Fall 2020/Fuller Online

TC511

Radcliff

TC511: THEOLOGY AND HIP HOP CULTURE (4 Units: 160 hours). Dwight A. Radcliff, Jr.

DESCRIPTION: This course introduces the basic issues of a Christian interpretation of Hip Hop culture. The purpose is to develop a Hip Hop cultural literacy and a practical and biblical wisdom whereby cultural artifacts may be understood and engaged. A major part of this course will focus on particular cultural “texts” in order to practice methods of reading, theological reflection, and interpretation that are informed by Christian perspectives.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to (1) articulate a working definition of hip hop culture; (2) demonstrate an understanding of the historical context for hip hop culture; (3) apply exegetical methods learned in the course to a particular cultural artifact or phenomenon; (4) develop a theology in conversation with hip hop culture; and (5) explain the importance of engaging and interpreting culture for theology, the church, and the mission of God.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Addresses MAICS Area of Interest Class “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.” Addresses the MDiv PLO that states “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry.” Addresses the MATM/MAT PLOs that state “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1,118 pages required.

Cone, James. The Spirituals and the Blues. Orbis, 1991. ISBN: 978-1608330416, Pub. Price $16.00. Available as e-book from the Fuller Library [141 pp. assigned].

Hodge, Daniel White. The Soul of Hip Hop: Rims, Timbs and a Cultural Theology. InterVarsity, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830837328, Pub. Price $22.00/Amazon Kindle $10.99 [304 pp. assigned].

Morgan, Joan. When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks it Down. Simon & Schuster, 2000. ISBN: 978-0684868615, Pub. Price $17.00/Amazon Kindle $12.99 [240 pp. assigned].

Perry, Imani. Prophets of the Hood: Politics and Poetics in Hip Hop. Duke University, 2004. ISBN: 978-0822334354, Pub. Price $23.95/Amazon Kindle $17.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [101 pp. assigned]

Ross, Andrew, and Tricia Rose, eds. Microphone Fiends: Youth Music and Youth Culture. Routledge, 2014. ISBN: 978-0415909082, Pub. Price $48.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [28 pp. assigned].

Sylvan, Robin. Traces of the Spirit: The Religious Dimensions of Popular Music. NYU Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0814798096, Pub. Price $28.00/Amazon Kindle $22.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [145 pp. assigned].

Watkins, Ralph. Hip-Hop Redemption: Finding God in the Rhythm and the Rhyme. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-1441238146, Pub. Price $20.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [159 pp. assigned].

REQUIRED VIEWING: 3 hours required.

Hip-Hop Evolution (Netflix, 2016: Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2)

Various other performances and music videos (links provided in Canvas via YouTube).

REQUIRED LISTENING: 5.5 hours required.

Subscription or access to streaming music service strongly recommended. Playlist will be provided for Daily Immersion assignment.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Asante, Molefi. It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop: The Rise of the Post-Hip-Hop Generation. St. Martin’s Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0312373269, Pub. Price $18.99.

Detweiler, Craig, and Barry Taylor. A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture. Baker Academic, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801024177, Pub. Price $34.00.

Dyson, Michael Eric. Know What I Mean?: Reflections on Hip Hop. Basic Civitas, 2007. ISBN: 978-0786721894, Pub. Price $15.99.

Dyson, Michael Eric, and Sohail Daulatzai, eds. Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas’s Illmatic. Basic Civitas, 2010. ISBN: 978-0465002115, Pub. Price $18.99.

Hodge, Daniel White. Homeland Insecurity: A Hip Hop Missiology for the Post-Civil Rights Context. IVP Academic, 2018. ISBN: 978-0830851812, Pub. Price $27.00.

Johnson, Andre, ed. Urban God Talk: Constructing a Hip Hop Spirituality. Lexington, 2015. ISBN: 978-1498521055, Pub. Price $46.99.

Kitwana, Bakari. The Hip Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African-American Culture. Basic Civitas, 2002. ISBN: 978-0786724932, Pub. Price $16.99.

Perry, Imani. Prophets of the Hood: Politics and Poetics in Hip Hop. Duke University, 2004. ISBN: 978-0822334354, Pub. Price $23.95.

Pinn, Anthony, ed. Noise and Spirit: The Religious and Spiritual Sensibilities of Rap Music. NYU, 2003. ISBN: 978-0814766996, Pub. Price $26.00.

Rose, Tricia. Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America University Press of New England, 1994 ISBN: 978-0819552716, Pub. Price $22.95.

Smith, Efrem, and Phil Jackson. The Hip-Hop Church: Connecting with the Movement Shaping our Culture. IVP, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830833290, Pub. Price $18.00.

Spencer, Jon Michael. Blues and Evil. University of Tennessee, 1993. ISBN: 978-0870497827, Pub. Price $19.95

Watkins, Ralph, Jason Barr, et al. The Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop Generation. Judson 2007. ISBN: 978-0817015077, Pub. Price $15.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Weekly Instruction: Lecture materials, posts, videos, presentations, etc. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [20 hours]
1,118 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3]. [65 hours].
Reaction Papers: Write four reaction papers, 500 words each, covering selected texts from required reading. (20 %). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3]. [10 hours].
Daily Immersion: Listen to assigned songs and write a journal entry of 50 words detailing the student’s own emotions and thoughts in response to the listening. (20 %). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-4]. [20 hours].
Weekly Interaction: Post Daily Immersion Journal at the end of each week, then respond substantively, in 250 words, to one other student’s journal entries (25 %). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-4]. [15 hours].
Signature Assignment: Content analysis of a selected musical performance. Identify theological themes, document their appearance, interpret their use, and conclude with theological implications for the audience and the church [2,500 words] (35 %). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3-5]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: Auditors must complete required listening and viewing.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None

PLEASE NOTE: As a graduate level course that seeks a dialogue between theology and contemporary culture, this class will include visual, written, aural, and/or thematic content that could prove disturbing or offensive to some. This specific course attempts to look at Hip Hop culture historically and as it exists currently in today’s world. This means that the student will be exposed to material that includes “R” rated and explicit content (e.g. adult themes, stereotypes, sexual content, coarse language, violence, trigger words, terminology and imagery with regard to race, ethnicity, stereotypes, culture, gender, sexuality, age, ability, status, etc.). Please consider whether this course will be one in which you want to participate.