Weblesson

Art and Music: A reflection of the Harlem Renaissance

A Web Lesson for 9-12 Art and Music

Painter Aaron Douglas describes the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting the relationship between art and culture. "...Our problem is to conceive, develop, establish an art era. Not white art painting black...let's bare our arms and plunge them deep through laughter, through pain, through sorrow, through hope, through disappointment, into the very depths of the souls of our people and drag forth material crude, rough, neglected. Then let's sing it, dance it, write it, paint it." Social dance both reflected and was a reflection of the culture of the Harlem Renaissance. It was a way for people to celebrate, to escape, and to express their identity.

Standards

1.2 Develops arts skills and techniques

Essential Question/Scenario
How does the art and music of the Harlem Renaissance reflect the time period?

Your Task

Read the poem below. You are on the train with Langston, but instead of poetry, you have art and music with which to express your experience. Your task is to tell about your experience during the Harlem Renaissance using art and music. Can you get down with Langston?

One Way Ticket

I pick up my life,
And take it with me,
And I put it down in
Chicago, Detroit,
Buffalo, Scranton,
Any place that is
North and East,
And not Dixie.

I pick up my life
And take it on the train,
To Los Angeles, Bakersfield,
Seattle, Oakland, Salt Lake
Any place that is
North and West,
And not South.

I am fed up
With Jim Crow laws,
People who are cruel
And afraid,
Who lynch and run,
Who are scared of me
And me of them

I pick up my life
And take it away
On a one-way ticket-
Gone up North
Gone out West
Gone!

Permission to use One Way Ticket and Bound No'th Blues
courtesy of The Langston Hughes Estate.

Day 1and 2: Look and Listen with your partner

Click on the following links in order to SEE some examples of Harlem Renaissance art.

http://www.phillipscollection.org/lawrence/index.html (choose html)
   Look at this site.
    Write a summary of how Jacob Lawrence's work reflects the energy and spirit of the Harlem
    Renaissance. Here is a link to a blank word document. Please provide 7-10 complete sentences.

http://www.beardenfoundation.org/programs/hc/index.html
    Click on "exhibitions"
    Choose "watch a video of their tour"
    Write a 7-10 sentence paragraph that describes how you felt when you looked at Bearden's work. Again, you may use this blank document
     to complete this task.

Click on the following links in order to HEAR some examples of Harlem Renaissance music.
(don't forget to click on the AUDIO link)

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_ellington_duke.htm
Listen to: The Mooch
It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/exploring/harlem/themes/lindyhop_text.html
Read the article first, then click on Chick Webb.
Find the Media Player button in the bottom right hand corner and listen to Go Harlem and Liza.

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/exploring/harlem/themes/lindyhop_text.html
Find the Media Player button in the bottom right hand corner and watch Earl Tucker dance the Lindy in Symphony in Black.

Answer the question- What do these examples of art and music have in common?

Tips: Write in your own voice.
Use descriptive words.
Tell how the emotions in the art and music you have experienced today are the same.

You may use this blank document provided to answer this question in two paragraphs.

Day 3 & 4 without your partner

ART:

Review the style of Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence.
Look for similar themes that reflect the Harlem Renaissance and the history of African Americans.
Create your original piece of art reflecting the style of Bearden or Lawrence, emphasizing your own unique theme.

Tips:

Think about materials such as paint, collage, fabric, etc.

MUSIC:

Listen to a selection of music from the Harlem Renaissance (provided by your teacher).
Analyze the selections and pick one piece that you like. You will provide three aspects of the piece that attracted you (rhythm, vocals, lyrics, etc.)
Present your piece to the class with your explanation.

Day 5 with your partner

Present to the group, your original piece of art with musical accompaniment.
Describe the process of creating your art (as an art student) and your process of picking your piece of music (as a music student).

Assessment Criteria
Here is a link to your rubric. Please read carefully, your grade will be based on this rubric!!