MFA

thesisThe purpose of this research was to understand the ideas and motivations behind hip hop as artistic practice to inform contemporary artistic discourse. The research identifies the historical beginnings of the four elements of the hip hop arts which are the DJ, the MC, the Breakdancer and the Graff Writer as well as black American artistic influences. This research includes the concept of "cool" as it came into American hip hop discourse through the African based cool aesthetic as opposed to the European model. Research methods included a performance theater work titled, Another Amazing Adventure of the Mercenaries Against Calculated Corruption; episode VII: "Mission Accomplished" that was performed in the Hayes Christensen Theatre in the Marriott Center for Dance on the University of Utah campus in Fall of 2006. The conclusion states that the hip hop artistic model can serve as a framework for the contemporary artist by which dynamic, exciting work can be created