Rap Compositions as the Type of Social and Political Reflection in Contemporary Russian Culture (2009-2013)

<p>During the last five years Russian culture and Russian society in whole became much politicized. The high level of politicization can be considered as a result of an increase of politicization of Russian society at the end of 2008. Russian literary art at the second half of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s touch socio-political issues more often than before. An interest of this research is focused on contemporary Russian rap compositions and the hypothesis is that contemporary Russian rap compositions containing socio-political reflection stand out of Russian rap culture for its diversity of means of expression and methods of artist&rsquo;s self-positioning.</p><p>The object of this study is the Russian rap culture in 2009-2013. This period is notable for striking development of politicization of rap culture. At the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 rap assumes a role of socio-political criticism expression. The subject of this study is socio-political reflection and its means of expression in contemporary Russian rap music. The purpose of the research was to show how rap as a form of socio-political reflection was developing in contemporary Russian culture since 2009 till 2013. To achieve the goal several tasks were completed. Firstly, the development of Soviet and Russian politicized literature and rock music was explored. Secondly, the evolution of rap music in Russia and abroad was shown. Thirdly, the rhetorical tools of rap compositions, self-identification of a lyrical hero, and artist&rsquo;s media positioning were discovered. Analytical part of the work deals with the topological sphere of rap-compositions, then, with the methods of self-identification of a lyrical hero, and finally, with peculiarities of media-positioning. Politicized and non-politicized rap cultures were compared. Thus, this work shows the development of contemporary Russian rap culture, emphasizes its specificity and demonstrates an influence of social and political reflection on it.</p><p>Analytical part shows characteristic property of contemporary politicized Russian rap compositions and gives an opportunity to think of its distinctions from non-politicized Russian rap culture and American rap tradition. This paper deals with contemporary Russian rap compositions and explores how the author&rsquo;s interest in socio-political themes influences it. Rap compositions that touch socio-political questions, may be united as a peculiar tradition of Russian rap culture because of the diversity of methods of expression and targeting. Russian Rap culture finds its background in American, but social and political themes and a process of cultural development cause its transformation.</p><p>This work plays an important role in the research of the Russian culture in general and Russian rap culture in particular. The investigation demonstrates the development of one of the most popular music genres and makes us think of rap music as an instrument of political influence. Rap music in contemporary Russian culture can be considered as a relevant way to discuss actual problems of the country.&nbsp;</p>