{"id":1252,"date":"2019-03-24T18:22:26","date_gmt":"2019-03-24T18:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wri-101k-s19.andrewrippeon.com\/blog\/?p=1252"},"modified":"2019-03-24T18:22:28","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T18:22:28","slug":"big-freedia-defying-stereotypes-and-expressing-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wri-101k-s19.andrewrippeon.com\/blog\/writing-project-2-voice-in-its-cultural-contexts-and-consequences\/big-freedia-defying-stereotypes-and-expressing-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Freedia: Defying Stereotypes and Expressing Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

“That\u2019s what I\u2019m about, making everybody have a good time: let your hair down, have fun, let\u2019s party, shake your ass, do whatever you do. It doesn\u2019t matter how you look, your creed, your color, let\u2019s do it.”<\/em> – Big Freedia<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Stereotyping can be based on background, class, race, or gender. In The Conversation Article \u201cVoice Control,\u201d Trevor Cox, a professor of Acoustic Engineering, describes how machine learning echoes today\u2019s culture and human stereotypes. When translating the Turkish phrases \u201co bir doktor\u201d and \u201co bir hem\u015fire\u201d into English, the Google service returns \u201che is a doctor\u201d and \u201cshe is a nurse.\u201d However, \u201co\u201d is a gender-neutral, third person pronoun in the Turkish language. The computer is influenced by humans, demonstrating the relevance of formulating stereotyping by using rules of thumb; in this case, assuming gender roles in careers (Cox). Using rules of thumb is particularly influential when it comes to labeling voice with a gender. Stereotyping how a male or a female \u201cshould\u201d sound influences gender pronoun labels, ultimately leading to bias and altering the way a person is perceived. Big Freedia, a bounce artist from New Orleans, is regularly categorized by her sexuality based on her voice and music. In a HuffPost Live interview focused on Big Freedia\u2019s dislike of categorization by gender identity, Big Freedia expresses how people are always trying to place others in categories, while she tries to be herself and shed light beyond predispositions made about her (Wong). Today, she uses bounce music as an outlet to express herself. Voice is an important part of her identity that she takes pride in keeping true to herself. The ability for her expression to operate through voice and choreography in music videos, such as \u201cExplode,\u201d is accomplished uniquely. Her music has entered into the limelight through Beyonce and Drake sampling her voice. Sampling voice and placing it in a separate context causes her motives and distinct bounce style to be expressed differently. Her message must operate solely through her voice because she is not physically represented. Big Freedia defines what it means to defy the societal norms and stereotypes of voice, while conversely demonstrates the power of using voice to influence others to be themselves, no matter their background, race, or gender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before analyzing Big Freedia\u2019s message operation in her music, it is important to understand who she is, what bounce music is, and why she is so passionate about her work. Her life story, simply stated, is a gay choirboy turned bounce rapper. Her title \u201cQueen of Bounce\u201d stems from how she has popularized the genre. When bounce first evolved two decades ago, Big Freedia led the way to represent the new genre for New Orleans, her hometown. Bounce creates an upbeat twist on hip-hop with notable features including rapid-fire beats and booty-shaking. The lyrics remain simple to leave room for the bass, boom, knock, and for listeners to be able to be free and express themselves through dance. Bounce relies on both voice and physical expression captured visually through Big Freedia\u2019s performances and music videos. Upon watching a music video by Big Freedia, the culture she represents can be better understood and the power of dance in expression is evident. Big Freedia\u2019s album \u201cJust Be Free\u201d dropped in 2014. The theme of this album aligns with her message and encourages listeners to be true to who they are. This freedom is a commodity because not every place in the world fosters an environment to be a free individual and express yourself. There are many outlets and means of expression, but for Big Freedia it is through music and dance. She wants others to be inspired to express themselves through the outlet she has created. Viewers feel compelled to dance from her performances. The impact of Big Freedia\u2019s individual work on listeners allows her to be more well-known on a national scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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