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Rap Ballad (Graphic Language)

I realize that rap isn't the music-of-choice for most of you.  But Immortal Technique's "Dance With the Devil" is a compelling example of story-telling.  There are many things to take away from the song.  First, he uses concrete examples to show what can happen to someone who wants to become a thug.  This is the same approach Homer used: "Oral traditions predominantly consist of sequences of concrete actions.  For example, Havelock (1978) stresses that rather than employing abstract principles, only concrete examples by active agents are included.  Thus Homer has only concrete examples of heroism, wisdom, and justice, not abstract statements."  Memory in Oral Traditions at 11. Second, the story towards the end of the song is "sticky" -- It's hard to forget, for better or worse...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime & Federalism on August 22, 2008 (boomark / email).