Hybridity: an exploration of identity | Amara Pope | TEDxKitchenerED

Hybridity can take many forms, but rarely do we apply it to our own personal identities. That is just what 23 year old PhD student Amara Pope has done throughout her academic career, where she examined the marketing strategies and personal narratives of the musical artist Drake in his music videos as he appeals to many communities and cultures as a bi-racial, bi-national Jewish man focused on rap. In studying Drake, she realized that we are all hybrids in some way, influenced by different communities and cultures, and that by being aware of and embracing them, we can set a better path for our education, our career and our personal lives. At 23 years old, Amara is highly passionate about education and communication and holds an MA in Communication Studies, a BA in English and Fine Arts, a Digital Media Specialization, and several teaching certifications. She is completing a PhD in Media Studies at Western University, and continues to apply her knowledge in marketing, social media, and self-branding in various positions as a Blog Editor/ Manager and a Strategic Account Manager.
Her recent academic paper titled “Musical Artists Capitalizing on Hybrid Identities: A Case Study of Drake the ‘Authentic’ ‘Black’ ‘Canadian’ ‘Rapper’" examines Drake's unique abilities to connect to many different audiences through the identities he creates in his music videos. In this study of identity politics, she examines Drake's marketing and self-branding strategies in his music videos through sounds, lyrics, and images. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@liliasablina5391]

The topic is so interesting, but the author can’t handle her own high self esteem. We are glad that you are successful, but where is the information about hybridity itself? >

[@laramar4382]

She described hybridity by giving an example of herself she is considered a hybrid woman. The mistake that she made is that she didn't define the concept of hybridity first than giving the example of her life. This girl is really brilliant but she needs to clarify things so as the others understand

[@khavita2309]

DITTO!!

[@melonieware2944]

Are these comments from people that can relate to hybridity. She is a role model for many do give credit where credit is due.

[@icaprone1]

i'm queer. and Amara is simply sad

[@maismais993]

Okay the topic is interesting in theory (hybridity) but pretty uninformative in this talk. All I understood is there is this student who's very happy to go around make studies about her idols who she can relate to on a personal level much success such win wow.. good for her but I would have appreciated more if she could have elaborated more on the study rather than personal promoting.

[@Urselote]

That's a lot of words for "I have never read postcolonial theory so I will blame her for my lack of understanding"

[@solidus1995]

Yeah but shes hot

[@cadencer9730]

Agreed. I thought it would be interesting to get someone else's take on hybridity theory but this was just a lot of idolisation and self-fanning

[@johanromero8930]

New York, New Yawk. Ya herd?

[@solidus1995]

Trini and indian isnt that much of a hybrid lol there is a ton of desi people living in trinidad. Also I dont understand am I not a hybrid or am I a better American because I'm white? She assumes I prefer living in America over my ancestral location which is somewhere in Italy or Germany. Americans and Canadians and central Europeans no longer have a legitimate identity aside from corporate consumption.

[@bunga_raya96]

We smoked up together. Her brother Amitan is cool. Lmk if anyone wants to hit him up.

[@benwanada]

Wow... first world problems are really tough on this generation, aren't they?

[@dramarapope]

Identity politics is more than a generational issue. Using modern media to educate youth is both a privilege and strategic communication vehicle. Thanks!

[@mclay3754]

What a shallow interpretation of Identity. I can not believe this is a presentation by a PhD student. A first or second generation "Canadian" is not the same as a Canadian with several hundred years of down-home. Not by a long-shot. Let me base my research on a rap artist. I guess as long as you are attractive, that is all it takes these days.

[@khavita2309]

Your interpretation of the talk has more substance than the talk itself!

[@roberto7823]

And what is a first- or second-generation Canadian supposed to identify as? Doesn't he have the right to feel as Canadian as anyone else? I mean... if he grew up in Canada and that's all he knows? What difference do the 100 years of the last generations make? (I’m not Canadian)

[@mclay3754]

@@roberto7823 I am guessing then you may be American (no need to reply). The question is, what is it then to be Canadian? For example, someone of germanic stock, in a Germanic land that has been occupied with related people who have hundreds, maybe thousands of years of shared culture... someone moving from Ethiopia (and vice versa) will not have the same connection. One is a genetically related identity, another is a "state" identity. Over time, however, this person may get grafted in... so over time things could possibly change.

[@almohvn33]

She is too young to really "get it"