Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Logan, Nneka Author's Email Address nlogan1@student.gsu.edu URN etd-04272006-184915 Title Uncovering the Range of Intentions and Interpretations Associated with N-Word Usage in American Film Degree Master of Arts Department Communications Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Michael Bruner Committee Chair Mary Stuckey Committee Member Keywords
- Nigger
- Interracial Communication
- Race
- N-word
- Nigga
Date of Defense 2006-03-14 Availability restricted Abstract UNCOVERING THE RANGE OF INTENTIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH N-WORD USAGE IN AMERICAN FILMby
NNEKA LOGAN
Under the Direction of Michael Bruner
ABSTRACT
This thesis is an analysis of contemporary N-word usage. Key points are that there is more than one N-word in circulation, and that “nigger,” the racial slur, is only one conception of the N-word. A second point is that “nigga” is a separate word with a separate scope of meaning. I also argue that usage of “nigga” is a complex communicative phenomenon that cannot be essentialized in terms of race, socioeconomic status and other social factors. I argue that contemporary N-word usage is not an exclusively black cultural endeavor, but in fact a multiracial phenomenon. To support my assertions I employ communication, race and N-word scholarship, and I apply the scholarship to the text of American film. A study of this kind is significant because increasing numbers of people are being exposed to the N-words in a variety of contexts, but many are unaware of their important semantic differences.
INDEX WORDS: Nigger, Nigga, N-word, Race, Interracial Communication,
Hip Hop, Pop Culture
Files
Filename Size Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
28.8 Modem 56K Modem ISDN (64 Kb) ISDN (128 Kb) Higher-speed Access logan_nneka_200605_ma.pdf 302.48 Kb 00:01:24 00:00:43 00:00:37 00:00:18 00:00:01 indicates that a file or directory is accessible from the Georgia State University campus network only.