Date of Award

3-24-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

First Advisor

Phillip Chidester

Abstract

As episodes of mass displacement become the subject of worldwide headlines, the news media discourse on refugees seems often to reduce the refugee experience to either depictions of helpless victims or threatening foreigners. However, dynamic media such as music can prove a useful avenue through which refugeeism may be creatively discussed in a new light. Utilizing a counternarrative lens, this thesis presents a textual analysis of music albums from K’naan, M.I.A., and Wyclef Jean, prominent refugee musicians who utilize global expressions of rap to address refugee experiences. Through both points of shared realities and individual perspectives, these artists engage in a music of refuge to challenge dominant narratives of refugees by adding human complexities and a sense of agency to their own stories.

Comments

Imported from Villela_ilstu_0092N_12363.pdf

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2023.20230711063203130745.999940

Page Count

148

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