Moroccan Youth Between Protest and Repression: Thematic Analysis of the Film “Raise Your Voice” by Nabil Ayouch

Abstract

Hip-hop and rap music are frequently associated with youth culture. Nobody can deny that many people, particularly the youth, prefer Moroccan hip-hop and rap because they appeal to and represent their anger and dissatisfaction over their country. Nevertheless, some believe this music and culture genre lacks moral values as it uses street language (slang and vulgar terms) and sometimes addresses taboo subjects such as politics. Therefore, this article attempts to examine how hip-hop and rap genres of music are depicted as the outlet or a voice for the oppressed young generation living under severe and harsh socioeconomic situations via using a thematic film analysis of the Moroccan movie Raise Your Voice (2021) to recognise the dominant thematic patterns utilised to reveal the disappointment and the anger of Moroccan young generation over their country. The major interrelated themes generated by the film are gender inequality, religion, terrorism, and tyrannical society.