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Virginia Tech

"Hear Dem Cryin:" Rastafari and Framing Processes in Reggae Music

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In social science, reality is too frequently conceived of from the point of view of European or American white men. I intend to examine the perceived realities and world-view of a marginalized oppressed group, the Rastafarians. The contemporary social movement literature focuses heavily on framing processes, how movement members portray their grievances to potential sympathizers. Reggae music is the most popular vehicle for the Rastafarians to disperse their world-view. This study explores how reggae music serves certain social movement functions for the Rastafarian movement. I seek to show that reggae music is indeed political and draws heavily from Rastafarian ideology. I will perform a content analysis of the lyrics of reggae music and identify the diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational framing used by the reggae artists.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Sociology
Department dc:contributor.department
Sociology
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2005

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Skopal, Edward William
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Kershaw, Terry
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Wimberley, Dale W.
  • Fine, Elizabeth C.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-06142005-091954
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33570

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Skopal, Edward William. "Hear Dem Cryin:" Rastafari and Framing Processes in Reggae Music. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33570