G*d & Tupac

PLEASE NOTE -- ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE INCLINED TO JUMP AHEAD: WHILE THE REQUIRED TEXTS AND MEDIA LISTED IN THE SYLLABUS HAVE BEEN FINALIZED, THE ASSIGNMENTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MODIFIED BETWEEN NOW AND THE STARTING DATE OF CLASS; ALSO, IT IS EXPECTED THAT YOUR COMPLETION OF THE LISTED ASSIGNMENTS WILL INCLUDE AN ENGAGEMENT OF LECTURE MODULES THAT WILL BE POSTED WEEKLY.

Introductory Tupac Video

A rapper, recording artist, activist, and philosopher, Tupac Shakur has withstood the test of time as an icon through whom those who study him and his work are challenged to believe, think, live, and act differently.  This course will provide an in-depth introduction to the life and work of Tupac Shakur through an engagement with his music, his writings, writings about him, his family, and his faith.

Through this course, we will also delve into the prophetic nature of Tupac's work, remembering the critical stances to which he invites us even today.

Objectives

1. To gain an in-depth knowledge of the life and work of Tupac Shakur.
2. To gain a sense of the ways that Shakur’s legacy persists in the life and work of a contemporary rap artist and one who lives a life of activism in and through Tef Poe.
3. To engage a variety of interdisciplinary literatures, with an emphasis on primary and secondary historical material, to cull common religious principles and to articulate formulations of G*d.
4. To develop creative and integrative research skills that enable students to identify the strengths and limitations of traditional theologies and raciologies.
5. To imagine the common and distinct futures of rap and religion.

Course Requirements

• Completion of reading, viewing, and listening assignments -- including weekly lecture modules.
• Active participation, punctual attendance, and responsiveness to online prompts from teachers and fellow students. Note that you will be asked and expected to respond in various ways to the weekly lectures.  You will also be expected to respond to your peers' "The Man & The Music" prompts as well as to prompts indicated in the lecture modules.
• Online "The Man & The Music" discussion prompts for of one of the ten weeks of class. Select one Tupac song that connects to the themes for the week and the course.  Begin a discussion thread with the following (by Wednesday for the week you are presenting/prompting): (1) a youtube link to a version of the song you have selected.  (2) an explanation of why you have selected the song.  (3) historical, critical, and analytical contextualization of the song with respect to the time it was written and/or produced as well as the cultural context in which it was originally located.  (4) an explanation of how the song is related to the week's readings and media.  (5) a question prompt for your classmates that the song inspires.  (Those not presenting/prompting are expected to reply by Friday to the week's prompts.)
• "Legacy" presentations. Through a multimedia platform that you can post online and share with your peers by 1 March 2019 at 9pm: (1) identify what you believe to be the most important aspect of Tupac's legacy and explain why you believe it to be so; (2) articulate a thorough and descriptive articulation of Tupac's theoethics, drawing from course material; (3) imagine and evaluate the vision of justice Tupac -- and his legacy commend; (4) utilize and incorporate the interdisciplinary course materials; (5) creatively engage the online “classroom."
• Final papers are due at 9pm via email on 8 March. Each paper should CREATIVELY (in 15-20 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman Font, Chicago Citation Format): (1) identify and engage a theme connected to Tupac Shakur with a clear thesis that you support through the body of your writing; this theme should be distinct from what you engage as the most important aspect of Tupac's legacy in the "Legacy" presentations (2) identify and explain a working definition of G*d in relation to the readings and materials covered in the weeks prior, (3) identify and explain one expression of activism in the assigned readings and materials and how this expression relates to a) the theme you have identified, b) the definition of G*d you have provided and c) your understanding of Tupac's character, (4) reflect on the way music and/or artistry inform your sense of G*d and Tupac.

Evaluation

• You will be graded according to Iliff standards on a letter grading scale. For more information see: iliff.edu
• Your grade will be determined according to the following distribution:
• Preparedness, Participation, Attendance, Online Responsiveness: 40%
• "The Man & The Music": 20%
• "Legacy" Presentation: 20%
• Final Paper: 20%

Other Important Matters

1. DO NOT plagiarize! If you have any questions about whether or not what you are doing is plagiarism, go to www.iliff.edu.  If you are still unsure, ask before submitting your work.
2. If you are unable to complete the assignments due to physical or mental health reasons, please notify me.
3. Pick a form of citation. Indicate which form you will use.  Use it consistently.  For more information: www.iliff.edu .

Please see the Attached Syllabus for more details on assignments.