For this week, I read the articles “Music Sociology: Getting the Music into the Action” (2003) by Tia DeNora and “The Potential of Music to Effect Social Change” (2018) by Tal-Chen Rabinowitch. I learned about the social significance of music as a way for individuals to communicate and connect with one another, express a sense of identity (self or group identity), and music as a form of cultural capital. DeNora’s article explored the most about what I was looking for with this project because she focused on how music can produce social hierarchy and it can serve as a “catalyst of action” in the way they perceive the world and in shaping their values (169). Whereas the Rabinowitch article focused more on the ways that music serves as a communication for groups and how music or the production of it determines the way people interact with one another.
Prior to reading these articles, I was expecting to obtain more information about how music influences people to produce social change such as social movements or protests. Instead, I learned how music can affect people and how they view their social standing or sense of self through their consumption of music. The DeNora piece implemented psychological theory that was helpful in understanding music and social theory, while Rabinowitch included historical linguistics to emphasize their point about music being a form of communication.
In addition to these articles, I also have started to accumulate rap/hip-hop songs (from what I already know and asking peers and Professor Purnell) that have had cultural impacts and influenced the evolution of political rap. However, I haven’t started listening to them.
From the experience of this week’s data collection, I plan on delving into the history of rap/hip-hop and better understand its cultural relevance in the United States. As well as understand which systemic issues are prevalent in rap/hip hop. I also hope to find an article on music as a way to learn/teach sociology and maybe look more into the perspective of non-scholars and how they perceive/consume media. Also, I hope to find a way to start my e-zine or at least find a reliable website or app to structure and organize it.