Galilea Romo
On Thursday, March 27, the Department of Communication Studies at IUI hosted an event that allowed some of its pace-setting graduate students the opportunity to talk about the music that they think has been important to them and the ways such music relates to social change. There were five panelists who each talked about concepts and musical artists they believed to be a relevant part of this conversation. First, Rose Ryan Douglass presented on the Riot Grrrl Movement, relating to feminism, and specifically the band Hole and its lead singer Courtney Love. Next, Joaquin Dorado Mariscal focused on the band Gorillaz and how their presentation and style of making music was so inspirational to many people, even while offering poignant cultural critique on such issues as hyper-consumerism and the Iraq War. Third, in his presentation titled “Dwelling Inside Your Carcass: Deficit and Counter-Narratives in Christian Hip Hop That Chronicle the Journey to Antiracism,” Malachi B-J Carter discussed Christian Rap music, and the influence of such artists and form in his own life. Finally, Ernest Agorde and Emmanuel Asare both focused on the power of music as it relates to political and social change in Ghana. Each of these presentations focused on different aspects and genres of music, but they all had a part in creating a change, and tremendously impressing the packed audience with their ideas offered.
I believe that it is important for all kinds of music to be able to be influential and to mean something because not everyone listens to the same music, and all forms have different goals. Below I expand on some of these powerful presentations offered as part of “Communication Day 2024: Where Words Ignite Worlds.”
As noted, one of the presentations from this day focused on how artists in Ghana created music to help the people understand the severity of the COVID epidemic, and in highlighting medically recommended preventative measures. The music was not only catchy, but it meant a great deal to the people of Ghana. Not a lot of artists have taken that route in music to create such a strong, clear message on a singular topic, and it was wonderful to learn about such efforts internationally, in making health issues accessible and relevant to the broader population.
Another strong presentation was on the band Gorillaz. Many people have grown to love the Gorillaz for their iconic visuals and sound. Many people can recognize their logos and can identify their songs once they start playing. Because of their popularity, they can create music that is promoting change, and it reaches a wide audience. The intentionality behind the look and animation of the band makes it easy to speak on topics that might be a little too morbid for the average artist. The band has the creative freedom to portray all types of narratives through their songs and visuals. This is a great band to look into if you’re not familiar with them.
Douglass touched on feminism and how that relates to music. The Riot Grrl movement began in the early 1990s and was a wave of people who promoted feminism, music, punk, and politics. It was a way for women to express themselves in ways they had been shamed for historically. Riot Girrl music empowered many people and created a switch in dynamics in the music industry. Artists like Hole and Courtney Love were no strangers to this type of expression. They were able to creatively express how upset they were with the way they were being treated. Female outrage created a unique avenue for change and conversation, which is a huge part of social change.
Carter’s presentation on Christian Rap music was slightly different from the rest of the presentations, in a way that proved tremendously impactful on a personal level. Christian Rap is not as widely talked about as some other genres in my opinion, even though it clearly has proven very influential. In his presentation, Carter talked about his favorite rap artists and how they speak on topics that are very close to people’s concerns like politics and violence. Still more specifically, weaving in relevant ideas from Critical Race Theory, Racial Identity Theory and the notion of “Blackness Deficit” prominent in all too many cultural texts, Carter highlighted the work of rap artist Lecrae and how and examination his discography connects with the continuum of racisim and antiracism. Among the various conclusions of his analysis, Carter shared with the audience the following: Deficit narratives present an incomplete Gospel; systemic sins foster sinful states; cultural competency and community empowerment should be prioritized in evangelism; CHH has much repenting and reconciling to do with Black and Brown communities; and antiracism is an ongoing unfolding that community leaders must practice. From Carter’s presentation, the audience was able to recognize that the music in this genre is very purposeful, and that the lyrics have deeper meaning that allow the audience to assess what it means to them.
Even though Christian Rap is not very similar to genres like female punk bands, both musical forms stand for something meaningful, which is the beautiful thing about music. I think in order to fully comprehend the power of the different types of music being put out into the world, we need to understand the purpose of each one. This panel of extremely talented students who graced us for “Comm Day 2024” at IUI were able to explain the importance of music within these genres and how they play a role in social change in a way that makes it impactful for us too. As a class and as a community we were tremendously impacted and impressed by their most thoughtful presentations on the transformative power and potential of music.
Editor’s Note and Apology: From the editor, Trevor Potts, I wish to personally add an apology to Mr. Malachi Carter for a misspelling of his name in the debut of our print publication on one occasion, in another article, and also for including an incorrect picture of him in an initial draft of the publication prior to it officially going “to print.” As a professor on topics of the importance of media accuracy, ethics and media representation (and misrepresentation), I extend my personal apology to Mr. Carter for this initial error and any confusion it may have caused. We appreciate his grace in assisting us to remedy this error, but again, I wish to personally apologize, and will always strive to offer the most complete, accurate and culturally responsible content possible in all that we do moving forward. – TP