AFRO-AMERICAN RAP LYRICS VS FAIRY TALES: POSSIBLE WORLDS AND THEIR MEDIATORS
AFRO-AMERICAN RAP LYRICS VS FAIRY TALES: POSSIBLE WORLDS AND THEIR MEDIATORS

Summary/Abstract: The article aims to identify possible worlds and their mediators in their metaphorical, symbolic and archetypal properties in fairy tales and Afro-American rap lyrics. The rap lyrics semantic structure involves a great worlds variety. Some of them intersect with the fairy tale magic worlds. The world of death imagery indicated in the rap lyrics by demetaphorized compound imagery with a naturalistic-physiological component, is associated with the archetypally bound fairy tale “the other world”, denoted by fabulous toponyms and fairy topoi. The mediators of these worlds encompass some magical tools and super-abilities, designated by conceptual metaphors, metonymies and hyperbolized similes in the rap lyrics and by narrative means in fairy tales. The oneiric world is mediated by nominations of hallucinogens in the rap lyrics and sacred food and drinks in fairy tales. While the latter mediators add strength or serve as a means of correction of an evil character, based, respectively, on the narrative motifs of redemption and victory of good over evil, the rap oneiric mediators refer to fear and degradation, indicated by visual oneiric images. The mediators of world of inspiration, not appropriate to fairy-tales, use wings (ability to fly and counteract the gravity), designated by conceptual metaphors. The world of wonderful status transformation, inherent to the rap lyrics, is denoted by the symbols of material well-being, based on the archetypal narrative motifs of the hero transfiguration and reward.

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