RAP, CULTURE, AND GOD STUDY GUIDE FOR FIRST EXAM
Possible Questions for First Exam: In addition to these questions, be sure to study class notes with great care. Anything from the notes can appear on the exam.
1. Be able to explain and interpret the main themes of the following songs:
Billie Holiday, Strange Fruit,
The Melodians, By the River of Babylon, 587 BCE Babylonian Captivity, conquer Israel and send Jews into exile
Grandmaster Flash, The Message,
KRS-One, Love's Gonna Getcha,
Common, I Used to Love HER, an allegory to HipHop..
Bone Thugs N'Harmony, Crossroads, ---Meditation on death and dying
Run DMC, Hard Times
2. Concerning the movie clip from 'Belly,' what was the subject ofthe minister's speech at the end ofthe movie? How does the movie outline the two major approaches to hip-hop?
3. In the movie, Pulp Fiction, how does the character that Samuel Jackson plays describe the nature of a miracle?
How does this change his life?
4. Be able to explain the definitions of religion in
Schleiermacher: intuition & taste of the infinite; ultimate reality; ground and origin of being... Intuition is an immediate or direct apprehension of a truth not based on reason or logic alone. ...Religion: there are truths outside the boundaries of reason and logic.
Mircea Eliade (Romanian): defined human beings as "Homo religioso" ~ all beings yearn for wholeness, completeness, purpose, significance, and so on...
Eliade saw life as a search for this and nothing else.
Everyone knows the experience of emptiness, and desires to fill it with meaning and purpose.
This was/is in contrast to Aristotle's view that human beings are simply rational animals...
Paul Tillich: Religion in grounded in the Hope - that good prevails over evil, love over hatred, beauty over ugliness, truth over ignorance, life over death... Religion produces and sustains Hope.
5. What was the social context in which the Bible emerged? Poverty, written by the poor and poverty-stricten.
How is this different from Greek philosophy? Written by the elite of the elite. Highly educated and academically involved.
6. What is the story of Exodus and why has it been so important in the history of oppressed peoples? .
7. What was the Babylonian Captivity?
8. What is a prophet, as discussed in lecture (be able to define and explain the major themes)?
9. What was the social and political context of Jesus and his followers? What social class did Jesus belong to?
10. Why was such a strong feeling of connection felt by many slaves towards the life of Jesus?
11. Be able to explain the biblical passages associated with Jesus at the beginning of his ministry (Luke 4) and the parable ofthe Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25).
12. Why is the story of the Samaritan woman at the well important in the history of racism?
13. Why was Jesus crucified? What were the political motives for his arrest and execution?
14. According to Bono (from U2) what is the meaning of Jubilee? Be familiar with the passage of Leviticus that he cites in this regard.
15. According to Bono, what is the one major theme that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all agree upon?
16. What are the main themes and characteristics of Liberation and Black theology, as discussed in lecture?
17. What are the major themes in the life of Frederick Douglass, as discussed in lecture?
18. What is nihilism and how is this manifested in parts of the culture of hip-hop?
19. How did Karl Marx define religion?
20. What is meant by the term theodicy? Why is this theme important to both the Spirituals and Hip Hop?
Rap, Culture, and God Exam Review
1.
Billie Holiday "Strange Fruit"
The Melodians "By The Rivers of Babylon"
Grandmaster Flash "The Message"
KRS-One "Love's Gonna Getcha"
Common "I Used To Love Her"
Bone Thugs N'Harmony "Crossroads"
Run DMC "Hardtimes"
2. Belly ending speech
the future of our children willful the heat of a fire
it's feeling the heat of flames burning for
grave role in our own destruction
how loosely and easily you've taken life
14. Bono had become cynical because hes a believer
Muslims, Christians, Jews... All of us re here
are all searching our souls for how to serve our family and communities our god better..
Jubilee, year of our lord's favor, Leviticus:
how jesus begins his ministry
clever guy this jesus
___________
Isaiah
John4
Colin Powell
-----------
Judaism,Islam,Christianity
one thing we can all agree
god is with the vulnerable and poor
in the slums
god is in the cries heard under the rubble of war
----
RAP, CULTURE, AND GOD STUDY GUIDE FOR FIRST EXAM
Possible Questions for First Exam: In addition to these questions, be sure to study class notes with great care. Anything from the notes can appear on the exam.
1. Be able to explain and interpret the main themes of the following songs:
Billie Holiday, Strange Fruit,
The Melodians, By the River of Babylon, 587 BCE Babylonian Captivity, conquer Israel and send Jews into exile
Grandmaster Flash, The Message,
KRS-One, Love's Gonna Getcha,
Common, I Used to Love HER, an allegory to HipHop..
Bone Thugs N'Harmony, Crossroads, ---Meditation on death and dying
Run DMC, Hard Times
2. Concerning the movie clip from 'Belly,' what was the subject ofthe minister's speech at the end ofthe movie? How does the movie outline the two major approaches to hip-hop?
Belly: ministers speech during the ending scene
DMX is sent to kill Islamic minister
Clip: Belly
(Todd Boyd. At USC has good commentary on the film..
Discusses nihilism and then those who advocate the meaning of life... Education... Spiritually.)
Nas line as sincere...I've been reading this book and it's got me thinking about a whole new way a new format
3. In the movie, Pulp Fiction, how does the character that Samuel Jackson plays describe the nature of a miracle?
How does this change his life?
4. Be able to explain the definitions of religion in
Schleiermacher: intuition & taste of the infinite; ultimate reality; ground and origin of being... Intuition is an immediate or direct apprehension of a truth not based on reason or logic alone. ...Religion: there are truths outside the boundaries of reason and logic.
Mircea Eliade (Romanian): defined human beings as "Homo religioso" ~ all beings yearn for wholeness, completeness, purpose, significance, and so on...
Eliade saw life as a search for this and nothing else.
Everyone knows the experience of emptiness, and desires to fill it with meaning and purpose.
This was/is in contrast to Aristotle's view that human beings are simply rational animals...
Paul Tillich: Religion in grounded in the Hope - that good prevails over evil, love over hatred, beauty over ugliness, truth over ignorance, life over death... Religion produces and sustains Hope.
5. What was the social context in which the Bible emerged? Poverty, written by the poor and poverty-stricten.
How is this different from Greek philosophy? Written by the elite of the elite. Highly educated and academically involved.
6. What is the story of Exodus and why has it been so important in the history of oppressed peoples? .
god hear their cries and sends them a liberator (Moses), he delivers the people to the promised land of freedom & justice.
7. What was the Babylonian Captivity?
587 BCE babylonians conquer Isael and send Jews into exile
8. What is a prophet, as discussed in lecture (be able to define and explain the major themes)?
1. one who proclaims the word of god in the form of a criticism against sins and injustices of the people
2. themes, special concern for poor and weak, for widows, orphans, strangers, and so on...
...strong passion for Justice & Equality ---- their religion is grounded in ethical demands
...they are critics of religious devotion that do not inspire acts of love and justice//
9. What was the social and political context of Jesus and his followers? What social class did Jesus belong to?
the lowest there was... carpenter
10. Why was such a strong feeling of connection felt by many slaves towards the life of Jesus?
11. Be able to explain the biblical passages associated with Jesus at the beginning of his ministry (Luke 4) and the parable ofthe Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25).
12. Why is the story of the Samaritan woman at the well important in the history of racism?
13. Why was Jesus crucified? What were the political motives for his arrest and execution?
Language itself without the beats being the primary driving force
Hip hop and
Judaism and christianity
Voices of the poor
Emerge out of poverty
Figures that were followers of Jesus were probably
Illiterate
---------one other story to mention on the topic of Matthew
And story that says jesus will separate sheep from goats
Jesus teaching and ministry
John 4: Samaritan women at the well:
Echoes with some of our own themes in hip hop
Samaritans: racially and culturally impure:
Considered inferior and inadequate
Treated as racial minorities... Not about skin color
More like ethnocentrism than racism
Most people were mid eastern dark skin
They were Jewish...
Racism often starts with some misconception of purity
The myth of being pure, anymore pure than anyone else...
E.g. Celts intermingling with spanish, Irish, Italian, etc.... We're all mixed culturally and of mixed origins
....in a very segregated world and time,
Jesus broke down taboos and challenged the segregated mentality
By asking for water from women
Jesus goes on to describes himself as "living water"
Jesus teachings are refreshing and life sustaining for the body and Soul...
We're all thirsty
She was morally suspect and impure; associated with prostitution
So for Jesus to approach her sets a new example for life and interaction
Jesus is not judgmental he shows her compassion and forgiveness
She goes on to have alive changing experience
And begins to be a follower of Jesus
Jesus death ~ crucifixion
This was a common form of punishment by the roman empire
Reserved for political criminals, especially rebels
Jesus would have been arrested for being a political criminal
He was associated with other Jewish revolutionaries of his time that were, in fact, fighting for independence from Rome
Guilt by association
Inscription
People thought of him as King of the Jews
This would of been an act of sedition against the roman king - Caesar
Death of an Innocent man
God suffers through the figure of Christ on behalf of humanity
"Were you there when they crucified my lord?... Sometimes it causes me to tremble.."
14. According to Bono (from U2) what is the meaning of Jubilee? Be familiar with the passage of Leviticus that he cites in this regard.
Year of our Lord's favor
2000 Jubilee - cancel the worlds debts
scripture says "If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself, you shall maintain him... You shall not lend your money at interest nor give him your food for profit."
"Clever guy this Jesus"-Bono
15. According to Bono, what is the one major theme that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all agree upon?
God is with the vulnerable and poor. God is with us and we are with them.
16. What are the main themes and characteristics of Liberation and Black theology, as discussed in lecture?
Liberation &/or black theology
Liberation thrology from Latin America , mostly
But both say the same thing
Themes and characteristics of this interpretation of Christianity
Very much in tradition of Dr. King
1. theology, reflection on God
Expands no the horizons on this reflection
Classical theology has been too euro-centric
... Liberation/black theologists are not denouncing classical, european theology, however....
Just that it must also include the voices of non-euro people and cultures
Any cultural tradition can bring totally illuminating reflection on theology, on god.
It is a criticism of the history of racism and prejudice in Christianity
2. Focus on the non-persons of history before the non-believers... I.e. the focus should not be on proving to an atheist that god exists... There are more pressing issues... Those Individuals who have been dehumanized by the injustice, poverty, inequality, prejudice, etc... Thos people should be the focus... Those who want and need God and invite God into their life's
The subject should be : How do you reach out to these people?
3. "Liberation" is a key concept in addition to the classic idea "salvation"
Freedom in the present day
Salvation has come to mean after life in a lot of cases
They think religion should engage and inspire social move,ends in the present vs waiting to die...
Get up Stand up, stand up for you rights
4. Religion should inspire social change and justice
In this regard
17. What are the major themes in the life of Frederick Douglass, as discussed in lecture?
Frederick Douglass, American slave
Narrative by F.Douglass
1) the tragedy of slavery:
His first master was a cruel man who took great pleasure in whipping ...nothing could move the iron man from his bloody purpose.
Speaks of the dehumanization effect of the exploiting nature of slavery,
2) spirituals:
The slave songs that a lot of times were accompanied by the work,
Revealed, at once, their deepest hope and dreams as well as the darkness of the sadness...
He thought that the spirituals communicated mo the volumes on the topic of slavery....
Musical form born in America, through the experience of suffering and anguish --- and hope...
3) role of education and emancipation:
Started to Learn to read thru the wife of one of his former masters... Despite rules against it. The master : ignorance produces servility , passivity...
Thru his learning becomes a leader, education was the pathway from slavery to freedom... The key to freedom
He shows absolute passion and admiration for and developed diligence with reading...
Especially upon reading of conquering arguments against slavery.
Another scholar on the topic, eloquent ....Cornell West...
4) christianity and slavery:
---his master went to a camp meeting where he was converted to Christianity..
instead he was much worse (cruel and vicious) of a man after than before...
(Fred) He excoriates and denounces the associationgs of christianity and slavery..
He reveals this hypocrisy that repeats throughout history
--- true Christian conversion is a change of mind and heart, a greater compass of Loveland compassion
And presuit of justice.
.."I assert that the religion I encountered in the south is just a cover to this hord fal grossest acts against other human beings"..
5. Theodicy:
Deals with the problem of suffering, and how or why God allows it...? Why do the innocent suffer?
Plays a huge role/is a prominent theme in hip hop
18. What is nihilism and how is this manifested in parts of the culture of hip-hop?
Nihilism "aint no purposeto life" make power gain power
Latin meaning nothingness the treats of meaninglessness, emptiness, loveless ness
19. How did Karl Marx define religion?
Marx: "Philosophers have interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it!"
Defines religion as the opium of masses... Like a drug that makes one feel better that soothes and consoles but does nothing to change or condition of life
sometimes prohibits people from attempting to make change in life...
20. What is meant by the term theodicy? Why is this theme important to both the Spirituals and Hip Hop?
*5. Theodicy:
Deals with the problem of suffering, and how or why God allows it...? Why do the innocent suffer?
Plays a huge role/is a prominent theme in hip hop
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