More importantly, what does this say when the general you - as a university student, an adult, a fellow human - are supposed to know better?

Our future generations are in a lot of trouble if an attitude like the one behind the party organizers of UCSD's Compton Cookout is still the attitude being displayed towards Blacks, towards anyone. While some would think that by now the dust has settled, it hasn't. If such a view towards a people is being perpetuated - with our permission or not - then whoever "they" is better have another think coming.