Year of Hip-Hop
A university-wide series of events that focuses on hip-hop as a major influence on today’s culture as well as the work of hip-hop artists who push the boundaries of their medium.
Artists for Positive Social Change
Artists for Positive Social Change is a groundbreaking, university-wide series of events, lectures, and performances that highlight one high-profile issue, artist, or genre.
Year of Hip-Hop
For the 2011-2012 academic year, the series focuses on hip-hop music as a major influence on today’s culture. It highlights hip-hop artists who serve as the voice for youth culture today, bringing positive messages of social responsibility through the multidisciplinary aspects of their medium: music, lyrics, graffiti, and breakdancing.
Prominent hip-hop artists will visit campus to:
- Give lectures
- Participate in panel discussions
- Perform their music
- Meet and talk with students
The program will culminate in a three-day symposium in April, which will include guest lectures by hip-hop scholars and a Public Enemy concert on April 28. Learn about the history and legacy of Public Enemy through the recent BBC documentary “Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage.”
Hip-Hop in the Curriculum
Throughout the year, elements of hip-hop art and culture will be discussed in courses throughout the departments on campus, including:
This year’s Artists for Positive Social Change program is led by Photography Department chair David Scheinbaum, whose personal fine art photography focuses on underground hip-hop artists who are working for social change. “This program broadens the real-world relevance of our curriculum in an innovative way,” Scheinbaum explains. “The series brings artists to campus whom we respect and who stand for all the same things we stand for—ethics, creative ideas, professionalism, quality. They push the boundaries of their medium and can serve as role models for our students.”
See David's photography and listen to an interview with him on the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery website and on the Frontier website.
Events
In September Bukue One, a leader in the world of hip-hop music and graffiti art, led a workshop on campus on how to create a “burner,” or a large wall of graffiti. Bukue explained how to select optimal lettering, color, and layout, and then he and workshop students created a massive burner of the letters “SFUAD” on a wall near campus that was offered by Forrest Thomas, a local businessman.
Read more
See the image gallery
Watch a student video
