Women’s History Month - March 2005 (USA) was marked with a series of educational presentations at Boston's renowned institution, Berklee College of Music. Following her BTOT presentations, Jacqueline Springer was invited back to campus to explore the representation of women within modern rap and soul music via two bespoke illustrated lectures for Women's History Month
'How The Female Emcee Became an Endangered Species' Why are there less than five highly rated female emcees on the planet? What happened to the ground breakers? And while we're at it, who were they? Why didn't the female emcee's rise follow that of their male counterparts? Why are there more women dancing in rap videos than behind the mic? Curriculum: Gender Studies/Music Studies/Cultural Studies. Dur: 2 hrs
'How Rap Changed The Female r&b and pop artist' Rap music's global dominance orchestrates trends within youth culture, so it follows that its rivals have been affected by its growth . But how have women performing within the pop and soul arenas changed post 1979? From rap's pro-black lyrical agenda to the hip hop soul aesthetic, how have the female pop and r&b singers shone while standing in rap's shadow? Curriculum: Gender Studies/Music Studies/Cultural Studies. Dur: 2hrs
National Film Theatre - Black History Month Oct 2005
The National Film Theatre commissioned four illustrated lectures on black music's relationship with film to mark the UK's annual Black History Month celebrations. These bespoke presentations comprised performance and movie footage and explored where music and film combine, implode and divide:
'Reggae Cinema' How has reggae music and dancehall culture been represented on celluloid since Jimi Cliff's 1972 classic, The Harder They Come'? Why did Shotta's never obtain a full commercial release? How effective have cameo roles been to the musical careers of Beenie Man, Marcia Griffiths and Ninjaman in recent years? Curriculum: Cultural Studies//Music Studies/Film Studies. Dur: 1 hr
'Motion Picture Soundtracks' Above The Rim? Deep Cover? Soundtracks revived interest in populist black cinema in the 1990s and ensured that an OST (original motion picture soundtrack) without a rapper on board is an unthinkable proposition. Curriculum: Music Studies/Media Studies/Film Studies/Cultural Studies. Dur 2hrs
'The N Word: Nigger. Nigga. Niggaz' The use and spelling of this word takes on different forms but why has it become more acceptable on celluloid than within a rap stanza? From Saturday Night Fever to 50 Cent, we'll unfurl its recent journey within mainstream entertainment. Curriculum: Cultural Studies/Music & Film Studies/Race & Identity Studies. Dur:1hr
'The Rise of the Rapper/Actor' Five rappers have been nominated for Oscars in recent years. It doesn't matter if you don't know who they are since the rise of the rapper/ actor is a relentless one. Curriculum: Music Studies/American Television & Film Studies//Music Studies. Dur:2hrs
Suffolk University, College of Arts & Sciences, Boston
Contemporary Black Music Culture delved into the choppy waters of rap music's relationship with American law for two bespoke presentations in November 2006 :
'From the Spray Can to The Supreme Court...' explored how rap music and hip hop culture operated against the law - from the early days of graffiti through to landmark music-related court cases. Curriculum: American Law/American Media Studies/Cultural Studies/Music Studies. Dur: 1hr
Nearly a year after Boston's Mayor Thomas Menino banned the wearing of 'Stop Snitching' t-shirts, and just three months after female rapper Lil Kim began her prison sentence for perjury, Contemporary Black Music Culture examined 'Code of The Streets: Rap & the Law of Snitching' through the musical works, print and broadcast interviews given by rappers who extolled the act of a knowing silence. Curriculum: American Law/American Media Studies/Cultural Studies/Music Studies/Gender Politics. Dur: 2hrs
