hi my name is Amara Pope if I were to come down today and introduce myself to
come down today and introduce myself to
come down today and introduce myself to you and ask you who are you and where
you and ask you who are you and where
you and ask you who are you and where are you from
are you from
are you from what would you say what is your
what would you say what is your
what would you say what is your knee-jerk response I myself am often
knee-jerk response I myself am often
knee-jerk response I myself am often asked the question where are you from
asked the question where are you from
asked the question where are you from and where are you really from I never
and where are you really from I never
and where are you really from I never really noticed it before not until I was
really noticed it before not until I was
really noticed it before not until I was asked this question over and over again
asked this question over and over again
asked this question over and over again until I had my answer rehearsed hi my
until I had my answer rehearsed hi my
until I had my answer rehearsed hi my name is Amara and I’m from Elmira my
name is Amara and I’m from Elmira my
name is Amara and I’m from Elmira my parents are from Trinidad and my
parents are from Trinidad and my
parents are from Trinidad and my great-grandparents are from India
great-grandparents are from India
great-grandparents are from India I myself was born in Scarborough Ontario
I myself was born in Scarborough Ontario
I myself was born in Scarborough Ontario whoa so most people don’t realize the
whoa so most people don’t realize the
whoa so most people don’t realize the implications of asking me the question
implications of asking me the question
implications of asking me the question where are you really from a lot of
where are you really from a lot of
where are you really from a lot of minority people are faced with these
minority people are faced with these
minority people are faced with these slight interrogations to legitimize who
slight interrogations to legitimize who
slight interrogations to legitimize who they are and how they got to where they
they are and how they got to where they
they are and how they got to where they are today I’m here today to talk to you
are today I’m here today to talk to you
are today I’m here today to talk to you about how that question where are you
about how that question where are you
about how that question where are you really from has affected me my research
really from has affected me my research
really from has affected me my research and my current work today after recently
and my current work today after recently
and my current work today after recently moving to Vancouver I began to question
moving to Vancouver I began to question
moving to Vancouver I began to question where is home to me I realized that all
where is home to me I realized that all
where is home to me I realized that all of us are hybrids affected by many
of us are hybrids affected by many
of us are hybrids affected by many different communities and cultures and
different communities and cultures and
different communities and cultures and those cultures and communities are hard
those cultures and communities are hard
those cultures and communities are hard to isolate and define themselves take
to isolate and define themselves take
to isolate and define themselves take for example the community of Canada what
for example the community of Canada what
for example the community of Canada what does it mean to be Canadian do we have
does it mean to be Canadian do we have
does it mean to be Canadian do we have to support the maple leafs drink maple
to support the maple leafs drink maple
to support the maple leafs drink maple syrup and eat beaver tails
syrup and eat beaver tails
syrup and eat beaver tails I mean I am a Canadian that really loves
I mean I am a Canadian that really loves
I mean I am a Canadian that really loves her Caesars but I don’t think that’s
her Caesars but I don’t think that’s
her Caesars but I don’t think that’s what defines what a Canadian is I myself
what defines what a Canadian is I myself
what defines what a Canadian is I myself see Canadians as a multicultural
see Canadians as a multicultural
see Canadians as a multicultural community a Canadian to me can be so
community a Canadian to me can be so
community a Canadian to me can be so many different things wrapped into one I
many different things wrapped into one I
many different things wrapped into one I myself I’m Canadian I was born in Canada
myself I’m Canadian I was born in Canada
myself I’m Canadian I was born in Canada why is that not enough what makes
why is that not enough what makes
why is that not enough what makes someone more Canadian than me is it
someone more Canadian than me is it
someone more Canadian than me is it based on race ethnicity background I
based on race ethnicity background I
based on race ethnicity background I realized that many people face the
realized that many people face the
realized that many people face the situation of where are you really from
situation of where are you really from
situation of where are you really from every day even the musical artist Drake
every day even the musical artist Drake
every day even the musical artist Drake who some of you may know and multiple
who some of you may know and multiple
who some of you may know and multiple and multiple interviews and music videos
and multiple interviews and music videos
and multiple interviews and music videos he actually describes what it’s like to
he actually describes what it’s like to
he actually describes what it’s like to be a black Jewish child when he was
be a black Jewish child when he was
be a black Jewish child when he was growing up and a biracial hip-hop artist
growing up and a biracial hip-hop artist
growing up and a biracial hip-hop artist today as a biracial member of society
today as a biracial member of society
today as a biracial member of society Drake is immediately placed into a
Drake is immediately placed into a
Drake is immediately placed into a historical trajectory of immigration in
historical trajectory of immigration in
historical trajectory of immigration in a settler colonial context meaning he’s
a settler colonial context meaning he’s
a settler colonial context meaning he’s compared to other people of his
compared to other people of his
compared to other people of his demographic and within the genre of
demographic and within the genre of
demographic and within the genre of hip-hop itself he’s often seen as too
hip-hop itself he’s often seen as too
hip-hop itself he’s often seen as too black to be Jewish or too white to be a
black to be Jewish or too white to be a
black to be Jewish or too white to be a hip-hop artist his descriptions of not
hip-hop artist his descriptions of not
hip-hop artist his descriptions of not belonging and feeling authorized really
belonging and feeling authorized really
belonging and feeling authorized really resonated with me so during my master’s
resonated with me so during my master’s
resonated with me so during my master’s degree at Laurier I decided to create a
degree at Laurier I decided to create a
degree at Laurier I decided to create a study around Drake to explore the idea
study around Drake to explore the idea
study around Drake to explore the idea of a hybrid identity what it means to be
of a hybrid identity what it means to be
of a hybrid identity what it means to be a Canadian so I took three of his music
a Canadian so I took three of his music
a Canadian so I took three of his music videos and based on my own experience I
videos and based on my own experience I
videos and based on my own experience I explored the ways in which I was able to
explored the ways in which I was able to
explored the ways in which I was able to recognize how he performed different
recognize how he performed different
recognize how he performed different identities in different situations much
identities in different situations much
identities in different situations much like I do performing my Trinidadian
like I do performing my Trinidadian
like I do performing my Trinidadian lifestyle at home because of my trainee
lifestyle at home because of my trainee
lifestyle at home because of my trainee parents to the Western Canadian identity
parents to the Western Canadian identity
parents to the Western Canadian identity I explore every day whether it be at
I explore every day whether it be at
I explore every day whether it be at work or at school so the conclusion of
work or at school so the conclusion of
work or at school so the conclusion of my paper was a little contradictory I
my paper was a little contradictory I
my paper was a little contradictory I examine the ways in which he performed
examine the ways in which he performed
examine the ways in which he performed these identities based on his
these identities based on his
these identities based on his backgrounds and his experiences but he
backgrounds and his experiences but he
backgrounds and his experiences but he did so using a lot of stereotype
did so using a lot of stereotype
did so using a lot of stereotype in his music videos themselves so take
in his music videos themselves so take
in his music videos themselves so take for example the music video worst
for example the music video worst
for example the music video worst behavior he explores a fully American
behavior he explores a fully American
behavior he explores a fully American identity as it is based in Memphis where
identity as it is based in Memphis where
identity as it is based in Memphis where his dad was born and he drops the you
his dad was born and he drops the you
his dad was born and he drops the you from the spelling of the word behavior
from the spelling of the word behavior
from the spelling of the word behavior to again exemplify his American identity
to again exemplify his American identity
to again exemplify his American identity using new rags and chains to represent
using new rags and chains to represent
using new rags and chains to represent his hip-hop and black identity and
his hip-hop and black identity and
his hip-hop and black identity and started from the bottom though he
started from the bottom though he
started from the bottom though he represents a purely Canadian identity
represents a purely Canadian identity
represents a purely Canadian identity Torontonian to be exact
Torontonian to be exact
Torontonian to be exact using the Toronto Parks and Recreation
using the Toronto Parks and Recreation
using the Toronto Parks and Recreation sign at the beginning of the music video
sign at the beginning of the music video
sign at the beginning of the music video the Toronto skyline and he represents
the Toronto skyline and he represents
the Toronto skyline and he represents himself as a working-class member of
himself as a working-class member of
himself as a working-class member of society working in a Shoppers Drug Mart
society working in a Shoppers Drug Mart
society working in a Shoppers Drug Mart an hy fr for example he also represents
an hy fr for example he also represents
an hy fr for example he also represents a different side of his experiences as a
a different side of his experiences as a
a different side of his experiences as a Jewish member of society celebrating our
Jewish member of society celebrating our
Jewish member of society celebrating our bar mitzvah celebrating Jewish
bar mitzvah celebrating Jewish
bar mitzvah celebrating Jewish traditions themselves but then at the
traditions themselves but then at the
traditions themselves but then at the end toasting with glasses of champagne
end toasting with glasses of champagne
end toasting with glasses of champagne to his fellow high-class rap artists so
to his fellow high-class rap artists so
to his fellow high-class rap artists so I wanted to really explore and
I wanted to really explore and
I wanted to really explore and interrogate why he might have used
interrogate why he might have used
interrogate why he might have used stereotypes but I was critical of this
stereotypes but I was critical of this
stereotypes but I was critical of this he may be furthering the stairs
he may be furthering the stairs
he may be furthering the stairs stereotypes of these communities but he
stereotypes of these communities but he
stereotypes of these communities but he was also very aware of the platform in
was also very aware of the platform in
was also very aware of the platform in which his music videos were disseminated
which his music videos were disseminated
which his music videos were disseminated on YouTube to an international audience
on YouTube to an international audience
on YouTube to an international audience so to be understood he used stereotypes
so to be understood he used stereotypes
so to be understood he used stereotypes to align themselves with these
to align themselves with these
to align themselves with these communities and in a way also gain more
communities and in a way also gain more
communities and in a way also gain more visibility for these communities
visibility for these communities
visibility for these communities themselves to an international audience
themselves to an international audience
themselves to an international audience online so in exploring the study with
online so in exploring the study with
online so in exploring the study with Drake and his hybridity I learned about
Drake and his hybridity I learned about
Drake and his hybridity I learned about him and also learned about more about my
him and also learned about more about my
him and also learned about more about my own hybridity itself
own hybridity itself
own hybridity itself and when I reflected on the paper that I
and when I reflected on the paper that I
and when I reflected on the paper that I created for my master’s degree I
created for my master’s degree I
created for my master’s degree I realized this paper encapsulate smyth
realized this paper encapsulate smyth
realized this paper encapsulate smyth ability itself all of my interests and
ability itself all of my interests and
ability itself all of my interests and my skills and my educational background
my skills and my educational background
my skills and my educational background kind of looped into one whether that be
kind of looped into one whether that be
kind of looped into one whether that be my interest in hip-hop and in Drake or
my interest in hip-hop and in Drake or
my interest in hip-hop and in Drake or my academic background
my academic background
my academic background I got a Bachelors of Arts degree with
I got a Bachelors of Arts degree with
I got a Bachelors of Arts degree with the joint honours in fine arts and in
the joint honours in fine arts and in
the joint honours in fine arts and in English from the University of Waterloo
English from the University of Waterloo
English from the University of Waterloo so I analyzed music videos through the
so I analyzed music videos through the
so I analyzed music videos through the visual and the linguistic aspects of the
visual and the linguistic aspects of the
visual and the linguistic aspects of the music videos themselves from my Masters
music videos themselves from my Masters
music videos themselves from my Masters of Arts degree at Laurier I continued to
of Arts degree at Laurier I continued to
of Arts degree at Laurier I continued to explore music videos on an online
explore music videos on an online
explore music videos on an online platform
platform
platform and my current PhD studies in Western
and my current PhD studies in Western
and my current PhD studies in Western University where I’m in my second year I
University where I’m in my second year I
University where I’m in my second year I began to explore the role of musical
began to explore the role of musical
began to explore the role of musical artists and how they can affect society
artists and how they can affect society
artists and how they can affect society today and I was really interested in
today and I was really interested in
today and I was really interested in music videos the ways in which musical
music videos the ways in which musical
music videos the ways in which musical artists kind of created their persona or
artists kind of created their persona or
artists kind of created their persona or their star image through images sounds
their star image through images sounds
their star image through images sounds lyrics I found that music videos
lyrics I found that music videos
lyrics I found that music videos themselves are both a tool for
themselves are both a tool for
themselves are both a tool for advertising and a vehicle for
advertising and a vehicle for
advertising and a vehicle for communication Drake was strategic in
communication Drake was strategic in
communication Drake was strategic in using music videos to describe his
using music videos to describe his
using music videos to describe his hybrid identity he wanted to communicate
hybrid identity he wanted to communicate
hybrid identity he wanted to communicate his experiences but he also uses this as
his experiences but he also uses this as
his experiences but he also uses this as a marketing strategy to connect to many
a marketing strategy to connect to many
a marketing strategy to connect to many different people in many communities and
different people in many communities and
different people in many communities and build his fan base I was also interested
build his fan base I was also interested
build his fan base I was also interested in hip-hop itself hip hop artists are
in hip-hop itself hip hop artists are
in hip-hop itself hip hop artists are often challenged for being inauthentic
often challenged for being inauthentic
often challenged for being inauthentic but they speak from a purse first-person
but they speak from a purse first-person
but they speak from a purse first-person perspective as a the genre itself
perspective as a the genre itself
perspective as a the genre itself creates a space for them to reflect on
creates a space for them to reflect on
creates a space for them to reflect on their challenges and hardships and I was
their challenges and hardships and I was
their challenges and hardships and I was interested in Drake because Drake became
interested in Drake because Drake became
interested in Drake because Drake became the perfect case study for me to explore
the perfect case study for me to explore
the perfect case study for me to explore what it was like to be biracial
what it was like to be biracial
what it was like to be biracial binational of low class members society
binational of low class members society
binational of low class members society a high class member of society and he’s
a high class member of society and he’s
a high class member of society and he’s Jewish music videos themselves became a
Jewish music videos themselves became a
Jewish music videos themselves became a window into different cultures and
window into different cultures and
window into different cultures and communities while exploring the music
communities while exploring the music
communities while exploring the music artists Drake but it was really
artists Drake but it was really
artists Drake but it was really important to me that it was a paper
important to me that it was a paper
important to me that it was a paper written with academic rigor but it also
written with academic rigor but it also
written with academic rigor but it also reached the everyday person who felt as
reached the everyday person who felt as
reached the everyday person who felt as if they didn’t belong or felt as if they
if they didn’t belong or felt as if they
if they didn’t belong or felt as if they were isolated from the rest of their
were isolated from the rest of their
were isolated from the rest of their communities they felt as if they
communities they felt as if they
communities they felt as if they belonged to too many places at once so
belonged to too many places at once so
belonged to too many places at once so what I did was I presented my paper at
what I did was I presented my paper at
what I did was I presented my paper at multiple conferences across Canada and
multiple conferences across Canada and
multiple conferences across Canada and gained the feedback I needed from
gained the feedback I needed from
gained the feedback I needed from academics to strengthen my paper I was
academics to strengthen my paper I was
academics to strengthen my paper I was lucky enough to get it published by
lucky enough to get it published by
lucky enough to get it published by Simon Fraser University where I then
Simon Fraser University where I then
Simon Fraser University where I then mean the credibility I needed to reach
mean the credibility I needed to reach
mean the credibility I needed to reach out to many media outlets I reached out
out to many media outlets I reached out
out to many media outlets I reached out to both academic and non-academic media
to both academic and non-academic media
to both academic and non-academic media outlets alike and was lucky enough to
outlets alike and was lucky enough to
outlets alike and was lucky enough to get it reviewed in the Toronto Star and
get it reviewed in the Toronto Star and
get it reviewed in the Toronto Star and interview snowballed from there I was
interview snowballed from there I was
interview snowballed from there I was interviewed in Toronto Star and I even
interviewed in Toronto Star and I even
interviewed in Toronto Star and I even got to meet Ben Mulrooney who I have a
got to meet Ben Mulrooney who I have a
got to meet Ben Mulrooney who I have a major crush on and I my interviews
major crush on and I my interviews
major crush on and I my interviews ranged from CBC Radio 2
ranged from CBC Radio 2
ranged from CBC Radio 2 virgin radio asking me questions about
virgin radio asking me questions about
virgin radio asking me questions about my academic methodology and who I want
my academic methodology and who I want
my academic methodology and who I want to Drake to date next it was a great
to Drake to date next it was a great
to Drake to date next it was a great combination of my academic scholarly
combination of my academic scholarly
combination of my academic scholarly side and my fangirl side so I used my
side and my fangirl side so I used my
side and my fangirl side so I used my own hybridity to carve out a future for
own hybridity to carve out a future for
own hybridity to carve out a future for myself in an academic and non-academic
myself in an academic and non-academic
myself in an academic and non-academic realm I currently am a 23 year old PhD
realm I currently am a 23 year old PhD
realm I currently am a 23 year old PhD student at Western University and I
student at Western University and I
student at Western University and I continue to explore musical artists as
continue to explore musical artists as
continue to explore musical artists as entrepreneurs the ways in which they
entrepreneurs the ways in which they
entrepreneurs the ways in which they affect our economy affect us culturally
affect our economy affect us culturally
affect our economy affect us culturally through our language and I also am
through our language and I also am
through our language and I also am exploring a non academic side where I am
exploring a non academic side where I am
exploring a non academic side where I am pursuing a career as a strategic Account
pursuing a career as a strategic Account
pursuing a career as a strategic Account Manager at I a nun and I currently am
Manager at I a nun and I currently am
Manager at I a nun and I currently am exploring my interests in marketing and
exploring my interests in marketing and
exploring my interests in marketing and communications on that now and academic
communications on that now and academic
communications on that now and academic side so I challenge you to really
side so I challenge you to really
side so I challenge you to really reflect on your own unique hybridity you
reflect on your own unique hybridity you
reflect on your own unique hybridity you yourself have your own unique
yourself have your own unique
yourself have your own unique experiences and skill sets so I want you
experiences and skill sets so I want you
experiences and skill sets so I want you to take that those skillsets and those
to take that those skillsets and those
to take that those skillsets and those experiences and carve out a future for
experiences and carve out a future for
experiences and carve out a future for yourself whether that be in academia are
yourself whether that be in academia are
yourself whether that be in academia are not within academia you see the world
not within academia you see the world
not within academia you see the world through your own perspectives and I want
through your own perspectives and I want
through your own perspectives and I want you to share that with other people I
you to share that with other people I
you to share that with other people I want them to see the world through your
want them to see the world through your
want them to see the world through your eyes thank you
eyes thank you
eyes thank you [Applause]
”
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