Krumping? ...what do you think about it?

Chris OConnor · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject:

I just read all the posts in this thread and have made some observations.

First of all, LanDroid, those dancers are awesome. I do love watching break dancing and all sorts of urban dancing. Good stuff, so thanks.

I've known Frank for a looong time and he is far from judgmental or hateful. And his post using the word "bug" had me cracking up. My observation is that this online world of posting messages back and forth leaves far too much room for interpretation. Frank types as he talks in real life and he has an awesome sense of humor. No harm is meant by it. And I really think his above posts should have elicited laughter and comical replies, not the accusation that he is being judgmental or hateful. He is typing fast and having fun.

Krunking does indeed look kind of wacko. The dancers do look like they're pissed off and making threatening gestures at each other or the world or at something. And if you run a search for krunking and read about it this is exactly what they are trying to communicate. Krunking is supposed to be a form of language through body movements and each motion has a purpose. There are actually names for those flailing motions. LOL I am seriously laughing. I find it interesting how I can laugh my ass off at Frank's approach or "judgment" of Krunking while others have a totally different reaction. I disagree with Frank, but his words are pretty funny. Heck, my brother makes fun of country music whenever I bring it up and it makes me laugh. We're all different. Krunkers do look like they are having spasms. Krunking is all about spasms. I bet the best Krunkers have epilepsy. ROFL Do NOT let that get you mad.

Frank 013 · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks Chris... I'm glad somebody gets it.

Later

irishrosem · Doctorate Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 536 Gender:

Golly, Frank, “the lady protests too much, methinks.”

My response that you are quoting here wasn’t directed at you or your experiences. It was in response to your claim that I couldn’t help comparing people with mental health issues, who were having episodes, to bugs. I was just explaining why I would not—or more, why I hope I would not call such people bugs, and that I take pains not to use such language. And that I particularly take pains to keep from using such language in a situation that always threatens to distance me from the humanity of another person, whatever the circumstances.

I was using my experience to explain to you why that wouldn't be true of me. At that point, I wasn’t, at all, speaking to your use of the term in a penitentiary facility, because I haven't experienced what you are experiencing there. My statement, I think clearly, was about my experiences and why you couldn’t just assume that I would utilize such language.

Frank 013 · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:37 am Post subject:

irishrosem · Doctorate Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 536 Gender:

Frank 013 · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

irishrosem · Doctorate Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 536 Gender:

Now, hopefully, turning this discussion to something ever so much more interesting—to me at least. I’ve seen a lot of urban breakdancing, and a bit of krumping, largely in Manhattan’s subways. I find that, though the breakdancing is usually more exciting to watch, because of the tricks that are incorporated, krumping seems to better use physical expression to convey a message. Now dance, through the ages, is largely meant to tell a story, or convey an emotion. As has been addressed already in this thread, krumping is usually energetic, uninhibited, rapid movement, often used to express anger. So my question is—who are the dancers (those wishing to express anger); who is the intended audience; and why anger?

I know the apparently obvious answer is that krumping attracts both dancers and audience from the same group—disenfranchised, probably largely black, youth. Which explains the anger. But part of me believes that not all those who participate in the krumping community are actually poor youth. My guess is that at least part of the community comes from middle-class backgrounds. And, as I said, I’ve been in the audience during a krumping performance, more than once, and my fellow audience members appeared just as middle-class as I. I think there must be more to it than young, angry kids expressing their anger about disenfranchisement. Any thoughts?

Frank 013 · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

I would expect some of the audience is watching simply out of curiosity, weather you like the style of dance or not it is certainly a head turner.

Later

MadArchitect · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

And I would add that the middle-class audience member's curiosity is evidence that krumping is at least mildly successful. If the point of krumping is expression, then drawing an audience is critical. Drawing an audience of your peers is usually the first step -- establishing the credibility of the dance form as expressing this or that social circumstance -- but it's a very limited step compared to that of gaining visibility outside of your peer group.

irishrosem · Doctorate Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 536 Gender:

But I think it might, or could be, more than just a mere curiosity. If it were, I’d expect I would be more intrigued by breakdancing than by the krumping. At least, that would be my guess. And I think that’s partly what Mad might be getting at when he speaks to the success of drawing an audience outside the peer group.

As I said, I didn’t particularly like very much in the first video, though there were some good pieces. I think part of that is watching it on the screen is very different than watching it standing in an impromptu crowd, with music echoing off the concrete walls of the subway tunnels. Watching those street performances can be electrifying in a way that going to theater is not. It’s pure, it’s passionate, it’s amateur, it’s aggressive. But I’m not quite sure why it speaks to me. But krumping certainly speaks to me in a way that a lot of professional dance that I have seen, for the most part, does not. And yet, I’m not a disenfranchised youth.


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