The Socio-Theological Discourses of Hip Hop Culture Socio-Theological Discourses of Hip Hop Culture Daniel White Hodge PhD ... Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (2006) Textbooks for CEDF

The Socio-Theological Discourses of Hip Hop Culture

Daniel White Hodge PhD [email protected]

Fall 2017

YM 3910-03 4 Credits

CEDF 7180 3 Credits

Socio-Theological Discourses of Hip Hop Culture | Fall 17 | #hiphoptheos

COURSE INSTRUCTION PLAN

Thursday 6:30-9:50pm Instructor: Daniel White Hodge, PhD Office: Magnuson Campus Center, Rm. 7 Phone: 773.244.5211 E-mail: [email protected] Office hours:

Tues Thurs 1-3:30 & By appointment Classroom Location N-1 @danwhitehodge #hiphoptheos

Drdand (schedule a virtual office time too)

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND LEARNING OUTCOMES This course is an engagement with multi-ethnic & urban settings and connecting the youth worker/ pastor to the field of urban & multi-ethnic youth ministry. It explores the issues and systems that affect youth and youth ministry in urban contexts in North America, with a special focus on Chicago. There is an emphasis on the practical skills and knowledge needed by a leader in an urban multi-ethnic church, para-church or community-based setting. Students who have experience in urban settings are invited to use the course to further build on their experience and knowledge base and to inform their current and/or future ministry. This course seeks to examine, engage, and develop a theology for the urban & multi-ethnic city through discussion, historical contexts, sociocultural analysis, theory / literature, film, Black Popular culture, Hip Hop, and the Word of God. The focus, for the student, will be to interact with materials that they, in turn, can apply into a contextual ministry setting. This course introduces students to the challenges and issues involved in Hip Hop studies as it relates to youth ministry, youth culture, and popular culture discourse. Close attention will be paid to various methods of intercultural engagement, the media’s response and understanding of Hip Hop, our own understanding of race/ ethnicity in relation to Hip Hop studies (which will include but not be limited to African American, Asian, Latino/a, Middle Eastern, & Euro American), youth ministry in the Hip Hop context, and ministry strategies in order to disciple or serve youth who live a Hip Hop ethos. The student will be challenged to become culturally aware and sensitive in their


engagement with the past, present and future of Hip Hop. The student will also be able to interpret and analyze the reality of what Hip Hop was, is, and will be. And, the student will be equipped to be cultural ambassadors in their respective communities. Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

1. Analyze individual and culturally diverse approaches to Hip Hop culture {You will accomplish this by attending class, viewing films, & participating in class activities}

2. Articulate the ways Hip Hop espouses various theological mantras. {You will accomplish this by doing the reading response papers, and final paper/ project.}

3. Articulate the relationship between Christ and culture set against a grid of Hip Hop, urban popular culture, and current youth culture patterns. {You will do this in group discussions, reading response papers, & in the final paper/ project}

4. Identify obstacles to current Hip Hop culture and popular youth & young adult culture {You will do this by viewing the films & the group project}

5. Articulate a theologically informed model for understanding, relating to and serving youth involved in Hip Hop culture {You will accomplish this in the group project, & in the final project}

Seminary/ Graduate Critically reflect on current models of ministry engagement within a Hip Hop

post-soul context. Construct knowledge about engagement with teens & young adults from the Hip

Hop post-civil rights community. Research and assess tensions and conflict of and on the area of race, gender,

class, and sexual orientation in order to develop models of engagement for a Hip Hop post-civil rights generation.

We will work towards the Seminary Learning Goals of:

Understanding of cultures in order to live and present the Gospel effectively. The ability to communicate effectively through spoken and written media. Develop understanding of the vocation and practice of ministry, including its

joys, challenges and breadth REQUIRED TEXTS & VIEWING

1. Hodge, Daniel White. 2010. The Soul Of Hip Hop: Rimbs Timbs & A Cultural Theology. Downers Grove, Ill.: Inner Varsity Press. ISBN: 9780830837328

2. Miller, Monica R., and Anthony B. Pinn. The Hip Hop and Religion Reader [in English]. New York, NY: Routledge, 2015. ISBN-10: 0415741017 or ISBN-13: 978-0415741019 (Paperback is fine)


3. Smith, Efrem, and Phil Jackson. 2005. The Hip Hop Church: Connecting with The Movement Shaping our Culture. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP.ISBN-10: 0830833293 ISBN-13: 978-0830833290

4. Utley, Ebony A. 2012. Rap And Religion: Understanding The Gangsta's God. Santa Barbara, CA; Denver CO.: Praeger. ISBN: 978-0-313-37668-9

FILMS (for both undergrad & graduate): Reincarnated (2012), Hip Hop Evolution [All 4 episodes on Netflix] (2016), Tupac Resurrection (2003), Juice (1992), Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (2006) Textbooks for CEDF 7180 (graduate/ seminary)

1. Forman, Murray, and Mark Anthony Neal. 2011. That's The Joint! The Hip Hop Studies Reader. 2 ed. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN: 978-0-415-87326-0 (2nd Edition is needed)

2. Hodge, Daniel White. 2010. The Soul Of Hip Hop: Rimbs Timbs & A Cultural Theology. Downers Grove, Ill.: Inner Varsity Press. ISBN: 9780830837328

3. Miller, Monica R. 2013. Religion and Hip Hop. New York, NY: Routledge. (Online in Canvas Course Shell)

4. Pinn, Anthony. 2003. Noise and Spirit: The Religious and Spiritual Sensibilities of Rap Music. New York: New York University Press.ISBN-10: 0814766994 ISBN-13: 978-0814766996

5. Smith, Efrem, and Phil Jackson. 2005. The Hip Hop Church: Connecting with The Movment Shaping our Culture. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP.ISBN-10: 0830833293 ISBN-13: 978-0830833290

6. Utley, Ebony A. 2012. Rap And Religion: Understanding The Gangsta's God. Santa Barbara, CA; Denver CO.: Praeger. ISBN: 978-0-313-37668-9

7. Watkins, Ralph Basui. 2011. Hip-Hop Redemption: Finding God in the Rhythm and the Rhyme, Engaging Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 9780801033117

YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO FOLLOW THE CLASS PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/user/1254806177/playlist/7srAE2OhnHM0fXk7Cksrpr (HIP HOP THEOS)


GRADING & ASSIGNMENTS At the end of the semester, you will earn a letter grade based on the following percentages:

Undergraduate

Seminary/ Graduate

Due Dates: RR 1 9/28 RR 2 10/26 RR 3 11/30 Hip Hop Excursion Presentation 12/7 Final Paper/ Project Critical Engagement Concept/ Model/ Plan (seminary/ graduate only)

12/14

Attendance & Participation in Discussion / Exercises

20%

Reading Response Papers 1, 2, 3 20 % (7%, 7%, & 6%) Hip Hop Excursion & Presentation Project

20%

Final Paper / Project 40 %

Total (100%)

Attendance & Participation in Discussion / Exercises

20%

Reading Response Papers 1, 2, 3 20 % (7%, 7%, & 6%) Critical Engagement Concept/ Model/ Plan (Attached to the final paper/ project)

10%

Hip Hop Excursion & Presentation Project

20%

Final Project/ Paper 30%

Total (100%)


NOTE: Letter grades will be based on the following percentage of points earned:

A 95-100% A- 90-94% B+ 87-89% B 84-86% B- 80-83% C+ 77-79%

C 74-76% C- 70-73%

D+ 65-69% D 60-64%

Seminary/ Graduate Grading Scale: At the completion of this course, you will receive a letter grade reflecting your performance in this course. Letter grades (from A – F) will be awarded according to the existing policies of North Park Theological Seminary. The final course grade will be computed according to the total of percentage earned for all assignments as shown below (cf. catalog):

Total Percentage % Earned: Final Grade: 95-100 A 93-94 A- 91-92 B+ 88-90 B 86-87 B- 84-85 C+ 80-83 C 78-79 C- 76-77 D+ 72-75 D 70-71 D- 69 and below F

Hip Hop Excursion & Presentation Project (20%) [Urban Engagement] (Presentation due on DEC. 7) This assignment engages the broader Hip Hop community and will be accomplished by having the student becoming involved in the Hip Hop context (e.g. Hip Hop church,


battle raps, local concerts, spoken word/ poetry venues). If you need help finding these places, please come see me early. The Catalyst_ _ 606 program may be able to help out. All engagement will be within Chicagoland and to be done the current fall semester. COURSE POLICIES

1. It is each student’s responsibility TO READ THE SYLLABUS THOROUGHLY and check it often for deadlines and guidelines. Do not begin an assignment without checking the syllabus.

2. Written assignments are due on the day assigned. Because of the nature of this course, NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED unless there are extreme circumstances (death, severe illness). If you miss an assignment, you will need to prepare for the next one. Please respect this guideline and do not ask for extensions.

3. Come see me early with issues, problems, concerns, and questions; I’m here to help you succeed and get to your next level. Abundant grace happens early in the semester; the later we get that grace loses its breadth and near the end, grace is almost all but gone. So, come see me early and communicate with me what is happening; remember, I cannot read your mind. Waiting until the last minute will result in negative results for you, the student.

4. Written assignments and papers are due at the day assigned and uploaded onto Moodle (TurnItIn). NO EMAILS! If you miss the deadline for assignments and the link on Moodle shuts off, consider your work late. DO NOT EMAIL me your paper asking for me to accept it. If you anticipate problems, come see me early; I’m here to help you succeed.

5. You are given 1 absence. After which, you will begin to lose a percentage of your attendance grade. You CANNOT take that absence the date anything is due or the last day of class.

6. Being late to class is a problem. If you are a couple of minutes late, no problem. However, if you are 5 minutes or over late, or a pattern of lateness occurs, then you will lose 5% of your overall attendance grade.

7. NO ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE EMAILED! No exceptions, please, do not ask! This is to save both you and me a lot of time and energy. If there are extreme circumstances (i.e. death in the family, extreme illness) then we can negotiate, however simply running out of ink, broken computers, printers not working, not having a computer, dog eating laptop, or simply not wanting to do the assignment will NOT count as “extreme circumstances.” All written assignments are to be uploaded via Moodle.

8. Grading: If your final total percentage for the final grade is within 1% or less of the next letter grade I will round up. This is based on several criteria: perfect attendance AND participation, all assignments were turned in on time, and the final project was turned in on time.


9. Laptops, PDA’s, iPods, & Cell phones are to be used at a MINIMUM. We are in a learning community and if you are on Facebook and someone is behind you, the chances of you being a distraction to the rest of the class are high. Moreover, texting, emailing, and phone calls ARE NOT ALLOWED in the class…UNLESS, we are doing a specific assignment in class…cool?. If caught, I will issue a warning, a second offense will cost you 5% of your attendance grade, a third offense and you will lose a letter grade, and subsequent offenses will result in you being dropped from the course. Please respect this policy.

10. All assignments and papers must be typed and proofread for errors. Spelling, grammatical and syntactical errors will result in a reduction in your grade.

11. Though I do not foresee any changes, students are responsible for adapting to any announcements in class concerning changes in due dates, examinations, assignments, and schedules.

12. An integral part of class participation is a demonstrated attitude of respect for one another and the subject matter we are studying. Preparation for the class must be done before class. A seriousness of purpose is expected even though we are informal in our classroom interaction. Students who consistently engage in side talking may be asked to leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period and it will count towards an absence.

13. Incompletes: I rarely assign an incomplete, but if I do, it is only when there have been extreme and extenuating life situations and/ or circumstances occurring. Anything outside of this and you will receive the grade earned in the class. The format and timing of this class, however, will lend itself to no incompletes unless there is an extremely valid excuse.

14. You need to log onto Canvas and check it at least twice a week: you will also need to check your Vikings email for class announcements and updates.

15. Extensions: You are given 1 extension for the entire semester (cannot be taken on the final or the presentation). The extension will give you an extra 5 days for that particular assignment. Use it wisely!

16. pDownload the course pack for this class explaining, in detail, all of the assignments due for the course. It is located on our Canvas page and is required as it has the formatting for all assignments and grading rubrics. Please consider this an addendum to this syllabus.

Makeup Work: Make up work will not be accepted unless a valid excuse is presented (for example, illness, death in the family, or an issue that we have previously discussed). I require that you provide proof of absence (for example, a doctor’s note). If you must miss a discussion; be sure to check with me or a classmate to find out what you missed (we may stray a bit from the tentative course outline). Also, be sure to get notes from a classmate. All of my lectures will be available through our Moodle Website.


PlagiarismPlagiarism is academic theft and is unacceptable. It is also grounds for failure or even academic dismissal. Plagiarism is not just copying words straight from the encyclopedia, journal article, or book. Plagiarism can take many forms: Having someone else write your paper for you. Getting too much help on a paper. Copying someone else’s words, syntax, or phrasing. Passing of another person (a published author, your roommate, an actor on TV [a Christian

speaker or another youth pastor] – any other person’s) thoughts or ideas as your own. Failing to document the source – not only of words taken verbatim from another source – bout

also of another person’s thoughts and ideas. Failing to document your own work that you used for another assignment. Turning in an assignment that you wrote for another class. Plagiarism is most likely to occur when you do not understand the assignment, do not understand research methodology, or do not have an argument of your own. If that is the case – do NOT risk your academic career or your own ethics or credibility by plagiarizing or handing in less than honest work. Instead, come see me. Tell me what your difficulty is with. I can help you. That is my job. “The rhetorical constraints of plagiarism are that once I suspect you have dishonestly borrowed the words, ideas, or work of someone else, I become suspicious of everything you write. You jeopardize your credibility so that even when you are not plagiarizing, I doubt your work – which is reflected in your grade.” From the North Park University English Department. Students who believe they have been harassed, discriminated against, or involved in sexual violence should contact the Title IX Coordinator (773-244-6276 or [email protected]) for information about reporting, campus resources and support services, including confidential counseling services.

As members of the North Park faculty, we are concerned about the well-being and development of our students, and are available to discuss any concerns. Faculty are legally obligated to share information with the University’s Title IX coordinator in certain situations to help ensure that the student’s safety and welfare is being addressed, consistent with the requirements of the law. These disclosures include but are not limited to reports of sexual assault, relational/domestic violence, and stalking.

Please refer to North Park’s Safe Community site for reporting, contact information and further details. http://www.northpark.edu/Campus-Life-and-Services/Safe-Community


COURSE SCHEDULE NOTE: All reading assignments/ films are to be done PRIOR to class, on the date due, unless otherwise noted. Class Session Topic Weekly Reading

Assignments Assignments Due

WEEK 1: Thurs Aug 31

Class Introduction & Scope of Hip Hop Culture

None

Week 2 Thurs Sept 7

The Message: What is this Hip in Hip Hop? Cultural contexts

Smith Jackson Ch. 1 &2

White Hodge Intro

Miller & Pinn Intro, Ch.1 & 2

FILM: HH Revolution Ep.1

Student info sheet

WEEK 3: Thurs Sept 14

Ain’t No love in the heart of the City: God & Tha ‘Hood

Smith Jackson Ch. 3-4

White Hodge Ch.1-2

Miller & Pinn Ch.5-7

FILM: Juice

Week 4 Thurs Sept 21

Communing with God in Hip Hop

Smith Jackson Ch.3-5

Utley Intro & Ch. 1

White Hodge Ch.4

Miller & Pinn Ch. 8,10, & 11

FILM: HH Revolution Ep.2-3


The Illuminati, The Devil, & Rogue forms of Hip Hop religion

Utley Ch. 4 White Hodge

Ch.7 Miller & Pinn

Ch. 26

RR #1


Class Session Topic Weekly Reading Assignments

Assignments Due

Week 6 Thurs Oct 5

God Talk & Spoken word

Utley Ch. 2 Smith &

Jackson Ch. 6 Miller & Pinn

Ch.14-15, 17-18

WEEK 7: Thurs Oct 12

The Hip Hop Jesuz White Hodge Ch.5

Smith Jackson Ch.7

Utley Ch. 3 & 5 Miller & Pinn

Ch. 19 FILM: Reincarnated

Week 8 Thurs Oct 19

Violence, Pain, & Suffering

White Hodge Ch.3

Miller & Pinn Ch. 21 & 24

Week 9 Thurs Oct 26

Tupac, Youth Culture, Hip Hop, & Christology

White Hodge Ch.6

Smith Jackson Ch. 7

Miller & Pinn Ch. 27

FILM: Tupac Resurrection

RR# 2

WEEK 10: Thurs Nov 2

No Church in the Wild: Youth Ministry & Culture in Hip Hop Context

White Hodge Ch. 9 & Epilogue

Smith Jackson Ch. 9

Miller & Pinn Ch.23-25



Assignments Due

Week 11 Thurs Nov 9

Gender & God: Queers, Queen B’s, & Womanism

Miller & Pinn Ch.16

FILM: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (In Class)

Week 12 Thurs Nov 16

Social Construction of anger, resentment, & rap rage in an era of #45

Miller & Pinn Ch. 22

WEEK 13 Thurs Nov 23

NO CLASS NO CLASS THANKSGIVING

Eat like a mug!


Toward a Theology & Missiology of Hip Hop Culture & Youth

Utley Ch. 6 & Conclusion

White Hodge Ch. 8

Smith Jackson Ch. 10 & Conclusion

Miller & Pinn Ch. 28 & Conclusion


RR# 3

Week 15: Thurs Dec 7

Group Presentations

Group Presentations

Presentation


SEMINARY/ GRADUATE Class Session Topic Weekly Reading

Assignments Assignments Due

WEEK 1: Thurs Aug 31

Class Introduction & Scope of Hip Hop Culture

None

Week 2 Thurs Sept 7

The Message: What is this Hip in Hip Hop? Cultural contexts

Forman Neal Ch.1,2,4, 41,& 6

Smith Jackson Ch. 1 &2

White Hodge Intro

Watkins Intro & Ch. 1

Pinn Intro & Ch. 1


Student info sheet

WEEK 3: Thurs Sept 14

Ain’t No love in the heart of the City: God & Tha ‘Hood

Forman Neal Ch.11, 12, 17, 20

Smith Jackson Ch. 3-4

White Hodge Ch.1-2

Pinn Ch. 2-3 Watkins Ch. 3 Miller Ch. 1 FILM: Juice



Assignments Due


Communing with God in Hip Hop

Forman Neal Ch.29, 30, 32,34

Smith Jackson Ch.3-5

Utley Intro & Ch. 1

Pinn Ch. 4 Watkins Ch. 6 White Hodge

Ch.4 Miller Ch. 3 FILM: HH Revolution Ep.2-3

RR #1


The Illuminati, The Devil, & Rogue forms of Hip Hop religion

Utley Ch. 4 White Hodge

Ch.7 Pinn Ch. 6

Week 6 Thurs Oct 5

God Talk & Spoken word

Forman Neal Ch. 35-37

Utley Ch. 2 Smith &

Jackson Ch. 6 Pinn Ch. 5 Watkins Ch. 5

WEEK 7: Thurs Oct 12

The Hip Hop Jesuz White Hodge Ch.5

Smith Jackson Ch.7

Utley Ch. 3 & 5 Miller Ch. 2 &

4 FILM: Reincarnated

Week 8 Thurs Oct 19

Violence, Pain, & Suffering in Hip Hop

Forman Neal Ch. 38, 44

White Hodge Ch.3



Assignments Due

Week 9 Thurs Oct 26

Tupac, Youth Culture, Hip Hop, & Christology

White Hodge Ch.6

Smith Jackson Ch. 7

Pinn Ch.8 Miller Ch. 6 FILM: Tupac

Resurrection

RR# 2

WEEK 10: Thurs Nov 2

No Church in the Wild: Youth Ministry & Culture in Hip Hop Context

White Hodge Ch. 9 & Epilogue

Smith Jackson Ch. 9

Watkins Ch. 7 Pinn Ch.9

Week 11 Thurs Nov 9

Gender & God: Queers, Queen B’s, & Womanism

Forman Neal Ch. 22,23, 25-27

Pinn Ch. 7 FILM: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (In Class)

Critical Engagement Proposal Due


Social Construction of anger, resentment, & rap rage

Forman Neal Ch. 14, 15,19, 42 Miller & Pinn

Ch. 22

WEEK 13 Thurs Nov 23

NO CLASS NO CLASS THANKSGIVING

Eat like a mug!


Toward a Theology & Missiology of Hip Hop Culture & Youth

Utley Ch. 6 & Conclusion

White Hodge Ch. 8 Smith Jackson Ch.

10 & Conclusion Forman Neal Ch. 43 Watkins Conclusion Miller Ch. 5 &

Conclusion FILM: HH Revolution Ep.4

RR# 3

Week 15: Thurs Dec 7

Group Presentations

Group Presentations

Presentation



Assignments Due

Week 16 Thurs Dec 14 Meet at 6:30 for the final class (yes, it’s required)

Hip Hop & Beyond

Final Work Due Final work due

Daniel White Hodge PhD North Park University Last updated: 8/31/2017

Documents

The Socio-Theological Discourses of Hip Hop Culture Socio-Theological Discourses of Hip Hop Culture Daniel White Hodge PhD ... Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (2006) Textbooks for CEDF