A Critical Metaphor Analysis of Rap Lyrics: The Case of Kanye West

master's thesis

• Author: Petra Stefanović
• Mentor: Janja Čulig (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-11-23, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

The study examines metaphorical realizations of the theme of self-aggrandizement in Kanye
West’s lyrics. The purpose of the study was to show how poetic metaphor serves a purpose and
relays messages to the listener, relying on their background world and cultural knowledge. The
songs analyzed are from West’s 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Given that
linguistic research often focuses on conceptual metaphors, the analysis was done using a
methodological approach called Critical Metaphor Analysis by Jonathan Charteris-Black (2004).
It involved three steps, namely metaphor identification, according to a predetermined set of
criteria, interpretation, and explanation. The analysis showed that, contrary to popular belief that
poetic metaphors are ornamental, a wide array of both cultural and knowledge of the world is
needed to understand them, and to comprehend the underlying message. Moreover, all identified
instances were assigned their conceptual metaphors, which further showed that the realizations are
based on conventionalized conceptual metaphors which are rooted in our knowledge, experience
and culture.

• Keywords: Conceptual metaphor; poetic metaphor; rap; Kanye West
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:002960
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: Linguistics; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-11-24 12:53:03