Pop Culture

After reading the editorials: Sound Off: Our Attitudes Toward Music Parallel Our Belief In Freedom by Eric Nuzum; Radio Suckers: The FCC's Arbitrary Attack On Rap by Eric Nuzum; FCC Jumps the Gun on Violence and Children by Eric Nuzum and listening/viewing the lyrics to: “Suicide Solution� by Ozzy Osbourne and “Cop Killer� by Body Count, I am conflicted. On the one hand, I oppose censorship. As a past school board member I was quite vocal and resistant to the banning of books. My strong commitment to not only keeping Harry Potter Books in the library, but also sold at the Scholastic Book Fair often brought on unflattering comments in the form of letters, emails, phone calls and the dreaded editorial section of the local newspaper. It has been three years since I sat on the board and there are still members of this community that have deemed me evil. I think one mother stated I was the devil and that I was corrupting the children within our community. You might guess that I live in a pretty conservative community. Each year at the beginning of the year the teachers and library sends home a permission slip, this permission slip asks parents if their child is allowed to choose anything they would like in the library as well as list the books that will be read during the year. Every year I get this form and sign it while gritting my teeth in frustration. I am not upset with the school for taking this action. I understand why they do it—I know the mother’s who are ready to deem you the “devil� and understand how this can be the death to a young teacher’s career. I am just frustrated that the school should be held accountable for my child’s choice in literature, isn’t that the responsibility of the parent. Besides what teenager hasn’t picked up something that was not necessarily rated G; I think it’s a rite of passage for teenagers to read the latest controversial book. As a mother of three boys who are now in their twenties, I won’t even comment on what I have found under the bed or between the mattress and the box spring when they were teenagers.

However, after listening to and then viewing the lyrics to “Suicide Solution� by Ozzy Osbourne and “Cop Killer� by Body Count (featuring rapper Ice-T), I must confess that I took a step back from my soap box and was left stunned, shocked and speechless. Is it okay to talk about killing cops? Is it okay to promote it? I must confess I am not ready or willing to defend lyrics that promote violence in any shape or manner. I might even join the mothers who called me the devil and start carrying banners as they march around in their angry protests. I have recently found myself on a journey; a journey to discover how I can live more kindly, graciously and more humanly. As I grow more committed to this journey, I find myself a little unsure and questioning my beliefs when it comes to censorship. Don’t we all have a responsibility in promoting kindness and humanity? However, am I willing to join Eric Nuzum in supporting free speech? In his paper, “Crash into Me� Nuzum states, “Music, at its most fundamental core, is freedom. It just needs to be there.� (http://ericnuzum.com/banned/articles/paper_wcmc.html) Where do you draw the line? I don’t have an answer to this, but based on past decades, banning doesn’t seem to work. I think it might even have the exact opposite reaction. When Elvis wasn’t filmed from the waist down on the Ed Sullivan show, I just think it pointed out for the younger generation what they should exactly being doing. I want to protect the voices of all, especially those who have been oppressed for so long, however, I am not willing to live in a society where anything goes. I am not sure where that line is, it is even gray and fuzzy for me, but I do believe that we need to provide more and more role models that illustrate how we can begin to treat each other with kindness and respect.

Posted by kruiz002 at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I wonder watching Leslie Gore’s video of her popular song, It’s My Party, in 1966 if her song, video, clothes and dance were considered bold or rebellious. Was her video challenging assumptions about society and gender at that time? I was led to believe that the 60’s was a time of great rebellion. Yet, looking at Gore’s short bee-hive type hair do with her very conservative, boxy dress and coat set (I assume in honor of Jackie O) I have a hard time imagining it. Yet her video was making some definite statements as to how the world viewed women of this time. As the video begins the camera frames Gore with her backup female dancers dancing in the background on a stage (waving scarves). These young women were allowed to shed their homemaker role that is often thought of in the 50’s and step out a bit, however, not too far. The back-up dancers behind Gore as well as Gore appear to be backlit, creating an almost halo effect; making them stand out in contrast to dancers on a dance floor in front of Gore. The dance moves are simple, non athletic, giving the impression that women are much too delicate to attempt anything that would require much more exertion. The dancers on the floor appear to be young couples enjoying the upbeat tempo of the music. Camera shots are limited to mid shot, med close and close up. We are never allowed to see a whole body shot of Gore and her movement is limited to a few hand gestures, clapping and at one time it appears that she might move her hips to the beat of the music. The camera quickly moves to a med close shot. The video gives the impression that women are for a nice background affect; nice to look at but not good for much more than that. This video is a striking contrast the music video Lil’ Kim: How Many Licks.

Lil’ Kim’s video uses montage editing to demonstrate a stark contrast of the factory scene to the very sexually explicit scenes to follow. Kim’s video appears to mock advertisements of the day. The word’s that flash across the screen are words that emulate warnings, promotions and literary elements that are often found in advertisements. She appears to be mocking how women have been portrayed in the media while at the same time using erotic scenes to illustrate issues of “power� over men. She’s tired of playing the victim, damsel in need of a man to identify her and is taking control. On one hand, I respect and welcome the artist’s right to challenge assumptions about gender and society, but I have to question whether Lil’ Kim is really challenging anything. Is her video acceptance similar to what plantation owners did for their “white� slaves? Plantation owners were fearful that their slaves (black and white) outnumbered them and could gain control over them, therefore, they convinced the poor, often illiterate, “white� people that they were more like the plantation owners and gave the impression that they could with enough hard work elevate to their status. This divided the slaves and promoted infighting among a common group of people, leaving the few plantation owners in control of the situation. I can’t help but to wonder in Lil’ Kim’s video, and similar female artists of the time, if their sexually explicit videos that appear to be challenging societies view on women, if in reality, are just being manipulated by a higher power. Is Lil’ Kim really challenging assumptions about society and gender or is she merely a puppet to keep women in their role as sexual objects?

Posted by kruiz002 at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What is the evolution of MY music consumption practices through time? To be perfectly honest, I haven’t given it much thought before this question was posed to me. I am sure that music producers and companies would be disappointed with my spending habits when it comes to the music industry. My daughter often rolls her eyes and sighs, deep sighs of disbelief, when I ask her questions about current trends in music. She seems exasperated at my inability to remember which artist sings what song. If it wasn’t for her, I would be completely clueless as to what is happening in the music world. Yet to say that I am completely void of such purchasing practices would be incorrect as well. I am impressed with Thom Swiss’ ability to recall times in his life with such detail and significance. His very thorough and heartfelt recount in “A Nomad at Home� has inspired me to make an honest attempt at reflecting on my evolution of music consumption practices through time.

My home, growing up was very different from those of my friends. My parents were unique for the time (to say the least). “Getting back to nature� would be the appropriate theme that would best exemplify my parents. Organic farming was practiced long before it became the buzz word. Earth friendly was an expression that I was personally involved with long before the term “Global Warming� was introduced to society. My parents had a strong tie to the land that we owned. They taught us to respect it and that all that we need could be gotten from the land. Along with these beliefs was the deep resistance to technology, however, we did not live completely technology free. We owned one black and white TV, no it was not the 1950’s. As a child we were only allowed to watch TV for a limited time in the evening. I remember the TV was always on for the 6 o’clock news, but never, never on during dinner. We would usually watch one show together as a family. A favorite that I remember was the Carol Burnett show. My least favorite was Hawaii Five-O. Mom and Dad always controlled what was watched.

As far as music I know that we had a radio in the car, we must have, and I am sure that it played as we drove places, but I don’t remember a radio in the house or even a turn table until I was in high school. I do however remember an old reel to reel type of tape player, so to speak. This thing was huge and the tape was open, exposed, unlike the smaller versions of tape that would go into a tape recorder today. I’m sorry but I don’t know the technical term for it. I do remember that we were allowed to play with it as children. My dad showed us how we could record our voices and then listen to ourselves. We often told stories, read stories, sang songs and then listened to ourselves. This reel to reel was my first link to music. Shortly after my eighth birthday, I decided that we needed a piano to accompany our “beautiful� singing. I did what any eight year old girl would do. . . I asked grandma. My grandma was notorious for making my mother turn red with rage as she attended to our every whim. However, our house was much too small for a piano and I received a guitar from the Sears catalog instead. I started guitar lessons from Sister Vivian Huppert the next week. I played that guitar for two years until my guitar teacher explained to me and my parents that it really wasn’t a very well made guitar and that if I was to continue I needed a much better one. I purchased my first real guitar with money that I had saved from birthdays and odd jobs at the age of 10.

I remember the day that I purchased this guitar, it was a used guitar that was being sold by a young couple who was out of work and needed the cash. It cost $150.00. My dad took me to the couple’s house. I can still remember how proud he looked as I played a little tune on it. Little did he know that this guitar would be the source of much aggravation for him in the future. As I grew older I developed my own tastes in music and we often argued about what genre of music I would be allowed to play. He would sit me down to watch Roy Clarke and explain to me how it would make him so very proud if I could someday play on the Hee Haw show. I struggled with being who I wanted to be and being the “good� girl and doing what was expected of me. This was the point in my life when I was no longer referred as my dad’s “little angel�; I was now often referred as an independent little cuss. Now I want you to know that this was said in the most enduring manner (if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you).

I continued to play the guitar, classical guitar. It was the only way I could get my dad to pay for the lessons. However, in high school my brother and I convinced my mom to purchase a turn table. I do remember buying some albums: Rick Springfield’s Jessie’s Girl, and the latest Journey album, however, shortly after High School (August), I was married. In one year’s time I became a mother; suddenly pop music and pop culture were replaced with late night feedings and lullabies. That was 23 years ago.

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Films can play a critical role in our society; they mirror our society as well as help to influence and shape it. In the article Top Ten Picks for Great Teacher Flicks (http://www.educationalworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin156.shtml), many teachers stated how movies have impacted them as educators; romanced them into the profession, rejuvenated them, and inspired them. However, it isn’t just educators that films have shaped. The public’s idea of a great teacher is often formed by the images that are portrayed by Hollywood. These images are often images of a martyr to the cause of social justice; willing to endure a life dedicated solely to their students. Don’t get me wrong, I am committed to social justice, I am also committed to teaching and to the profession. However, to be good at what I do, I need to be a whole person; a person who experiences life outside of the classroom as well.

In the movie School of Rock, Jack’s roommate, a substitute teacher, is portrayed as willing to put to death his love of music, rock-n-roll, to be a teacher. Implying that it is an either or situation; you are either a musician or a teacher, not both. The film further portrays the difference between a teacher and a musician in the manner in which the two are dressed. Jack Black is dressed in sloppy, unkempt clothing; often looking disheveled. He is also portrayed as being “cool�. Jack’s roommate is neat, clean cut, scrawny and looks as if he hasn’t seen the sun in the last decade. He is clearly portrayed as the “nerd�. The film illustrates the often public view of how teachers are to look and act. To make sure that you understand the differences clearly, the roommate’s girlfriend is there to vocalize the values illustrated. She is often behind the roommate pointing out how responsible the teacher is and what a loser Jack is.

Not only does the film place a value judgment on how teachers should look and act, but it illustrates what teaching and learning should sound and look like. The film implies that education should be a “top down� model; the teacher has all the knowledge and it is the job of the teacher to fill up the empty minds of his/her students. Jack’s students are lacking the knowledge of rock-n-roll and it is his job to enlighten them. Not only is the classroom viewed as a “top down� model it is also implied that the education system should be. For example, when the principal comes into the room to observe Jack “teaching�, she comments on his unusual teaching methods. Administration and parents expect a certain teaching method/style and that is what they want to see, despite its effectiveness. Based on the schedule clearly set by the original classroom teacher, curriculum should be segregated; math at 9:00, reading 9:30, science at 10:00 etc. Within this classroom children are to be independent learners within a competitive system. Children are seated in desks set in neat rows; discouraging cooperative learning. My favorite scene in the movie is when Jack asks about the “star� chart on the wall. A child in the classroom explains how children receive stars for positive behavior and it is clearly marked on the wall for all to see. Jack has a somewhat violent reaction as he tears up the chart and informs the students that as long as he is in charge there will be none of that.

The most concerning value judgment portrayed for me, within this movie, is not what teachers should act and dress like, not what teaching and learning should sound and look like, but the purpose of education itself. This movie, as well as others, often portrays the purpose of education as a manner in which to control students and society; a way to maintain the status quo. It was evident in the way students were expected to model their parents’ actions and words. Independent thinking was not encouraged or cultivated until the arrival of Jack Black. During the parent meeting, parents questioned Jack as to why there “sweet� children were now asking so many questions; the parents in the movie appeared to view this new level of questioning as being disrespectful and challenging authority. Is this the purpose of education that we want to portray?

Despite my critical evaluation of the film, I did enjoy it. I found it ironic how on one hand the movie helped to perpetuate many hidden values and judgments within education, yet, at the same time invited people to break preconceived notions about popular music within education. I do hope that educators will explore how to use, not only popular music, but other aspects of popular culture within the curriculum as well.

Posted by kruiz002 at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To start on this journey of discovery and learning about youth and popular culture I read four articles this week : American popular music from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerincan_popular_music); Youth and Pop Music: How it all Began-A Cultural Revolution (http://www.gpwu.ac.jp/~biddle/youth.htm); Arab youth revel in pop revolution by Sebastian Usher (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6666725.stm); and Clouding the Issues by Gerald Graff, AB’59 (http:///magazine.uchicago.edu/0304/features/clouding.html.

After reading American popular music from Wikipedia.org, I find it hard to just listen to the music I often take for granted on the radio as I drive home. I have always viewed music as nothing more than an enjoyable experience; a way to relax or forget about the trials and tribulations of my day. Now as I listen to my favorite music, I find myself listening with a more critical ear; listening for the possible polyrhythm’s often found in jazz or the familiar upbeat tempo that identifies the rhythm and blues. Before reading this article I had never consciously thought of how music comes to be or how music has morphed over time to create the now number one hit on the radio. I am absolutely fascinated by the fact that American popular music can be traced back to the blackface minstrel shows. However, what I find even more astonishing and promising is the fact that music has somehow overcome hegemonic forces.

It is no secret that there are dominating forces within our culture that help to maintain and perpetuate classism and racism. Yet, the history of American popular music illustrates how music has been used to validate a small part of an oppressed culture. For example, even though American popular music has its roots in the blackface minstrel shows, born from racism, this same, then popular form of entertainment began “to humanize the blacks� (“American popular music,� 2008, para #4). Not only did it “begin� to humanize blacks it “marked the beginning of a long tradition of African American music being appropriated� and accepted by the American public (“American popular music,� para # 4). As we jump forward in time the Jewish community added to the African American notes their traditional music components to help form the jazz of the Broadway era. As you read and study you can find evidence of more and more cultures being represented within American popular music; cultures that were often victims of racism and classism. As the music of each era becomes more and more popular, it is no longer viewed as a type of music from a lower class of people, a music form to be looked down upon, but instead “become[s] a sophisticated art� (“American popular music,� para #19). This phenomenon leaves me wondering if there is any correlation to the evolution of language in written and spoken form. I find it interesting that through time it becomes acceptable to embrace a certain genre of music, but it appears that there is still only one very distinct “power code� acceptable when it comes to spoken or written language.

Don’t get me wrong I do recognize the very existing presence of racism and classism today, music has not overcome this plague that infests our culture. It just struck me as I read this article how hegemonic powers were intentionally rejected with each new musical epoch. What is it about music that makes it acceptable to challenge and address the status quo in such a blatant fashion? Is it an outlet for our youth to find their own identities, separate from their parents, as was addressed in the articles Youth and Pop Music: How it all began and Arab Youth Revel in Pop Revolution? If it is, why is it more acceptable adopting different music genres than spoken or written languages? If a person speaks with a certain slang or accent they are sometimes viewed as less intelligent. For example, think of someone with a southern accent, there are many people who would view that person as “slow�. In the article by Usher he states that music reflects the lives of the youth (pg 1). Is American popular music reflecting a trend in classism and racism within our country?

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This is my beautiful family!

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Hi! I am currently a graduate student at the U of M in the Cultures and Teaching Program. I am enjoying every minute of my time spent at UM. I have taught in an elementary school setting for 10 years. I've taught K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th grade. After earning my masters degree in literacy I became a literacy coach within the district I taught. I am currently teaching in the Teacher Education Department at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. I enjoy reading, teaching, traveling and spending time with my family.

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This blog has been established to meet the requirements for CI 5150-005: Curriculum Topics - Youth Culture, Pop Music, and Education. This course is an online course offered through the University of Minnesota and facilitated by Dr. Thomas Swiss. My hope is that this blog will provide the time and space needed to explore issues and questions centered around: youth, popular culture, how culture can inform and shape identity, and how pop culture can be infused within the classroom to enrich teaching and learning.

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