Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA in English
Department
English
First Advisor
Latoya Sawyer
Second Advisor
Anne Geller
Abstract
In 2019, female hip-hop artists’ used their platforms to break through the glass ceiling of hip-hop misogynoir by reclaiming what it means to be unapologetic.The artists’ unapologetic lyrics, which explores the power in owning their sex appeal has shifted how listeners regard female hip-hop artists. With strategic marketing, these artists’ have used their social media platforms as a tool to reclaim what it means to be sexy while dominating in hip-hop. Megan Thee Stallion’s catchphrase and the accessibility she provides to her fans via social media stands out most. With over ten million Instagram followers her use of hashtags, uploading consistent content, and utilizing various in application features, like going on Instagram live, to connect with her fans helped to heighten her visibility. I will analyze the cultural impact of the summer 2019 “Hot Girl Summer” phenomenon and its mass circulation on social media, particularly via Instagram hashtags. I use both a Black feminist and ratchet framework in the analysis. I specifically target Black women Instagram users' use of the hashtag #hotgirl as a subjectivity and how it has become a performative identity.
Recommended Citation
Green, Dasharah, "Classy, Bougie, Ratchet: Analyzing Hip-Hop Artists’ Megan Thee Stallion’s #HotGirl Phrase As A Performative Identity" (2020). Theses and Dissertations. 9.
https://scholar.stjohns.edu/theses_dissertations/9