Stereotypes And Fantasies About The Us South - Essay Example

Music in itself has been described as an important parameter of culture (Abrams, 2011). What this means is that music is one of the constituent components of culture that can distinguish one culture from the other. Within the varying groups of culture that exists in the United States also, Southern American, or United States South is a core player with much influence in the socio-cultural dynamism of the country. Part of these dynamisms is the type of stereotype and fantasies associated with the South.

In this essay, there is a defense for the statement that “Stereotypes and fantasies about the US South have been a major theme in the development of US popular music.” Common stereotypes and fantasies associated with the US South Historians and cultural experts trace the influence of the South on the socio-cultural dynamism of the US to days before the Civil War when there were accusations and counteraccusations of disparity against the South (Agnew, 2006). They believe that the current state of stereotype and fantasies that exists for people in the South is the direct cause of an unresolved conflict that can be traced to the aftermath of the war.

Presently, the Southern ethnic heritage can be said to be made up of several cultural identities and differentiations mainly made up of African, Native American and European components (Baron, Hood, and Izard, 1996). Among these people, the commonest form of stereotype that has existed for years is a strong overlook in the US mass media, including literature, theatre and other creative forms of expressions (Kupperman, 2000). In some studies, the percentage of coverage given to this group is only 1% (Agnew, 2006).

Generally, the cause of this is due to misconceptions associated with ethnic groups in the South as being cruel, of bad character, and uneducated. This stereotype has also led to a situation of fantasy within the group where they have argued that the Southern is also good for the highest positions of the land, especially Blacks. How stereotypes and fantasies about the US South have influenced themes of US popular music Indeed, popular music gives a major cultural identity to US as a country. The themes of popular music have somewhat influenced the popularity of this type of music and contributed to its current international status (Kupperman, 2000).

Without an iota of doubt, it can be said that the stereotype about the US South, and for that matter, the fantasies that have developed from it therefore has been very influential on the themes of US popular music. Specific examples can be given to how themes of US popular music has for years sought to justify the content of the Southerner’s character, saying that the Southerner is as good as the Northerner for any top decent position within the land. For example in 1983, Blowfly used the theme of his music as a crusade for the possibility of a Black President, titling his album, “The first black president”.

What is more, in 1988, the US hip hop group, NWA made a music video that focused on the theme of a Black person being as fit for the presidency as a White when they had a caption from the White House that read, “Live from the Black House”