Philosophy and Hip-Hop: Ruminations on Postmodern Cultural Form

by J. Bailey

Overview

Philosophy and Hip-Hop: Ruminations on Postmodern Cultural Form opens up the philosophical life force that informs the construction of Hip-hop by turning the gaze of the philosopher upon those blind spots that exist within existing scholarship. Traditional Departments of Philosophy will find this book a solid companion in Contemporary Philosophy or Aesthetic Theory. Inside these pages is a project that parallels the themes of existential angst, corporate elitism, social consciousness, male privilege and masculinity. This book illustrates the abundance of philosophical meaning in the textual and graphic elements of Hip-hop, and thus places Hip-hop within the philosophical canon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781137429933
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	06/05/2014
Edition description:	2014
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Julius Bailey is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wittenberg University, USA. He is a philosopher, cultural critic, social theorist, and diversity lecturer. He is the editor of Jay-Z: Essays on Hip Hop's Philosopher King (2011), and the author of The Cultural Impact of Kanye West (2014), as well as numerous articles on hip-hop pedagogy and social justice issues. He can be found at www.juliusbailey.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Of the Beauty and Wisdom of Hip-Hop

2. Firebrands and Battle Plans: Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche and G.W.F. Hegel

3. Conscious Hip-hop vs The Culture Industry

4. A Philosopher's glance at Hip-hop Pedagogy: Facing the Realities of the Socratic Classroom

5. Lost in the City and Lost in the Self: Sin and Solipsism in Hip Hop's Dystopia; St. Augustine, Toni Morrison, Paul Tillich

6. Hip Hop and International Voices of Revolution: Brazil, Cuba, Ghana and Egypt

7. The Artist and the Image: Ervin Goffman; Marshall McLuhan; Roland Barthes

8. The Catastrophe of Success: Marshall McLuhan, Gilles Delueze and Felix Guittari

Editorial Reviews

"Julius Bailey demonstrates, with aplomb, the wonderful ways that hip-hip operates as a discursive space for philosophical exploration. This is a creative, engaging, and insightful approach to both philosophy and hip-hop, giving a thoroughly rewarding study to students of popular music, cultural studies, aesthetic philosophy and, of course, hip-hop in particular. This is a great addition to the ever-expanding body of scholarship on hip-hop."

- Jeffrey Ogbar, The University of Connecticut, USA.

"Julius Bailey is establishing himself as a leading scholar probing the rich philosophical depths of hip-hop culture. Here, in this series of 'Ruminations,' Bailey demonstrates why such probing matters for philosophers, students and hip-hop heads, alike. Contextualizing postmodern philosophical inquiry for a hip-hop generation as much as demonstrating the pedagogical acumen of hip-hop, this text is a valuable contribution to contemporary discussions of identity and difference. I highly recommend the read!"

- Monica R. Miller, Lehigh University, USA.

"True heads know that hip-hop is about much more than beats & rhymes. It's also about dropping knowledge. Philosopher Julius Bailey schools us on how hip-hop serves up potent medicine for dealing with the existential angst of our lived human experience. He proves that we have more reason to respect not reject this art form born of struggle."

- Derrick Darby, Hip Hop & Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason

"Bringing the tools of philosophy to hip-hop, Julius Bailey's powerful and profound ruminations are a welcomed addition to the growing body of literature in Hip Hop Studies. Philosophy and Hip-Hop legitimizes hip-hop in traditional philosophical canons while opening up the discourse on human nature and relationships in post-colonial settings. This book is simultaneously academic, emotional, theoretical and imaginary. It is a must-read for who care about teaching and learning. "

- Karin L. Stanford, Associate Dean, California State University, Northridge, USA.

From the Publisher