Comments for Smells Like Teen Spirit

Comment on “Hip-Hop and You Don’t Stop…” -Sugarhill Gang by Icexiarartpice

Icexiarartpice — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Thanks for the post

Comment on “Hip-Hop and You Don’t Stop…” -Sugarhill Gang by Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 06 May 2007 06:52:56 +0000

Hey, I just finished his class, today was our final actually. It really opened up my eyes to a lot this semester and I do think differently about things now. It was an amazing class and he is a profound professor. I was lucky to take his class. There should be more like that out there.

Comment on “Rock Yo Hips” by Comments « daily pennies

Comments « daily pennies — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 02:58:59 +0000

[...] Rock Yo Hips: Kristen [...]

Comment on “Rock Yo Hips” by prettyladyliun06

prettyladyliun06 — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 01:58:30 +0000

First off I have to ask: do you feel like a journalist for a newspaper who has had to retract her statement? ) I didn’t read the previous blog that preceeded this one but there is plenty to be said about hip-hop in general, let alone using it in a classroom. I don’t know… I would have to say I would be against using hip-hop in the classroom. I know that it can be considered an art and that it is poetic in some aspects, and perhaps it reachs students on ‘their level’ but I think there are many more appropriate forms of this that can be used. There are tons of poems written by students the kids own age that are artful, poetic and relate to the issues kids deal with. Any of the hip hop that I have heard- what is generally played on the radio is aweful- hence I don’t listen to much of it. It is degrading and racially unacceptable. Using these lyrics in the classroom I think promotes these stereotypes- and they are stereotypes about black people by black people! I completely undertand the outcry that is pouring in about these lyrics in the greater communities. Somehow we have facilitated this double standard, kind of like well I can call my sister a bitch but nobody else better– what is that? Please understand that I am not writing this personally to you or making a judgement on your teaching style. I just feel strongly that hip-hop or at least what is played on the radio daily is degrading to gender and race and I’m not sure that even the most ‘clean’ lyrics get around that issue; therefore I don’t think it should be used in the classroom because I don’t think that message ought to be facilitated any more than it already is. I understand wanting to reach kids at their level but I really believe that there are a lot of better ways of doing that. Again- nothing personally reflective of you- I don’t want you to think that I am slamming you in any way. Just commenting on hip-hop in the classroom.

Comment on “Rock Yo Hips” by A Splurge of Comments « Always searching for inspiration…

A Splurge of Comments « Always searching for inspiration… — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:25:38 +0000

[...] April 16, 2007 Posted by hpiette in Classroom Reflections. trackback My comment on Kristen’s [...]

Comment on “Rock Yo Hips” by canknight

canknight — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:58:20 +0000

This is actually the first time I have responded one of your post on hip-hop and I am glad it follows this particular one. I think that there are two sides to this debate. There are many positive aspects of using hip-hop in a classroom. I think it can be looked at as an art-form in some ways and what better way to reach students than at their own level. Often times music in genreal helps students express what they are feeling but cannot say. Also, it is obvious that there are many poetic elements to some hip-hop lyrics.

On the flip side of this you current post brings up one of the biggest drawbacks of using hip-hop in the classroom. There is a stereotype associated with this type of music and it is generally not a positive one. If you went in front of a school board and said…I am going to use hip-hop, please approve these songs…you would need to be selective and tasteful in you choices. There is always an element of appropriateness when it comes to dealing with grade school students. Many teachers recognize this and if they don’t than they are fools. You would not have to use hip-hop that portrays black communities in a negative way.

Using hip-hop in class could bring about great discussion on stereotypes and what they do to certain groups of people. You could really encourage students to avoid using stereotypes and to look at everything and everyone with an open mind. I think that there are so many ways of using hip-hop in the classroom, and you could come up with some great lyrics that would not be offensive. This is a great idea and I think I will look for ways to use music in my classroom.

Comment on “Rock Yo Hips” by hpiette

hpiette — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:01:37 +0000

Hi Kristen,
This topic, I can imagine is very sensitive among administrations and the student bodies of these universities. A lot of this comes down to ideas which are oppositional to each other and to put it bluntly a culture war. In other words, it is easy to make judgments about the way other students act. I can see how something like this would cause some to think well this is why those stereotypes exist because they are being reinforced. But truthfully, how is what they are doing any different from the way many college students act? Has anyone ever watched MTV during spring break time? This is not that dissimilar to what this gentleman was talking about in regards to the hip-hop culture at these schools only it is not just black students. Don’t get me wrong, hip-hop is not my favorite musical genre but at the same time I don’t think it should be any more condemned than other types of music which can be inappropriate. Also, I can see how some would feel that a video such as this would reinforce a negative image which some are continuously fighting to extinguish. But is it not true that students are going to like what they want? In general, I think we know the answer to that question.

Comment on “We’re not against rap, we’re not against rappers…” -Bone Thugs & Harmony by That's What Matt Said. . . « What has two thumbs and is ready to blog? This guy!

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:52:55 +0000

[...] “We’re not against rap, we’re not against rappers . . .” – Bone Thugs & … [...]

Comment on Barack’s Potential Bid by Comments « “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:27:02 +0000

[...] April 9th, 2007 · No Comments Barack’s Potential Bid [...]

Comment on “We’re not against rap, we’re not against rappers…” -Bone Thugs & Harmony by Comments « Stephanie’s Wicked Awesome Words

Comments « Stephanie’s Wicked Awesome Words — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:47:28 +0000

[...] “We’re not against rap, we’re not against rappers…” -Bone Thugs & … [...]