Date of Award

4-4-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Rhetoric and Writing

First Advisor

Heidi Harris

Abstract

Does rap music, rich in narratives and metaphors, play a role in shaping the values, beliefs, ideologies and subsequent behaviors of its listeners? We use narratives and proverbs to shape the values, morals, beliefs and subsequent behaviors of our children, so at what point in our lives do they stop functioning in the same manner? Can you recall the day or the moment when narratives no longer affected your belief systems and behaviors? The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not the narratives in rap music have an impact on the personal narratives of persons entering the criminal justice system. The study focuses on participants in Arkansas and utilizes the critical discourse analysis methodology to analyze the metaphors in the personal narratives of participants and the rap music that the participants consume to determine if there are similarities, which would make it possible to make assumptions about their behaviors.

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