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Stephanie Carter
School of Education
stecarte@indiana.edu
812-856-8265

Richard Doty
IU Media Relations
rgdoty@indiana.edu
812-855-0084

Last modified: Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Hip-hop culture subject for IUB summer class

Hip-hop culture, language and power are the subjects of an intensive summer session course now under way at Indiana University Bloomington.

"Critical Perspectives in Hip-Hop Culture: Power and the Word" is designed for students who are interested in examining the complexities of hip-hop culture. The course is taught by Stephanie Carter, assistant professor in the School of Education's Department of Language Education.

Carter's research examines the intersection of race, gender and power as it relates to language and identity of adolescent African American females. The class -- which meets May 16,17,18,30,31 and June 1 -- is an outgrowth of this research.

The IU educator created the course because the changing influences of language have been a major interest in her research and teaching agenda. She believes that hip-hop culture is worth exploring, particularly when some youth are so heavily influenced by various aspects of it.

"This course provides a critical examination of hip-hop culture and language in the United States, as well as globally, and its importance as a cultural and political resource for urban youth," Carter said. "We are viewing hip-hop not as a form of entertainment but as a means of communication. Our goals include exploring issues of power as they relate to language and identity, the commercialization of hip-hop, and political commentary of hip-hop."

IU Bloomington also offers a semester-long course on hip-hop music and culture through the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology that is believed to be the first in the nation.

For details on Carter's class, contact her at 812-856-8265 or stecarte@indiana.edu.