Sociology of Dance: Hip-Hop - Term Paper Example

SOCIOLOGY OF DANCE: HIP HOP Introduction This is a summary of the article by Sara LaBoskey, about portrayals of masculinity in hip-hop dance in film. Among the youth, music has a lot of influence. When a certain beat is released, they are usually anxious to enjoy the feeling of listening to it. This is the reason many people especially age mates can be found singing along a certain song. It is important to realize hat music becomes even better when there are additional instruments included. When a person starts a voice beat, it is obvious that any person near him will hum to it or even try to emphasize on the beat by clapping hands or doing something else. The emphasize can be by bobbing ones head or even playing something, for example, a cardboard, to ensure well synchronized beats. This is what happens in the world of hip-hop music. Thirty years ago, the description above, especially involving the cardboard, was very common among teenagers. Although both sexes were involved, the male ones seemed to be more attached. A few of the females sort after entering the ring to be at par with their fellow male colleagues, but it was discouraged. Probably, it is because of the intensity of the moves done. A good example is a group of boys from the black and Latino backgrounds. They used to play cardboard as they sang along and involved break dance. This became their way of expression and a sign of hope. Whenever they played the beats and one after the other joined in the dance, they seemed to have a very serious game. This is the reason Nelson George wrote that it seemed as a serious game forming urban vernacular dances (George 83). It can be identified as a game because it involved competition just like in other sports. There is earning of scores as one invents new moves or makes a move much better. People need to understand that this game was a way used by the young men to earn respect and authority from the age mates. For them, it was essential to learn the tactics used in this game to avoid being insignificant. It is said that the most important was the position held by a person in the street, and it made one feel actually excellent (George 111). The moves involved in hip-hop music merged smoothly one after the other, to bring a clear communication of both emotions and messages. The connection of a certain move with another brought a lot of synchrony and was lovely to look at. In addition, the moves created a flowing language hence commonly referred to as hip-hop poetic language. They are termed as poetic because they involved communication that was not verbal. This means that one had to identify the messages and the hidden meaning of the different moves included in the beats played. The above idea can be identified as the root of all street dances. They entail variety of styles among them physical contortions, spins, and back flips. In addition to these styles is the electric boogie, popping and ticking. All these are synchronized to bring out a well-choreographed dance. Some people refer to the styles as a form of break dancing. The breaking is said to be a way of expressing the feeling and the way the music sounds (George 46). It seems very easy to break dance, but the people involved can confess that it has more into it. One has to familiarize themselves with the styles used and then work on the flow, which assists one to become confident enough to perform in the midst of a large crowd. The best of performers are usually excellent in the most common styles like footwork, breaking, acrobatic transition moves, and freeze. Hip-hop in the 1980’s Hip-hop is traced in the early 1980’s, and various changes and evolutions have followed. Never the less, it has not changed its original meaning. It still entails power of expression hence bringing along respect and recognition. Music was identified extremely many years ago, but this genre seems to have emerged in the recent years. For this reason, it is important to note that hip-hop is a result of influences from other already existing genre. They range from gospel to even African traditional music. In the current era, it serves as an interpretation of rap music especially while expressing ones feelings. It has widely grown, since everyone involved always has anew move to show to the crowd. If not so, they have made an already known move very risky to even attempt doing it. Hip- hop and violence Hip-hop has been identified as a root cause of violence among peers. This is because in the dance kind of a game, masculinity is threatened. As one tries to prove their worth for being the champion of the streets, they can trigger painful emotions, hence provoking violence. The deeds done by the young men once in the ring are meant to intimidate the opponent. For instance, they can show their opponent that they are beneath them through the dance moves they make. It can even move to a higher level where they dance holding their crotch as a way of showing better manhood. Most men do not like getting intimidated in front of their peers, so this may result to violence. In most cases, the violence is used to show that masculinity is not only in the dance ring. Hip-hop in the film industry Hip- hop has improved to the extent it is involved in screen filming. It is also notable in a number of films produced in the recent years. Different crews have to compete for the position in a selected film by performing for the management. The best group that has all the qualities desired is taken up for the film shooting. This is the reason many groups have to always meet and modify their routines making them as unique as possible. As much as people try to embrace hip-hop in different places, it stills proves difficult to have it performed with the best energy. It has become evident that it is simpler to get hip-hop customs to the arena than to show the entailed movements. This is because onstage there is a lack of the energy felt when his friends encircle one is dancing to a beat in a club. On the stage, there is a very different relationship between the audience and the performer. It is important to understand that the hip-hop movement is improvisational and a spiritual feeling. For people to have the feeling of encircling in films, technology has been used where there is the camera technique used. Hip-hop and sexuality Many videos that are of the hip-hop culture have boosted the male ego to a very high level. It is notable that there is a combination of available styles like graffiti art, rap music, emceeing and breaking. All styles are combined together with certain video clips that may involve gun waving as a sign of power. This power is in both gender and the field of production. They prove that they can get satisfaction for their greatest urge by inserting shots of women admiring them in the clips. ANALYSIS Dance is the embodied expression of a time, a place, and a people. Through the many different available forms of dance, one can express their feelings. It does not matter whether the feeling is good or bad, intimidators, or any other. The important thing is that some expression has taken place. Hip-hop music incorporates many dances to show the feeling of the performer. There is always a feeling of satisfaction if the audience responds to dance as the performer clams his might. This is because it brings the idea that communication has been effective and the audience is relating the dance with the information been passed. Although many people may listen and admire hip-hop music, only a certain age group is associated with it. All the same, everyone is entitled to choose the kind of music they are comfortable while listening. In the past years, there have been reduced listeners of the hip-hop music, but as time went by the numbers have numerously increased. In the case of hip-hop, it is evident that only the young people are the most appropriate to get involved. First, the moves in cooperated by hip-hop dancers cannot be done by old people. The women can try but as the moves intensify, they cannot get involved. With the evolution of hip-hop dancing, the women have to be left out in the competitions. For these reasons, only the young men can participate adequately without any complications. With the technology innovations, there is great sound beats that have been modified to enable people to choose from a variety of musical effects. If an individual lacks the interest of hard music, they can change the effect to a softer mode, and still enjoy the hip-hop productions. As stated earlier, hip-hop is the incorporation of various music genres. However, it cannot be played in some places. For instance, although it has some origin from the Gospel tunes, it cannot be played in the church. The appropriate places where it can be played are in the clubs. This is because hip-hop has been identified as a form of dance that involves spiritualization. It has to have some thrill to enable the performers to dance as per the tune. The author of the given article has brought out the ideas about hip-hop music in a very simple and systematic manner. She has elaborated the different evolutions and the effects of involving in the hip-hop music. Moreover, she has ensures that everyone can appreciate the originality and the creativity shown by the performers. However, it is essential to ensure that the violence identified in hip-hop groups is minimized or even done away with. Work cited George, Nelson. Hip Hop Dont Stop. New York: Random House, 1985. Print. Read More