discourse community rough draft

Jeremy Creger

English 1510

11/13/2012

Gathering

Discourse communities have the ability to be seen as derogatory or obscene by non-members. Musical discourses can be difficult to decifer because of the various groups of people who attend a concert. However, the Insane Clown Posse has a special event for their hardcore discourse every year. The event in which ICP's discourse community comes together is simply known as "Gathering of the Juggalos". "The Gathering of the Juggalos is unlike anything you have ever experienced before. It is not simply a show, a concert, a music festival, or anything of that nature. It is an EXPERIENCE" (GJ.com). The reason this musical community can be considered a discourse, is because of the dedicated people who attend. Through learning about these people, it gives others the opportunity to understand why this gathering is essential to their lifestyle.

A discourse community stemming from a musical group is rare to find.  Most musicians can attract a variety of people with a wide range of beliefs and values.  However, the Gathering of the Juggalos is five days out of the year where Juggalos and Juggalets join together to celebrate love and unity for one another. One Juggalo was tested with his faith of the discourse community and responded by saying, "It's a lifestyle, it ain't a music choice. Just do what you do, don't hate on people because their different.  See the difference and love them for who they are" (Documentary 4:00). This belief is overlooked by those judging the members of the gathering, because those people are different from most.  "Very often dominant groups in a society apply rather constant "tests" of the fluency of the dominant Discourses in which thier power is symbolized" (Swales 486).  Insane Clown Posse's music fails mainstream socities "test" when it comes to being "appropriate".  However, this Discourse could care less, because the music is just an example of why the members accept people from all walks of life.

The musical group Insane Clown Posse self proclaimed themselves as the "most hated band in the world". Typically, having that negative label would push away members of that particular discourse. However, ICP feeds off of the negative energy of social media and other discourses, and embrace each other as one large family.  Juggalo's join together from disapproval of their previous community. "Juggalo is the title that bonds us together, but the truth is, being from different walks of life and being from cultures so astranged from one another, each person takes their own bits and pieces" (Documentary 2:37).  This idea creates a culture driven on love, and acceptance of any one member's past.  This discourse will be frowned upon regardless of it's true values, because if something in a discourse community seems negative, it is immediately judged. A juggalet is asked about the concept of family and why people are driven to this community. The woman in the video easily points out the man to her left saying "He's not my blood, but goddamnit he will be the closest thing I will ever have to blood; And the scene, through crying people that people look down upon because of what they listen to or their appearance" (Documentary 3:22).  The fact of the Juggalos discourse is to be accepting, and for all judgement not to be passed on to one another.

 Societies as a whole strive to be politically correct.  In this case, being politically correct consists of setting common values amungst a majority of discourse communities.  A majority of discourse communities find the use of curse words negative, often time passing down punishment to youths who use it.  Through the culture of the Gathering of Juggalos, a curse word does not make a person rude or appear to lack self-control.  Rather, language is not judged at all.  "I'll tell you for real about being a Juggalo, that shit made me the motherfucker I am today. I don't want to think of the motherfucker I'd be" (Doc 5:50). This lack of a boundry on language is a great example at the lack of judgement and the true feeling of unity amung the group.  In Writing About Writing, John Swales talks about the conceptualization of discourse communities. "A discourse community has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members" (WAW 471).  Juggalo's have little to no rules on their intercommunication.  This creates an image of a free-spirit nature, which is accurate.

Recently, "Juggalos" made it on the F.B.I.'s ganglist.  This has angered many people of the Discourse, urging them to give people a true understanding of the group.  According to the F.B.I. "Most crimes committed by Juggalos are sporadic, disorganized, and induvidualistic" (F.B.I).  After reading the F.B.I.'s explaination, it is difficult to compare a Juggalo to a gang member.  Yes, gang members and Juggalos both do not carry the same accepted values and beliefs of most Discourse Communities. Juggalos however, are repulsed by the label of being a gang, and constantly work to defend themselves. "I'm not saying there aren't Juggalo gangs out there, but to call Juggalos themselves a gang, is a very big misconception" (Documentary 3:08).  There is a point to consider; That point being that there are always bad apples.  No Discourse is truely close to utopia.  With this in mind, the F.B.I.'s explaination for a "Juggalo Gang" is consistant with any groups output of an outliar.

(STILL ORGANIZING INTERVIEW & CONCLUSION TO FOLLOW AFTER KEY POINTS REITERATED)



 

discouse commuity intro

Jeremy Creger

English 1510

11/07/2012

         Discourse communities have the ability to be seen as derogatory or obscene by non-members. The musical group Insane Clown Posse self proclaimed themselves as the “most hated band in the world”. Typically, having that negative label would worry members of that particular discourse. However, ICP feeds off of the negative energy of social media and other discourses, and embrace each other as one large family. Drugs, alcohol, and being free spirited are all stereotypes associated with the ICP family, although there are many members that are proud to say they are clean, and gather with others because of love and unity. Now, the illicit use of illegal drugs is wrong, but through ICP’s discourse, the community attempts to justify their use through strength in numbers and spiritual experiences. For this paper, I will be using a documentary American Juggalo, among other sources that give a detailed look inside the life of an ICP follower.

        When I first heard of ICP I thought of one word, ignorance. For anyone to actually enjoy the music that is considered demeaning to most seems reckless and confusing. But if there is one thing to learn about discourse communities as a whole, it’s that you can not judge a discourse from it’s reputation or it’s level of political correctness. Rather, take an in depth look and spend time with in that culture, then it is fair to form an opinion. In American Juggalo, it is quoted many times that the best part of being a juggalo is “family”. Not in the blood sense of the word, but rather a gathering of misfits, all accepting each other. Many Juggalo’s and Juggalet’s (women) have joined the gathering because of unfortunate life situations. This creates a big sense of pride for ICP followers, because even though they may come from different walks of life, if you prove your respect and love for others, it is likely you will be embraced as a juggalo.

Swales

"We need then to clarify, for procedural purposes, what is to be understood by discourse community and, perhaps in the present circumstances, it is better to offer a set of criteria suficiently narrow that it will eliminate many of the marginal, blurred and controversial contenders" (pg 469).  This is where Discourses are weeded out.  Many people that are looking for something specific to be a part of.

"A discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals. These public goals may be formally inscribed in documents (pg 471).  Discourse Communities are inspired as a whole, collective unit.  This way there is no misunderstanding in who is accepted and what that discourse practices.

"A discourse community has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members"(pg 471).  After spending a large amount of time together, discourse communities may come up with slang or inside communication among its members.  This may create a barrier for people intrested in learning about that discourse.

"A discourse community uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback" (pg 472).  These communities follow certain goals and beliefs that may be pre-existing. So relaying information is one of the primary concern.

Gee

"Laguage is a misleading term; it too often suggests grammer"(pg 483).  Language should not mean being able to interpret the grammer structure.  Rather, understand communication as whole.

"A Discourse is a sort of identity kit wich comes complete with the appropriate costume and instuctionson how to act, talk, an oftenwrite, so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize" (pg 484).  People are not contained to any one discourse.  As a matter of fact, there are multiple discourses we engage in everyday.  From our interactions with close friends, to a sports team you may prefer, and even our side of certain issues.

"There is, thus, no workable affirmative action for Discourses: you can't be let into the game after missing the apprenticeship and be expected to have a fair shot in playing it" (pg 487).  So if one isn't a part of the group, it is likely they will not .accepted into the Discourse, until they first prove their worth or knowledge.

"Very often dominant groups in a society apply rather constant tests of the fluency of the dominant Descourse in which their power is symbolized" (pg 486).  Our Discourse in school exposes us to standardized testing.  This is the way that particular discourse tests to see if we have been successfully accepted as a student.