Welcome!
This course examines diversity and changes in American values through the context of the life and works of Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. The class serves as an introduction to American Studies, and will introduce students to various types of primary sources and to different methods of reading and analyzing such materials.
Using social and analytical categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, and class, the course examines several critical periods in US history in the context of the artist's experiences, shared through music, lyrics, interviews, and writings.
The course will be offered to 7th and 8th grade students in the second and third trimesters. Class size is limited to 10 students per trimester. Acceptance into the class will be based on academic and behavioral standings, as well as the potential to meaningfully contribute to discussions. This will be determined by all necessary teachers.
The primary text used in the class will be Decoded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. This is the intimate, first-person chronicle of his life and work in Brooklyn's notorious Marcy Projects. Told through lyrics, images and personal narrative, "Decoded" shares the story of Jay-Z's life, his background, influences and the artistic process that shapes his work. Each chapter features a highly personal narrative section followed by a visually captivating selection of his most famous and provocative lyrics underlining the chapter's themes, along with Jay-Z's own 'decoding' of each lyric, uncovering the wordplay and stories behind the song. This is a brilliant insight into the art and poetry of hip-hop, as well as the life of one of the genre's greatest artists.
