Pop Star Activism Exam #1

Ghetto Realism as Social Protest

"The Message" 1982 "Keeping it Real" Unvarnished depiction of street life as means of exposing inequality

Malcolm X took a militant approach

(from Detroit) / (self-defense and self-determination) Black nationalism "Ballot or the Bullet" speech Malcolm believed in defending themselves (in any means necessary )

MLK took a moderate approach

(nonviolent resistance) Letter from a Birmingham Jail (critiqued moderate leaders, freedom can't wait) "If you're not part of the movement, your part of the problem"

Music can reinforce norms as well as challenge them

- national anthems vs. protest songs

Imagined Communities

-Idea that most communities are "imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion -Does this mean communities are false? No. It means they require imagination and expression.

What is the relationship between public relations and social movements?

-PR Works at the intersection of the status quo and change -Sometimes PR is used to resist change, sometimes to help lead it Ex) Dallas Cowboys kneeling Tried to straddle two interests PR tactics to satisfy competing interest groups -PR strategies and tactics are used by organizations that uphold the status quo (government, corporations, etc.) and by organizations working to change the status quo (the same organizations sometimes, or interest groups, activist movements, etc.)

"Say it Loud I'm black and Proud" (1968) - James Brown

-Soul as natural blackness -Slogan - voices of children- good to get support - you can dance to it -Black power message - self-determination

Can popular culture be a legitimate source for political discourse?

Adorno- Frankfurt school critics of the 1940s claimed pop culture was an industry -Pop music can't be oppositional- can't be a source for greater awareness and action Though rock and rap were originally oppositional in relation to social norms, they become emblems of opposition as they became commodified Offer the allusion of change

"Don't Believe the Hype" 1988 and music as tool for Instruction

Amazing mainstream success for a political act It extended reach to black consciousness

Movements can adopt music not intended to advocate for it

Aretha Franklin's "Respect"

What is different about pop stars?

Artists derive value from their art and image This parallels a company's products but unlike brands music artists are also admired for their independence and individuality Sometimes that means being outside social norms Brands try to differentiate themselves but not typically in a way that would challenge social norms Artists have a role as voice of the people, cultures and communities Some kinds of music can be more authentic than others Often they are gifted communicators in at least one medium, if not more Lyrically , vocally, musically, visually, symbolically , physically

Does music change or merely reflect it?

Authors suggest that such a question provides a false dichotomy Music and society is not either reflective or causal but dialectical

What makes a good celebrity activist?

Besides the ability to spotlight and frame an issue, their influence depends on their credibility. Think: Brand fit, congruence, issue salience ex). Pop star credibility on Same-Sex Marriage: Ellen Elton John

What is a smart strategy for the brand?

Brand fit CSR-Congruence-is cause marketing effort seem authentic and genuine rather than a band-wagon cash in. Issue Salience- is issue important?

cause marketing

Cause marketing deliberately ties together political and commercial speech, and commercial and political goals Ex) Ben and Jerry's wasn't seen as a money grab

Social Gospel

Christian faith practiced as a call not just to personal conversion but to social reform. what MLK preached became part of music

Public Enemy- Black Panthers of Rap

Chuck D- "Rap was black people's CNN" Consciously evoking black panthers Chuck D- Militancy as sound and symbol Message strategy- here's what I'm seeing this is the song- i don't have the solutions

strategic communication

Communication, like advertising, marketing and public relations, that attempts to persuade, engage or inform an audience in order to advance the goals of a cause, organization, business, product or client.

"Revolution" ad "first time the original recording of a rock classic was used in a major advertisement" for Nike 1987

Controversy over Nike brings into focus beliefs regarding the appropriate relationship between commercial speech, artistic expression and political action Song about social upheaval was now → promoting a value that was materialism in the 80's Contradicted the message and values of the Beatles

Aretha Franklin "Think"

Could be seen as a personal relationship song But you can also hear this as a freedom song Upbeat Southern R&B Maintain the appeal- no overt politics 1972- Aretha wore natural hair- embracing blackness "Respect"- not necessarily talking about politics

pop music

Created by professionals for a mass audience (or target market) with the intention of making money There's a grey area in both definitions But pop star activists must navigate potential conflicts between potential conflicts between their commercial aspirations and their political activities.

Causes are to celebrities what corporate social responsibility is to business

Engaging in humanitarian causes helps polish their brand

The Revolution will not be televised

Gil Scott-Heron Critiquing popular culture not looking to be popular more spoken word song Unpredictable sound Deliberately non-commercial Taking strong elements of African American music

Goals and Strategy of King and SCLC

Goal: desegregation ( critics said it was just a simulation of mainsstream standards) of institutions and public life ( and later economic justice) Strategy: Public pressure and media exposure via strategic acts of nonviolent resistance Tactics: boycotts, protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, marches, speechees, letters, lobbying, litigation (through the courts- Brown v. Board of Education)

"Conscious Rap"

Hip Hop has a history of advocacy Late 80's- a lot of conscious rap- a lot about identity ex) Public enemy A Tribe Called Quest

Does Brand Activism Make a Difference?

In particular, through spotlighting and framing. Sometimes brand activism can be a distraction and an obstacle to movement goals. Sometimes brand activism, when it is poorly done, can reflect poorly on the brand and the cause.

Gangsta and Commercialism

In the 90s- hip hop finally gained commercial power But there was pros and cons The audience grew enormously Largest audience share became young white males The market rewarded exploitative, exaggerated and sensationalized " ghetto realism" (violence, misogyny) It was marketable Another cons was that it dichotomized the genre into "gangsta" vs. "conscious rap"

How do musicians play a role?

Independent voices Voices of the people Gifted communicators (subtle and profound ways)

When is corporate or brand activism successful?

It depends on how you define success and for whom: for the company? For the cause/community/policy? In cause marketing efforts, it also depends on brand fit, CSR congruence and issue salience.

example of framing

John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" frames anti-war movement as pro-peace movement

Many Factors of Interpretation and Persuasion

Lyrics Artist history. Image Voice Sound of the music Genres and their musical codes Performance Audience and setting- who is there?

How is spotlighting influential?

Merely by speaking for or representing an issue or cause, celebrity activists perform an agenda-setting function of media. This refers to the ability of the media to influence the public's perception of what is important and worth thinking and talking about

Malcolm X and Black Power

More confrontational Distrustful of integration as a goal Disillusioned with nonviolence as tactic Distrustful of white good will Emphasis on black consciousness and Africa and african diaspora as source of identity Ideas of self-determination in cultural terms and economic terms

frameworks of expression

Movements can provide a context and subject for new art How art can provide visualization and feeling for is what otherwise abstract helping to focus the problems, who is affected and who belongs, and possible solutions

The black power movement legitimized other modes of communication

Music became a way as a channel for education during the balck power movement Time to establish black identity that is unique and different from whites Tried to develop cultural identity to reconstruct the narrative in a repetitive manner Social movements are usually led by young folks We like to think of ourselves in this "post racial space" but our civil rights are still being shaved away.

In the 60s and 70s

Music was an important "expressive framework" for all of these movements, especially the civil rights and anti-war movements

Mississippi Goddam

Nina Simone 1964 Repsonse to the Birmingham church bombings and assassination of civil rights leader, Medgar Evers. Song's message is explicit Not released as a single Not so subtle Showtune sound- not a gospel tune We are tired of "going slow"

Soul as Natural Blackness

Nina Simone→ artists consciously letting hair grow to embrace black identity James Brown→ reluctant to get involved - commercial risks of speaking out

Are celebrities selling more than just music?

Of course, yes, and in some cases, they're selling a lot more than sex appeal, fashion or consumer products.

Role of Pop Stars on Twitter

One study about the following: Analysis of about 3 million tweets during height of BLM activism, hip hop celebs tweeted more about balck identity than marketing/self-promotion Four themes: Speaking to whites Solidarity Black is Beautiful Equality

issue advocacy

Practice of influencing decision makers or relevant publics to adopt attitudes or take actions on behalf of an issue or cause. Those who do so, attempt to influence via: Speaking for or on behalf of an issue, cause, idea, public, constituency, interest groups and organizations Or representing in other ways, those issues, causes, ideas, publics, constituencies, interest groups and organizations.

Public Relations

Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics

Activists Models

Radical seeks radical change in society, employ radical strategies and tactics Moderate- seek to reform current practices and structures using coactive persuasion. Discourse Treat opponents as equals Make existing changes Transformational- seek to change from the bottom up, starting with individual consciousness, attitudes and beliefs

Nina Simone

She was proclaimed the voice of the movement As the 60s progressed the feelings she displayed made her seem at time emotionally disturbed and at other times simply the most honest black women in America She embraced this transition to more militant black power movement

Commercial Risks for Nina

She wasn't able to get on these show (prime tv shows other black start were) because of her reputation

Believe it or not, some studies have shown that celebrities are often found to be more credible as advocates than politicians or advocacy groups.

Singers are demi-gods Besides their platform and ability to spotlight and frame an issue? Singers have mythic qualities Their voices are special, almost god-like Singers write their own scripts and are thus seen as authentic and independent Music itself has qualities to inspire

Expressive Framework

Social movement are based on the ability to move people to act based on shared attitudes Music can give a common feeling Shared identity Feeling of collective fate

Soul music and Black Power

Soul Music and black power R&B Took on a black identity Reflects aspects of balck power Emphasis on self-assertion, self-determination and positive self-concept musically more free, less concerned with commercial demands

Civil Rights Movement and music

Spiritual songs→ freedom songs This movement gets power when there's collective destiny involved (music has that power) It's a powerful medium because within context of the song, it can connect emotion and experiences in a way that no other medium can Songs could validate experiences

"Power will always make concessions to stay on top."

Taking something that has power and commercializing it but it could hijack that liberating movement Used it in the service of capitalism and exploiting black genius

Expressive frameworks of Civlil Rights Movement

Themes and messages- Freedom and deliverance, quality and justice (clear and moral choices Rhetoric: old testament narratives, biblical language, imagery and motifs i.e. gospel music Authority : the logic of american creed, ethos of divine justice Music and collective destiny - spirituals were revived as a tradition that symbolized a shared history of struggle and expressed a desire for freedom

How is brand activism like celebrity activism?

They are parallel not the same ex) Alicia Keys and Pepsi More personal Corporations are not people

social movement objectives

To attract and educate potential members To gain allegiance To mobilize them Keep them as members Speak to nonmembers, gain acceptance of bystanders Disarm opponents Music can play roles in all of these Activist Models

Catalyzing events for the BLM

Trayvon Martin, Ferguson (went viral and raised people's consciousness) Role of social media- exposure of injustice via video evidence, tool for organizing Role of active protest, "disruptive collective action" Decentralized, leaderless, movement and establishment of networks and coalitions Role of public figures (Colin Kaepernick, Nelly, Common, John Legend, Beyonce) in amplifying and expressing the movement Evolution of policy platforms with common "stance toward problems of internal structure" and "skepticism of the electoral arena" and of establishment figures in the Civil Rights Movement

-Nina Simone

Used her spotlight Created interesting frameworks through her music Eliciting curiosity of black people in themselves

Corporate Social Responsibility

a public relations philosophy based on the belief that an "organization should be a good citizen of the society or societies in which it operates" This plays out in the way a business or organization behaves in the social realm, among and beyond its many stakeholders. Doing the right thing can be reactive as well as proactive.

Spotlighting

ability to gain attention for an issue via public exposure. Pop stars often have large followings on social media, which can amplify the spotlight. Five out of the top 10 most followed on Instagram and six of the top 10 on Twitter are pop stars.

commercial speech

intended to "generate market transactions."

Motown

is the term that refers to the style of music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1960's. until motown was founded, music was stolen or out you out there, but wouldn't put your picture because of your race Motwon was innovative because they were the first to out black faces on albums White america understood the power of this creative expression

Political Speech

like individuals, orgs may also exercise free speech rights on matters of importance to them

folk music

made in the "context of everyday life" by regular people. also has a DIY (do-it-yourself) ethos that makes it seem less contrived and commercial than popular music Thus, folk music (bluegrass, rural blues, early punk, early hip-hop) often has a greater sense of "authenticity," i.e. of being true to itself, to its practitioners and its community

Music has inherent qualities that make it useful to movements

portable, easy to learn and remember, become "our own" folk and popular

political activism

related to struggles for power and representation (more risky)

Artists as Allies and Spokespersons for Social Movements

struggle for collective good or good of group -- Requires individual sacrifice -- Requires mix of instrumental strategies and expressive identities -- Mix of behavioral and attitudinal objectives

humanitarian activism

that related to those in need

The way that celebrity activists speak about or represent the issue performs an issue-framing function of the media

the way an issue might be defined and understood.