Assistant/Associate Professor, Hip Hop, Culture, History and Practice

Illinois State•Normal, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University invites applications for an energetic, interdisciplinary educator-practitioner to teach “Hip-Hop: Culture, History & Practice”, a new large-section General Education course. This tenure-track position will also play a central role in developing some additional offerings that integrate hip-hop culture, history, and creative practice with critical inquiry and emerging creative technologies, including AI, as tools for artistic expression and research. The ideal candidate will have roots in hip-hop’s artistic expressions, such as sound design and beat production, lyricism, breaking technique, urban dance, stylized lettering, or related creative domains and be a practice-led teacher and creative-scholar who integrates critical inquiry and emerging creative technologies as a foundational component of their work. We are especially interested in candidates who use artificial intelligence not only as a cutting-edge tool, but also as a pedagogical means, creative medium, or research methodology. They will understand that teaching and mentorship are essential not only for sustaining hip-hop culture but also for cultivating community connections and local scene engagement. Their creative-scholarly work should inform the design of courses and experiences that explore intersections across technology and culture, whether through generative media, architecture and spatial design, or other emerging digital forms. Regardless of disciplinary approach, the position necessitates a demonstrated fluency in creative technologies across multiple modes of expression (i.e., Audio Music Production, Film, Game Design, Dance, Theatre, Music Business, Art and Design, or other areas within the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts). In addition to launching the General Education course, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop additional classes aligned with their expertise. Potential offerings may include “Breaking & Culture”, “Letterform and Visual Aesthetics”, “Sound Design and Production”, or cross-disciplinary explorations of hip-hop culture, history, and practice through interactive media, digital arts, textiles, architectural contexts, or related domains, which might be best able to express a possible future of the Hip Hop aesthetic.

Requirements

Terminal degree or international equivalent in a discipline within the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts (i.e. music, audio production, game design, theatre, dance, visual arts, graphic design, film, digital media)
Recognized or emerging creative-scholarly record in hip-hop culture, history, and practice
Demonstrated undergraduate teaching experience, including large-section General Education courses (in-person, hybrid, or online), with a clear commitment to student-centered pedagogy
Evidence of creative or scholarly work in hip-hop culture, history, and practice (i.e. publications, recordings, exhibitions, productions, performances, adjudications, digital projects)
Competence in creative technologies, including DAWs (Ableton, Logic, Pro Tools), sampling, MIDI 1.0/2.0, or at least one generative/assistive AI tool or workflow integrated into creative practice or pedagogy
Commitment to inclusive teaching practices and enthusiasm to work with first-generation and diverse student populations
Experience with community-engaged pedagogy and partnerships with local culture practitioners
Ability to demonstrate oral proficiency in the English language as mandated by state law

Nice To Haves

Roots in hip-hop’s artistic expressions, such as sound design and beat production, lyricism, breaking technique, urban dance, stylized lettering, or related creative domains
Practice-led teacher and creative-scholar who integrates critical inquiry and emerging creative technologies as a foundational component of their work
Candidates who use artificial intelligence not only as a cutting-edge tool, but also as a pedagogical means, creative medium, or research methodology
Understanding that teaching and mentorship are essential not only for sustaining hip-hop culture but also for cultivating community connections and local scene engagement
Creative-scholarly work should inform the design of courses and experiences that explore intersections across technology and culture, whether through generative media, architecture and spatial design, or other emerging digital forms
Demonstrated fluency in creative technologies across multiple modes of expression (i.e., Audio Music Production, Film, Game Design, Dance, Theatre, Music Business, Art and Design, or other areas within the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts)

Responsibilities

Teach “Hip-Hop: Culture, History & Practice”, a new large-section General Education course
Play a central role in developing additional offerings that integrate hip-hop culture, history, and creative practice with critical inquiry and emerging creative technologies, including AI, as tools for artistic expression, pedagogy, and research
Design courses and experiences that explore intersections across technology and culture, whether through generative media, architecture and spatial design, or other emerging digital forms
Develop additional classes aligned with their expertise, such as “Breaking & Culture”, “Letterform and Visual Aesthetics”, “Sound Design and Production”, or cross-disciplinary explorations of hip-hop culture, history, and practice through interactive media, digital arts, textiles, architectural contexts, or related domains