CONTENTSIntroduction

Elasticity of Group Membership

Authenticity to status identity

Seeking authentic experience

Authenticity to constructed self

Conclusion

Q & A

RAP

RAP

RAP

RAP MUSIC.

RAPPING.SELF-

EXPRESSION.

JOYThe Elasticity

of Group Membership

THE ELASTICITY OF GROUP MEMBERSHIP

• “Authenticity through group identity is a construct that is elastic.” (Peterson, 2005)

• Authenticity is not set in stone

1. Perception of authenticity is fluid and may be unexpected.

• Despite being white, Eminem has shown that he has the ‘right’ to rap.

• Background: ‘He knows that but he's broke, he so stagnant he knows When he goes back to his mobile home’

1. Similar to what other rappers go through and rap about.

THE ELASTICITY OF GROUP MEMBERSHIP

• Despite being white, Eminem has shown that he has the ‘right’ to rap.

• Ability [‘This world is mine for the taking, make me king’]

THE ELASTICITY OF GROUP MEMBERSHIP

• “Contemporary performers may seek authenticity by claiming an association with earlier artists, types of music or lifestyles” (Beal & Peterson, 2001)

• Already established reputation and authenticity

• Association effect

THE ELASTICITY OF GROUP MEMBERSHIP

• Eminem’s mentor – Dr. Dre • Renowned hip hop artist/producer• Pioneer of the hip hop scene

• Eminem accepted as part of the hip hop scene due to the clout and reputation of his mentor

THE ELASTICITY OF GROUP MEMBERSHIP

Authenticity through Status

Identity

GROUP’S INTERPRETATION

• Authenticity is gained through the author’s background and status

GROUP’S INTERPRETATION“One needs to be told the background of the artist,

and the more bizarre the better for the value of their work.” (Peterson, 2005)

Bizzare background

Increase in greater value of

work

Increase in authenticity

SIGNIFIER

• Denotation: dirty, gloomy toilet

• Connotation: Grew up in a poor neighbourhood

SIGNIFIER

• Denotation: A scene with many black people rapping

• Connotation: Rap battle, Eminem is a minority in the group

SIGNIFIER• Denotation:

1. A man singing to a crowd

2. Audience raising their hands in the air

• Connotation:

A. Own concert

B. Work is valued and appreciated by a large group of audiences

SYNTAGMATIC ANALYSISBackground/Status Identity

Value of Work

SEEKING AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE

• Our perceptions of what should be authentic has been shaped by the media

• An authentic experience to us is experienced through immersing ourselves in what we think is authentic (text)

GROUP’S INTERPRETATION

How does Eminem make us feel that we are immersing into an authentic rap

experience?

“LOSE YOURSELF” - DETROIT

SIGNIFIERDetroit (location)

SIGNIFIEDHome of rap music

SIGNIFIEDHome of rap music

Eminem as a true rapper having come from Detroit

DENOTATIONGeographically, Detroit is a state of USA

DENOTATIONGeographically, Detroit is a state of USA

CONNOTATIONA state that has experienced financial decline which resulted in many people

leading hard lives

SYNTAGMATIC ANALYSISMany rappers originate from similar areas in

Detroit and rap about their hard lives

People identify with an authentic rap song if the rapper comes from similarly poor

conditions such as Detroit and when the lyrics contain hardships about life

AUTHENTICITY TO CONSTRUCTED

SELF

GROUP’S INTERPRETATION

• “…remaining true to the presentation of self one claims.” (Peterson, 2005)

• Eminem constructs an identity for himself that he has stayed true to in his music career

Songs with lyrics that revolves around his struggles

Eg. Lose Yourself

He opens his mouth, but the words won’t come outHe’s choking, how? Everybody’s joking now

.

.Give up that easy, no, he know he won’t have it he knows

SIGNIFIER

SIGNIFIERSongs with lyrics that revolves around his

struggles Eg. Lose Yourself

Look, if you had, one shot, or one opportunityTo seize everything you ever wanted, one moment

Would you capture it? Or just let it slip?

SIGNIFIEDEminem does not shy away from acknowledging his

past as the person he used to be when he first started out his rap career

Remains authentic in audience’s eyes as he raps about his struggles and chasing his dreams

Denotation: Shady XV is Eminem’s new studio album

Connotation: Album includes “Lose Yourself ” as a reminder

to stay true to his roots despite his success

CONCLUSIONAuthenticity as a selling point

Not losing “oneself ”

Deconstructing a social construct

Q & A