ENG 274 : POETICS OF HIP HOP (H) (D)

This class uses rap lyrics, music, and culture to teach the fundamentals of poetics. By carefully analyzing the lyrics of influential rappers ranging we will learn both the formal structures that rap tracks are built upon and poetic principles that govern the western canon of verse. Further, by situating hip-hop in its historical, cultural, and political contexts, we will explore the ways in which hip-hop grew from Bronx street parties into one of the most popular and influential forms of global art. Course work will include written analysis of lyrics, short video responses on Flipgrid, and a collaborative multi-media research project.