Nostalgia Inducing Music Videos

I've been using a lot of Hip Hop and other music videos in my lessons to provoke discussions about US pop culture and regionalism. As today I'm in the process of uploading a few of these videos to my personal online teaching module, accessed through http://digicampus.upb.edu.co/moodle/, I wanted to share some of them with you. This is good practice for me as I learn to play with HTML text code.

"Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

Discussion questions:
1) Why is New York City important? What are its major industries? Should we consider many New Yorkers correct in claiming that their city is the "Center of the Universe?"
2) Why has Jay-Z become so popular, in the US and globally? Is the magazine Rolling Stone correct in suggesting that Jay-Z may be the "King of America?" If not, identify some other US media moguls, and indicate why they are significant.
3) What do this song and video represent about the US narrative of "rags to riches?" Is this popular mythology merely mythology or based on any degree of truth?



"Cali Love" by Tyga

Discussion questions:
1) What sort of imagery does this video reveal about California? Are the aesthetics of Los Angeles appealing or rough to the eye? Describe the the distinctive features of the city design you see here.
2) How are the physical appearance, economy, and popular culture of California different from those of other states and regions of the United States?



"My Block" by Scarface

Discussion Questions:
1) This video is supposed to depict the story of Scarface's upbringing in Houston, Texas. Does the video reveal anything distinctive about the geographic characteristics, city structure, or demographic qualities of this city, or the US South?
2) Comment on any issues of racism, racial conflict, and civil rights history you think are brought up by the video (think back to the discussion about Martin Luther King and the US Civil Rights Movement for guidance).
3) Comment on your perceptions of growing up as an African American in the US South.



"Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus

Discussion Questions:
1) This was one of the most successful US songs of 2009-2010. In my perception, across the United States, it seemed to have the power to unite people largely regardless of gender or age group. Why do you think this song holds such a widespread appeal across the US viewership?
2) What imagery about US personal aesthetics and landscapes is revealed in this video? In your opinion, do the youthful but rather "cowboy" and "country" feels of this video represent the US well, as a whole?


Thanks for tuning in!