Hand gestures+Hippity Hop = Huh???

"And another thing.....

We all have a hand gesture fetish. While arguing, we tend to channel our emotions using our hands and arms to make a point. (Gesticulating, if you will.) Politicians do it all the time, and other PR savvy types. Others use 'subtle' finger gestures to illustrate their anger & frustration about an issue or person that is riling them up. We wave, we signal, and so many other ways to speak a silent language which nearly everyone understands.


The power of the hand gestures is instinctive in us all. Its anthropological semiotics. I'm no behavourial scientist, but Think about it: what was the first thing we did when we came into the world, according to our parents? We either wanted to grab something, and we'd crawl our hands up an imaginery wall (after leaving the warmth of the womb, i'd guess anyone would be disorientated!)


so, yes, gestures and hand symbols work hand in hand (no pun intended)

Which brings me to my question: what the duece is going on with hip-hop type people and their hand gestures?? Why is there the need to have some ridiculous hand pose whenever you try and take their picture? I was on a job yesterday evening, and i had just 20 secs to take a picture of the artist my journalist was interviewing? All i wanted was a good shot, and this dude starts with the hand gestures and all that. This is not the first time that I've encountered this 'contagious phenomenon' amoungst artists, so suffice to say i just had to ask the dude what it's all about it:


Moi: "Ok, can you please explain to me: whats with that hand gesture??"
Him: "Its (and he mutters somthing inaudible)
Moi: " Is is some kind of freemason cult code or what is it?"
Him: (mumbles something inaudible)

I never really did know what he said. I guess its part of a collective sub culture within that area of the music fraternity. Maybe its an evolution of anthropological semiotics within a sub culture genre. What do i know? I'm no Behavourial scientist. Funny thought, though: can you imagine The Tempatations or Barry White greeting each other with such hand gestures?

Oh well.. guess i have to do some more research about that...


PS: THIS IS JUST A LITE & GENERALISED VIEW OF SUCH A TOPIC. I'M SURE THERE IS A MORE INDEPTH ARGUMENT AND STUDY ABOUT SAID MANNERISMS AND SUCH.