Lyricism Part 1.

This is one topic every MC finds them self inexorably debating about, so I thought I should cover it and share what I have observed.

Lyricist Lounge.

There are MC's who claim to "keep it real" and for them it means rapping about topics of daily struggles and hardships and this is what they coin as REALITY since the content is based on what everyone can see. Which is great but unfortunately, done to death plus it lacks insight and never engages the listener, MC’s who rap about space are also keeping it 'real' in their own whimsical way, just because someone used the word SPACE in his line does not mean that he is talking about it, he/she could be using a metaphor using space as a direct comparison to something, so even dungeon rappers aren't always talking hogwash. Besides, reality can be relative so let us please avoid using the term "keeping it real".

A key to good criticism in hip hop is listening and doing it well, I've heard people say "Big words don't make an MC tight", I agree with this statement but most of the time these people are unable to decode the message because they more than likely have no frame of reference for the word(s). I say, at least listen to HOW it used, what they are trying to communicate and whether or not that word was selected to sound intelligent and if you still fail to comprehend LOOK IT UP!!!. There are many aspects to this particular point but one thing I've learned is that people dislike being perplexed and so they are quick to say something is whack... Some even say it’s tight because it sounded so (a classic case of applauding at what you don't understand). Comprehension is, ergo, key before you can say some things are tight or not. So read listeners, have a good general knowledge and then analyse before you crush or applaud, besides, I thought hip hop heads were supposed to be the most informed listeners of music.

Right, now we come to the manner in which one can express a message. Good lyricists express themselves in the most unorthodox of ways with the use of picture painting vocabulary and/or puns or similes metaphors. Small tweaks to deliverance and vocab make a monumental difference here in other words, you can say you ''hurriedly went to the shop'' or alternatively say that you ''teleported to the shop'', it all depends on skill. Most MC's are too lazy to put effort to such tweaks as it requires a deeper understanding of language and description, that's why Proverb said MC's are teachers...get it?

My aim is to avoid making this long winded and endless, I shall end it here and continue once you have fully digested this...please feel free to share your opinions :-)....to be continued......part 2 coming soon!!

by: Donald Neosapien Mokgale 

Politics and Power

The aim of this essay is to elucidate the impact of the digital divide on the democracy and government of south. Furthermore, all concepts subordinate to the discourse – digital divide, e-democracy and e-government – will be delineated.

The New Digital Divide _Dana Blankenhorn 

The digital divide is not a concept endemic to one particular region. The implications of a digital divide further expand into politics, imprinting its influence on governments as well as the political system within a region. Furthermore, the digital divide can be seen a global network barrier that divides societies technological – societies being rural and urban.

The digital divide refers to a fissure in the spread of technology. Therefore the world can be seen as having two kinds of occupants: those who have access to information technology, such as the people in urban areas and those who do not have access to information technology. The latter is disadvantaged because they do not have 1: the ability to use modern information technology, and 2: They do not have means of acquiring new information almost spontaneously like people with access to IT in urban areas. “For example, a 1999 study showed that 86% of Internet delivery was to the 20 largest cities” (Margret. 2005). With the rise, and density of information technology, two new concepts we’re birthed: e-government and e-democracy.

E-government is the provision of government information and service by means of the internet and other computer sources (dictionary.com. 2009). This definition extends to, interface involving denizens and the government, in which, the Government would communicate with citizens in order to know their grievances or satisfaction with the governance. In South Africa it is common practice for the government to display statements based on government spending, in order to insure that no money is being over spent (however, corruption is an issue). Furthermore, the government provides information on how to obtain services such as child grant, citizenship and how to deal with the law. The disadvantage, however, is that people in the rural areas cannot access this information wirelessly. They have to wait to be informed Therefore, making eGovernment another element that contributes to the digital divide.

eDemocracy exists as a concept to raise the partaking of citizens in social, economic and political debates and decision making through electronic communication mediums – social networks particularly. eDemocracy reflects on Democracy which seeks to fulfil the idea of “peoples rule” in which Government policies are based on the needs of the people . The disadvantage of eDemocracy is the over-saturation of opinions – especially when they are opposing. Furthermore, (Nkosi. 2013) a general apathy to participate contributes to the disadvantages. As, some people think that there is not much to gain from engaging in discussion about government or with interaction with the government, and those without the means to communicate electronically are left bellowing in the ignorance about the occurrences in the country and their voices are not heard.

eGovernment and eDemocracy are both , in a sense practical. However the implications are not as far reaching as they should be because they both contribute to the digital divide here in South Africa. On the one hand, urban areas have access to communication mediums which allow for participation of the civil society in government. With freedom of speech being the back bone eDemocracy has a firm foundation in that people are free to voice their discontent with the system at any given time as long as it is relevant to South Africa. However, the problem begins with the lack of access to the internet in rural areas. This hinders the platform for debate as they will not be able to participate in discussions. For example, the debate about the secrecy bill has faced much opposition on the internet and those with the utensils to communicate their frustration with the possible implementation do so... However, people in the rural areas will not be able to engage in the debate because the digital divide has disadvantaged them.

The digital divide has polarized South Africa, just as it implicates. Therefore excluding people from important issues in and around the country, especially in places where the technology is not present

Bibliography

Dictionary.com. 2013. E-government. available http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/E-Government. [ Accessed 19 April 2013]

Mphidi, Hamilton. Digital divide and e-governance

In South Africa.  http://www.ais.up.ac.za/digi/docs/mphidi_present.pdf.  [ Accessed 19 April 2013]

Rousse, Margret. 2005. Digital divide. Available http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/definition/digital-divide.  [ Accessed 19 April 2013]

South African Government services.. 2013.  South African Government services.  availabe http://www.services.gov.za/services/content/Home/en_ZA. [Accessed 19 April 2013]

Tshabalala, N. 2013. Interview. Interviewed by C. Ncube. Interminable exegesis. CarlosNcube.blogspot.com

Network Society

T

he network society is a product of the rapid expansion of information technology which now controls how social political and economic activities are performed through networks previously or recently established. Information, too, has become easy to obtain, with methods of obtaining information have become easier through the use of mobile and wireless technology such as: cell phones. Cell phones. Cell phones are capable of working in rural areas. Therefore one agrees with the statement “Mobile and wireless technology will spread the network society to the most remote places and deepest pores of the world”. (VanDijk, 2006:59).

Network society. By Daniel.

A network society is a collection of networks unified through different nodes. it is by the person, that the structural integrity of the network society is strengthened . Network societies, further, allow for the deconstruction of the space barrier in which, people far apart, geographically – one in Cape Town and the other in Cairo – they can communicate without time or space delaying their flow of information. “In the Network Society, there is increased interaction between individuals, using various media” (Loucks, D. 2010). This media can range from Skype to Facebook as well as twitter. Passed the point of the Individual exists the mass society.

Mass society may be described as a “real virtuality” (Castells, M. 2005:4-20).  In that, the shared information online by various people possessed elements of what goes on in the physical society. Such elements being: symbols or even ideas. If a group of people are hosting an online protest and they use the peace symbol as the object of the protest it would be the use of what they identify with, in reality as well as in real virtuality. However, there are elements such as alienation linked to the mass society and an irrational interest in popular culture over high culture. Thus a network society, through the use of social networks (new media being the main theme) promotes advancements to how the people interact.

Mobile technology is advancing our ability to connect and share information in ways that were not possible even a couple of years ago (Lyon, E. 2010). It is now easy for people to gain information about events as they happen, where ever they are due to the rise of mobile technology. Furthermore, modes of the transportation of information such as the Email is accessible on hand-held devices along with social networks which ultimately means that people can interact on the go and share information almost instantly. The lives of people are not idle it is therefore, more convenient, for them to use mobile technology “most of the world actually prefers using the internet on their mobile devices than seated at a computer” (Souza, J. 2012).

The establishment of networks paved the way for a network society and mobile technology simplified the access to internet and people through more flexible means of communication such as microelectronics. These micro electronics are not bound by geography, therefore it is not the question on how wireless technology will spread into the remote areas of the world, and rather it is when. Because networks themselves still need to be established in these remote areas. Already, rural areas can communicate via cell phones and telephones. Soon, the internet will find its way to rural areas.

The advent of networks and mobile technology increase the reach of network societies throughout the globe. It is by this logic that one concludes; “Mobile and wireless technology will spread the network society to the most remote places and deepest pores of the world”. (Van Dijk, 2006:59).

Bibliography

Castells, M and Cardoso, G. 2005. The Network Society, from Knowledge to Policy. http://www.umass.edu/digitalcenter/research/pdfs/JF_NetworkSociety.pdf. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

 Loucks, D. 2010. The Network Society: I could be connected to the President! (or an Eskimo!).  http://learn.bowdoin.edu/courses/soc022-danica-loucks/tag/network-society/. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

Lyon, E. 2010.  Mobile Tech’s Influence in a Network Society.   http://sparxoo.com/2010/04/27/mobile-techs-influence-in-a-network-society/. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

Souza, J. 2013 The Impact of Mobile Technology on Social Media Platforms: What’s Coming? http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/impact-mobile-technology-social-media-platforms-whats-coming/. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

UNDP. 2011. Mobile Technologies and Empowerment: Enhancing human development through participation and innovation. http://www.undpegov.org/mgov-primer.html. [Accessed 28 March 2013]