My View on Hip (LEH)

 In chapters 4 and 5 of "Hip: The History" by John Leland talks about how people were trying to reinvent themselves in a new form of Hip. Which explains how people in  today's society acts and hears. For example in chapter 4 Leland explains how men were feeling emasculated and they had to change that as soon as possible!. Men were enslave to the woman and their families, Men were just seen as workers who only earned money so that their wife's could spend it. Men didn't have time for themselves to do anything that was considered to be manly. In other words they were "Tied Down". Men needed to be Hip/Cool to bring that masculinity that was missing, seeing this they needed the avatar of "Macho", the "Suave", the high ego. They invented the Hard-Boiled detective or/and the Pulp Hero. The characteristics of a Hard-Boiled hero was big shoulders,a strong chin, a smart mouth, big pistol and a taunt gift of gab. As John Leland would say "it is an escape from the feminine.." (90) This became the new Black Culture or also known as the Hypermasculinity. The Black Culture was seen as something wild and intriguing unlike the White Culture in which people saw men to be more polite, manner and nice .But men wanted the adventure and the rush of being seen as a danger man. This helped men to reinvent themselves into terms of money, violence, betrayal sex, and male loyalty; This became the urban America(91).These men had no mothers, wives, children, or steady girlfriends, they were considered as "riding solo" they had no strings attach to responsibility. This form of man Hip brings us to how it influence  writers,  movies and rappers to be the aggressive, sex appeal, dominant, mysterious, bad ass man in society. The Hypermasculinity role still exist today, it has help bring men feel their inner masculinity. Chapter 5 discusses how after the depression and the Cold war after everyone was done struggling with their daily lives, the Golden Age appeared with a new image in art, clothes,music, and intellectual arrogance of being a rebel. It created a new question of what it meant to be an American. For example the Golden Age created Bop, a beat that change the way of music. "Bop presented itself as  the opposition:smarter, harder, colder,  purer. (112) Musicians at this time were trying to be different, unique and a , they were trying to free themselves from the limits. Musicians like Charles Parker, John Birkes Gillespie aka Dizzy , Thelonious Monk.These men did anything to catch people attention, inviting them to the new evolution of Bop. 

Technology has been one the main factors of hip. Even if we do not see it as something hip; because of technology we have modernize and created a new form of hip allowing us to update to the newest trends.It has help us view things differently from back then and now. We thank you technology because it brought us the internet, radio, photography and even music.  Technology was actually one of the things that took out the barrios of segregation, bringing us together even if we did not notice it. For example, when some one was listening to the radio people wouldn't know if they were Black or White they just cared for the music and the beat.Racism did not exist in music, music did not care. It as well help immigrated people to bring new ideas of technology which inspired the youth culture. It created a new way of freedom bringing something new and exciting. Just like in today's society, we all get excited when a new Iphone come's out, we all want it and we want to know what are the new features that it brings. This brings us to how we as the youth culture played a role in technology. The poorest families had the biggest family, because they had so many young children it brought hipster. The youth generation is what brought hip to come a live. We as the young culture understand technology much better than any one else that is because we always want new and fresh things while the elders stay with the past. Believe it or not technology as well brought a new form of language. For example, in today's society we have created a different language and form of writing when we are texting. It had become too hip that people had created a dictionary for it. Young Americans and technology created a new modern and social hipster. In today's society, even the elders are wanting this modernize hip. Everyone has a tumbler, Instagram, twitter, Facebook, and so many other social networks. These sources help us be inform with other parts of the world. In other words just like John Leland would say, technology grew around in new ways of distributing rhythm and information. 

The Harlem Renaissance also known as the " The Spiritual Coming of Age" began around the 1920's taking place of course in Harlem New York. It was a period when the black culture such as their music, literature, art, etc. became very popular. During this time African Americans were able to come out of their shell and be able to freely express themselves, it was time were they had a place in society.  It was actually the most influential cultural movement for the African Americans.We can say that it was a very inspirational and enlightenment movement. Now, the movement did not just influence on how the African Americans were able to take part on the renaissance but as well for the White Americans who were actually interested and "hooked" on the culture as well. For example, in literature African Americans novelist such as Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes and many more were writing about their thoughts and problems as a black man and/or woman which brought a lot of white readers who were actually fascinated by the reading.  As well as in music, it brought a lot of attention, with the new rhythm and beat that Africans created known as the Blues and the Jazz.Even the music critics were taking up the music addiction to the new genre. Carl Van Vetcher was one of the music critics who were fascinated by this music, in fact he would even keep nude photographs of African American male artist.  During this time, it was illegal toconserve alcohol and drugs , there was only one place that had it all, Harlem. Harlem was "The place to Be", it had the charisma, the attitude, the excitement and fun.  White Americans were entertain and amuse by the black culture, they wanted to adapt to it but they did not want Africans to be part of; They wanted the hip and the culture only. As one can see, the Harlem Renaissance was the voice and identity for African Americans, they are the example of what is Hip. 

In chapter 1 on "Hip: The History", Leland starts of by stating that hip originally came from the mix cultures of African Americans and European Americans that migrated to United states as slaves to work in plantations. The black and white foreigners where teaching and taking something from each other without them noticing; which created not just Hip but as well as the American Culture. In today's society, we have been introduced and accepted other countries culture to form in the American Culture. Leland then explains how music, language, religion, etc. played a major role to this change of hip. For example in the reading he explains how African slave owners were so captivated by the way their slaves spoke that they would get beaten down if they spoke proper English. Another example he shows was that African slaves would use  "slang words" or "codes" to talk about their slave owners without them noticing, it was their own form of education. Just like in today's youth, we use "that's wavy" or "she/he is bad" to refer to something good to what it actually sounds. He also talks about how music came from neither African nor European, they all mixed the different rhythm and beat in which they created a different genre of music known as the blues. As well to religion, African Americans took parts of the European religion, creating what is known today as Christianity.  In this chapter, it is basically explains how different groups combined their knowing into one and that creates something new and fresh. I completely agree with Leland when he stated that " Hip is a culture of the young because they have the least investment in the status quo" young people won't care about your race, sex, religion, etc we have learned to go past that , we have combine our inspirations into one making our own hip. We have made a new and modernize form of hip in which everyone can participate. 

Everyone knows and can see when someone is hip. Hip has no limitations, you can never go wrong. Hip always has an audience, people who love him, people who hate him, and people who want to be him. Hip shows who you are without even introducing yourself. Hip is having the "Must Haves" like the new Green Glow IV'S Jordan's; light green on the bottom and a light gray that covers the canvas of the shoe making it a show stopper every time you walk. Hip is being on point on how you dress, making sure that you are always up to date with the latest fashion like if you just came out of Vogue magazine. Hip wears the classic Ray Ban glasses with the thick black frame making you look smart but with style. New York City have their hidden fashionable stores and trendy bars, to the classy sophisticated streets of 5th avenue to the ghetto underground of the South Bronx. New York is the place of mix fashion and cultures. Deriving from cultures are the music. Hearing the rhythm to the most breathtaking poetic lyrics of Bachata music by Romeo Santos, who can make any girl fall in love instantly. To the upbeat and powerful true word songs like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and/or Biggie Smalls. Hip is what inspired Eminem to rap his heart out, it is what brought The Beetles to be the legends of the music world. Hip is having the hips that don't lie like Shakira, being able to be a single lady but still look like Beyonce. Jay Z is the Holy Grail of Hip. Hip is a wild child like Rihanna, one day she's rocking a fire red color hair but still looking sexy and classy and the next day a half shave up do making her look edgy and sophisticated. Kat Von D is too hip to handle, with her amazingly gifted talent to create tough looking tattoos and be able to look beautiful covered in ink.  Hip is Lady Gaga; crazy, fun and different. Hip is what we see in TV to what we see in the streets. Hip is an entrepreneur, an inventor, always looking for clients and in search of something new. Hip is interesting in so many different ways, it is culture, language and art. It is a wildfire that has spread furiously throughout the nation, it cannot be tame. Hip is able to inspire other peoples desire to be different.