Gavin
Why do you think genda is so different from the standard definition of globalization?
Shannon
How does Hip-Hop in Japan achieve Gupta and Ferguson's concept of transcending national boundaries? In which ways does the Hip-hop achieve this? In what ways is it still associated with Japan?
Zach N.
If both homogenization and localization are present at these freestyle sessions, where is the line drawn? Whats beyond homogenization and localization?
Stecey
Within the Japanese culture hip hop varies a bit from group to group or city to city. Is that globalization or localization?
Christy
How does the concept of otaku or "islands in space" described in this chapter affect and reflect modern Japanese society? Are there parallels to this in US society? Why or why not?
Hannah
While American rappers are known around the world, does the fact that japanese artists rap primarily in japanese prevent their music from gaining popularity in other countries?
Ian
Is the way that Americans get samurais wrong transferable to the Japanese and hip-hop? Why is it so difficult for other cultures to get ideas right? Can ideas really be global if we always skew meaning?
Zach F.
Are the top hip hop songs in Japan an example of an internal globalization. Are CEO's picking out the songs that are the least critical of Japaneses government? Can we draw a parallel to the United States top hits? Does this relate to the Parental Advisory Stickers that the United States stamps on cds?
Natalie
Condry highlights two new terms to describe transnationalism, "glocalization" and "grobalization",which one do you think more accurately describe how Japanese hip hop developed?
Alex P.
On P. 151, it is suggested that contemporary Japanese language is "artificial" and no longer representative of local ways of life ("regional culture barely gets wrapped up in language at all"). Thus, rap is not just about rhyming, but finding a language that "can crack the fissures of artificial language, the "standard Japanese," and thus, changing society. Do you see the US as having an "artificial language" as well? How has rap in the US molded the way Americans verbally express themselves?
Ian
Hip hop started with no direction, now it has no center. What is the next step? Does this lead to authenticity?
Amanda P.
Condry continues to talk about genba as the location of the birth and exchange of legitimate hip hop. There even exists a word, Otaku, for those who, for example, call themselves DJs, but as it turns out, actually only play in their rooms. What does isolating the hip hop scene to genbas do for this still relatively new movement? Does this exclude those away from major cities or those too young to get into clubs?
Chrsity
How does the freeter (young temp worker) generation affect the place of hip-hop in Japan? Do you think it would have a stronger or weaker presence if more Japanese young adults had full-time corporate careers?
Ian
The use of Japanese in this book, does it help? What does having the translations of lyrics and words into English and vice versa bring to the understanding of the influence of English and/or Condry's message?
Gavin
On page 135, Condfy says that people want to "resist a desire to see "the end of the Japanese language" in the presence of rap and to explore instead the particular meanings associated with hip-hop language use." Why is traditional Japanese language leaving hip-hop? Did this happen in America? If so, how has American hip-hop changed the English language?
Lizzy
Do you think the Japanese appreciate their songs about Japanese culture (opinions on politics, refection on Japanese society, etc) more than American songs (mostly about sex, drugs, violence, etc)?
Stephanie
Condry notes the views of many within Japan who state that, “Japanese rappers using English-inspired poetics and phrases implicitly critique notions of ethnic differences derived from assertions of the timeless character of the Japanese language (137).” After listening to the music we heard in class last week, did you feel that the English sayings within some of the songs created a “less authentic” feeling? Do you think your feelings would be different if you were from Japan?
Tiffany
In the same ways that we see how Japanese hip-hop impersonates a vague idea of what real hip-hop is would you agree that American culture, media and film falsely represents and idea of being Japanese? Do you think that these kinds of stereotypes are the result of localization? Can they be contributed to the idea of a culture being authentic?
Julie
Why does Condry say that “becoming more hip hop means becoming more Japanese” in Japan? If hip hop is from the United States but hip hop in Japan is defined in this way, then can Japan now claim ownership over its own form of hip hop?
L.B.
With the growing emphasis on 'soft power' how much pressure is being placed on the youth of Japan to promote their culture not just in their own country, but to the entire world? Is this too much pressure one groups like the 'freeters' and could it in the end have a negative effect?
Amanda B.
In the conclusion on page 203, Condry says "the value of seeing these evolving, interactive and conflicted aspects of commercialism and hip-hop generalization is that they bring into focus the improvisatory character of staying active artistically and staying in the news". What is he commenting on? Is he staying that in order to be successful you need to be consistently active and changing as the norms and accepted societal ideals change?
Gavin
Condry states that "global homogenization nor the term localization accurately describes the changes in the (hip-hop) scene over the years" (208). If it isn't one of those two terms, what else do you think causes the hip-hop scene to change? Did this happen in the United States? If so, How?
Christy
The author says that genba draws attention to the social side of cultural movements. Do we see this anywhere in the US?
Hannah
why is it that some aspects of hip hop culture have been more successful when in american culture we consider it somewhat of a whole package, why does the "genba" play a role in this? and is that typical of american culture as well?
L.B.
Can female hip-hop artists escape the “cult of the cute” (169)? To do so, must they conform to what is acceptable for males and become more masculine themselves? Or will they be able to maintain their values and femininity to attain musical legitimacy?
Stacey
Can we compare the popularity of women in hip hop to women athletes in the U.S.? Grant it, there are professional women sports but they are not nearly as popular as the men.
James
Do you think that we only question if hip-hop has changed Japan because it is something we are so used to? Have you questioned if hip-hop has changed our culture as it became more popular?
Natalie
How does contradict the idea of hip hop only being for the money through the history and path of hip hop in Japan?
Lizzy
Do you feel that the money aspect gets in the way of the true meaning of hip hop too often?
LaKeisha
There different reasons that motivates artists, but is the motivation to make a lot of money changing hip hop?
Tiffany
After reading this book do you believe that the impact of Japanese rap will change Japan forever? Do you think that it will affect the traditions of Japanese culture or has it become a part of that "tradition culture"?
Alex V.
In the film, teams expressed both claims of authenticity (for example, when the U.S. team member stated, "We created this thing") and notions of global interconnectedness (for example, when the French team member stated, "Our flag is hip hop"). How could you see both localization and globalization occurring within the b-boy styles of the different national groups?
Alex. P.
The members of the French break-dancing group, T-Phase, expressed that hip-hip provides them with a sense of international identity, "Our flag is hip-hop." On the other hand, the U.S. team Knucklehead Zoo expressed the importance of their national identity (in representing the United States), as they consider the USA to be the "creator" of hip-hop. Why do some crews prefer to represent their country rather than the art form itself? During the "Battle of the Year," are these crews battling for respect and the chance to express themselves, or for the sake of winning and having their country recognized? While the "B-boy lives for the battle," do you think different countries view "the battle" differently in terms of meaning and purpose? Did the U.S. ("the creator") get the meaning wrong?
Christy
Clearly race is not an issue in the break dancing community, but what about gender? Throughout the film we saw few b-girls amongst the b-boys and we didn't see any compete. Why the gender disparity?
Amanda P.
"On a technical level, no one is better than the Koreans." "The Japanese have some of the most unique styles." "French B-Boys have a nice sense of the music." Keeping these quotes in mind, is the film "Planet B-Boy" an example of hip hop localization despite Condry's assertions that it is something different? If this is true, what can be said, then, about the recurring message that "You just gotta have that B-Boy style?"
Shannon
The film details various dancing styles associated with cultures. Is the director accurate in his assumption that styles are similar in certain locations, or is he falling into the trap of minimizing cultural differences within a space?
Stephanie
Within "Planet b-boy," a French dancer states, "we come from so many different backgrounds in France. The phrase French culture doesn't really apply. We like France for what it is, but we can't say the flag blue, white, red really represents us. Our flag is hip hop." After watching the dance competitions in each different country and ultimately seeing the different styles showcased at the Battle of the Year competition in Germany, do you feel this is what a person from each of the countries showcased would say about the culture of such hip-hop and dance in their country? Does this type of dance have such an influential culture within the United States as well?
Phillip
what message do you think b-boys try to send through their dance?
Zach N.
B-Boying went against many family morals and values. What pushed these dancers to continue their dream? Was it strictly to represent their country? Or was it because they were able to be free and express their emotions? Explain.
Julie
In Planet B-Boy, Thomas Hergenrother, founder of Battle of the Year, described each county as having its own great strengths and styles in each country. For example, the Japanese have better ideas than any other in the world, the French dance the "most beautifully," and South Korea is known for great power moves and technical skill. Are these distinctions evidence of localization, or do you feel they are imagined differences and different people in every country possess these strengths?