Biljana Rajchinova-Nikolova. HIP HOP AND RAP MUSIC AS PROVOCATION AND INSPIRATION FOR 8 MILE FILM
(To the 8 MILE film, directed by Curtis Henson, written by Scott Silver, starring: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mackie Pfeiffer, photography by Rodrigo Prieto, USA/Germany 2002)
ISSN 2955-2206 (online)
УДК: 791-21:316.723-027.6
Biljana Rajchinova-Nikolova
HIP HOP AND RAP MUSIC AS PROVOCATION AND INSPIRATION FOR 8 MILE FILM
(To the 8 MILE film, directed by Curtis Henson, written by Scott Silver, starring: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mackie Pfeiffer, photography by Rodrigo Prieto, USA/Germany 2002)
Considering the principle of irreducibility, i.e., the insusceptibility of the hip hop subculture to sterile theoretical formulations, it is difficult to present it in a few words. For this occasion, however, some of its initial determinations will be enough so that we can "knowingly" dive into a refreshing perspective of the hip hop film 8 MILE, a distinctive story in the world of the seventh art. Through the film, we are to look at the identity-space-time relation from the perspective of 'the identity of man in space and time' (Borges, 1990: 141) and we are to try to answer the questions: Who am I?, and: What am I?, in the 'space: slum' – a real geographical space divided by the 8 Mile on a racial basis and in the 'space: hiphop scene'. Namely, in the research, the idea of highlighting (of the changes) of the identity of the rapper/actor in the 'space: slum' and in the 'space: hiphop scene' is relevant, as a reflection of continuous self-identification, self-discovery, and self-affirmation as a hero and winner. For this purpose, we are to use insights from imagology, postcolonial theory, and identity studies, those that explain identity through essentialist and constructivist concepts of identity.
Keywords: Subculture, hip hop culture, hip hop film, identity, space.
