This week in comm we talked about Cultural Studies and Cultural Hegemony. It's mostly about the dominant groups in society and how they influence those in the lower part of the sociopolitical heirarchy.

I like the part about Counter-Hegemony, how those in the lower part of the social pyramid challenge those in the upper half. It reminds me of this band I listen to, Rage Against the Machine. For those who don't know about them, they're a rap-metal/grunge band. They are of Hispanic/South American descent. Since they're South American, they know a lot about oppression and abuse by Caucasians, specifically, Americans. And they trace back their anger to the colonial era when Americans abused their race. With their passion for their people and to fight for them, they became activists and stood ground with their music. Most of their lyrics are straight to the point and hyper-expressive of anger and rage. You can infer it from their name, rage against the machine/ the man. Most of their music videos include content and tell stories of past protests like the "Shining Path" or Che Guevara, anything or anyone that stood up against oppression. Also, they criticize political figures with bad names like the Bushes. One of the things they were so mad about was capitalism, corporate America.

So in one of their music videos, they staged one of the most epic live performances ever. They played in front of Wall Street, the forefront of business and economics in America and the World. The thing is, it was unauthorized and live. So they just played and people went crazy and the authorities went haywire.

There was also this other concert where it was almost war. It was also unauthorized so the police came to arrest the band. But the audience fought back and went on a rampage. So fire hoses, hornets' nests and tear gas started to come out.

Of course in most of their shows, the band ended up getting up arrested but it didn't matter. The thing was, even if they got arrested, they got the message through the people, so in the end, everybody one, except those in power.

One of the most interesting observations I could come up with is the influence they had and how it didn't matter what race you were. The band spoke of the "chosen whites" and hated white people. But even white people felt for them and fought for their cause. What the band said made sense to all kinds of people. I'd say Rage Against the Machine is one example of Cultural Hegemony you can't discount. People of all status and color started to follow them. And they inflicted that much damage that the "chosen whites" couldn't overlook them.

Even I was convinced. Right now I have this thing with capitalism and discrimination. We ain't tight. And I got it all from listening to RATM. "Some of those that run forces are the same that burn crosses. Some of those that burn crosses are the same that run office... So f*** you I won't do what you tell me."
I'll never forget those words. You could say I'm a victim of Cultural Hegemony. RATM appealed to their people, the enemies and even those who weren't part of the "war".

Whatever that meant, I know that was Cultural Hegemony. Using media against those that run it, and in RATM's case, the "chosen whites". Except this one was a little extreme, far from the Cosby Show or Walt Disney and its princesses. This was like a XM-109 sniper rifle with a laser pointer if it was automatic shot at point-blank range at 500 rounds per minute.