This article from the lovely Creative Commons Blog caught my eye today, particularly because the forum aims to look at “how digital technologies and new media are changing the way that young people learn, play, socialize and participate in civic life.” Definitely cool (and no surprise that it’s being hosted at Stanford, either). However, I am rather curious. They say that proposed topics include:
Teen Socialization Practices in Networked Publics Understanding New Media in the Home Hip Hop Music and Meaning in the Digital Age New Media from a Youth Perspective
(emphasis mine)
I feel like this is one of those segments on Sesame Street: “One of these things is not like the other.” Socialization and networks – OK. New media in the home and from a youth perspective – OK. Hip Hop Music and Meaning – huh? This stands out rather unusually to me. My questions:
- Why hip hop? Why not other genres of music? Or maybe there is another topic: “Classical Music and Meaning in the Digital Age: from Chopin to Garage Band”?
- Why only music? Why not video, television, and podcasts? (although perhaps these are the other “new media”)
Anyone else?