First Impression

My first impression with the hip hop subculture was that of seeing hip hop as a way to express one's self.  I remember when I really started to get into the culture how I felt when I would listen to a good record.  I would get inspired and would want to find more on this artist and others like it.  This is the process that eventually got me into Dj'ing.

I realize that I am an outsider in some ways though.  I am not a C.E.O. of a big record company so there may be some "insider" things that I will not get to know simply because I am not in that position.  I also believe that there are many other roles in the hip hop industry that people that have them have some sort of "insider" information that I will not be able to attain.

Z Boys

I feel that this was both an ethnographic study and a work of entertainment because there were interviewers involved, actual footage, and seemed to be pretty extensively researched.  It was also entertaining.  the interview subjects in the documentary were the "Z-Boys" and the were significantly important to the documentary because having interviews with actual members of the cultures provided a dynamic to the documentary that would have not been reached without them.  I don't think it would have been nearly effective or entertaining had their interviews not been included.  They give you a hands on insight into the culture that they created.  This subculture has many things that make it unique like its locations, people, rules, and attitudes.  One of the subcultures rules that stood out to me was that members of the Z boys were not allowed to bring other people with the to the pools that they chose to skate.  Also it stood out to me the way outsiders were treated when they tried to surf in the Z boys territory.  Some of the stereotypes that I held previously about skaters still hold true in my mind after watching this movie.  One of them is that skaters are free spirited individuals who do what they want when they want.  Another is that skaters are just "cool" people in general.

Unlearning Our Privilege

-Driving my car

-Attending Ball State University

-"Freedom"

-Cell phone

-Free internet access

I believe that all of these privileges will tie into my research project. Having a car will allow me to interview people that live off campus, where as if I didn't have one I would have to try to find a ride/bus to get there or even walk.  Attending Ball State University gives me a vast amount of people in my particular subculture that I can choose to interview.  The fact that I live in the United States gives me "freedom" which means that I can carry out this project as I please.  Free internet access will help me do research on my subculture.