anthoropolgy
Anthropology 101
I believe the author’s goal in writing this article is to show us that dance hall music is not only music but a way for lower class black youth to articulate themselves and to give them a distinct identity, as well as a way for them to deal with racism, religious beliefs, gang violence, political beliefs and poverty. I also believe the author’s other goal is to show us how dance hall music has evolved through the years. As the times have changed such has the dance hall music. Dance hall music is important part of the Jamaican society because it helps them to define each other. The middle and upper class blacks oppose it because they believe they are above it and that it is morally wrong. The lower class blacks believe it is a symbol of pride and of black identity. A lot of the lower class religious groups also oppose it because they believe it is morally wrong and a cause of crime and social disorder. Dance halls are also a source of jobs, especially for lower class Jamaican. To many lower class blacks it is there only way of survival ,and to a couple of black youths it’s a chance to become a star. Dance hall artist have the opportunity to become a star but they also have the opportunity to be attacked by rival artist and gangsters. Artist make music and videos portraying gangsters lifestyles and intern gangsters live out these performances by the artist. This gangster lifestyle is a model of the good life for young lower class black males. There are also clashes at the dance halls between rival gangs and rival dancers. This may be a reason to for rising level of violence in the Jamaican society. In the slavery era dance hall music was known as mento. It was the first popular Jamaican music. Mento was a syncretic mix of African and European cultural form. In the 1940’s dance hall music took a drastic change from mento bands to sound systems dance. Sound system dance helped to form reggae, rock steady, ska, and dance hall music. It also
I believe the author’s goal in writing this article is to show us that dance hall music is not only music but a way for lower class black youth to articulate themselves and to give them a distinct identity, as well as a way for them to deal with racism, religious beliefs, gang violence, political beliefs and poverty. I also believe the author’s other goal is to show us how dance hall music has evolved through the years. As the times have changed such has the dance hall music. Dance hall music is important part of the Jamaican society because it helps them to define each other. The middle and upper class blacks oppose it because they believe they are above it and that it is morally wrong. The lower class blacks believe it is a symbol of pride and of black identity. A lot of the lower class religious groups also oppose it because they believe it is morally wrong and a cause of crime and social disorder. Dance halls are also a source of jobs, especially for lower class Jamaican. To many lower class blacks it is there only way of survival ,and to a couple of black youths it’s a chance to become a star. Dance hall artist have the opportunity to become a star but they also have the opportunity to be attacked by rival artist and gangsters. Artist make music and videos portraying gangsters lifestyles and intern gangsters live out these performances by the artist. This gangster lifestyle is a model of the good life for young lower class black males. There are also clashes at the dance halls between rival gangs and rival dancers. This may be a reason to for rising level of violence in the Jamaican society. In the slavery era dance hall music was known as mento. It was the first popular Jamaican music. Mento was a syncretic mix of African and European cultural form. In the 1940’s dance hall music took a drastic change from mento bands to sound systems dance. Sound system dance helped to form reggae, rock steady, ska, and dance hall music. It also