I just finished looking at the article Nabeel linked to in an earlier post; 'Arab Pop and Television'. One thing that struck me was the fact that the youth of these far-off countries appear to be becoming more 'Westernised'.
"There's a real frustration in the Middle East among young people, and this is a way for them to kind of escape their family structure - of dating, of arranged marriages etc - and actually meet people in different countries - young people - and connect with them."
Is their sense of dissatisfaction leading them to look for inspiration from other cultures, or are we in fact in danger of becoming a mono-cultural world? With the spread of the internet and 'Coca-Colaisation' is it just a matter of time before we all follow in the path of America, (unfortunately) our current world power?
Reading this article led me to an even more interesting thought. The videos that Nabeel showed in class of Islamic rap were of course very anti-American. However, the style (rap) is very American in itself. Does it not seem ironic that countries which are completely at war with the United States still style their music in a way that is distinctly American? - albeit a distinctly black, anti-capitalist style.
However, black American rap artists often use guns etc. on their covers/in their videos to feed into the media representation of them, drawing attention to the artificiality of their construction. With the Islamic rap on the other hand, the videos seem to show the wrongs that have been done to their culture by America. Perhaps they simply use the 'rap' style to try and get their work noticed by the Western world...?
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Wow...I like totally feel how your feeling... On to it!!
"Reading this article led me to an even more interesting thought. The videos that Nabeel showed in class of Islamic rap were of course very anti-American. However, the style (rap) is very American in itself. Does it not seem ironic that countries which are completely at war with the United States still style their music in a way that is distinctly American? - Albeit a distinctly black, anti-capitalist style'
Just in relation to ur post.. How about taking our very own New Zealand European women who are learning to Belly Dance? Being middle eastern my self, I have been to numerous wedding where they have bought a Belly Dancer as entertainment and a gift for the Bride and Groom. Now isn’t that that similar to what you have said but reversing the cultures? In this case, it is the "non" Middle Eastern people who are trying to learn the Middle Eastern culture and dance. There are several Dancing instructors them selves who are New Zealanders and who are teaching other non New Zealanders. Now would it be fair for me to say that it is the non middle easterners who are taking what is distinctly Middle Eastern? No it wouldn’t be fair because different nations and countries are slowly taking away from what originally belongs to another.
Take for example the commercial that comes on television about the insurance company. "That’s why you need to insure your self New Zealand". In that advertisement it shows how many countries have taken away what culturally belongs and is identified with New Zealand.
In relation to the music, I believe it’s awesome that other culture are being influenced by the (to quote you) "distinctly American" culture because it means that people are admiring American for it. Those Middle Eastern rappers in the video clip that Nabeel showed in the lecture have probably thought to themselves wait a minute, what gets the crowed going? Its music... so what is in the mainstream right now? Hip hop... so what should we do? Rap about the problems in our society in an "American" manner to grab people’s attention about the war and violence that is going on in the Middle East. I believe it’s a positive influence.
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