AFAM 4243450

The Black Arts Movement

Unit 1

Unit 1 Presentation Topics

Unit Objectives
Reading & Viewing Assignments for June 18-22 Assignment Quiz 1 Viewing Your Submitted Quiz Reading and Viewing Assignments for June 25-29 Assignment Quiz 2 Important Points for Unit 1 A Few Considerations

Unit 1 Objectives
By the end of this unit, you should be able to: Identify the general nature and political perspective of the Black Power Movement;

Discuss the relationship between the Black Power Movement and the Black Arts Movement;
Identify key literary artists associated with the Black Arts Movement (visually and/or by description);

Explain the basic, commonly understood timeline for the Black Arts Movement (i.e., the approximate time of the movements beginnings and the general time of the decline of the movement). Discuss the concept and purpose of the Black Arts Movement, as defined by the artists who established and promoted it;

Unit 1 Objectives, continued

Explain the debate within the movement (initiated by cultural nationalists) on what does and does not constitute black art; Discuss the concept of the black aesthetic associated with the BAM; Discuss the role of the black theatre in the BAM; Describe the nature of black theatre as a theatre of protest, in terms of style, form, and function; and Identify some of the major debates that existed among black theatre artists (playwrights, directors, actors, producers, sponsors, etc.) for example, the debate about whether artists are activists (because they are artists) versus artists who let their work be their advocacy; or black art for blacks only versus black art for mass consumption, etc.

Reading & Viewing Assignments for June 18-22

The reading assignment for June 18th through June 22nd includes: Introduction and Chapter 1 of Spectacular Blackness Pages 3-10 (The Development of the Black Revolutionary Artist by James T. Stewart), of Black Fire Four articles: Historical Background of the Black Arts Movement, Parts I, II, and III by Kalamu ya Salaam (1999); B. A. M.: Spanning the Period from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s by Kalamu ya Salaam (2003); The Black Arts Movement by Larry Neal (1968); Towards A Black Aesthetic by Hoyt Fuller (1968).

Reading & Viewing Assignments for June 18-22

The viewing assignment for June 18th through June 22nd includes a short video and the first part of a film: Haki Madhubuti describes the formation of the Black Arts Movement Part 1 of Not A Rhyme Time -- Volume 5 of Ill Make Me A World: A Century of African American Arts, a production of Blackside, Inc., in association with WNET-NY/PBS Video (1999). While viewing this film, be sure to take notes regarding Gwendolyn Brooks, her artistic transformation, and her role in the development of young black literary talent in Chicago, and via the Organization of Black American Culture Writers Workshop (OBAC). Also, make note of other key artists associated with Brooks, Chicago, OBAC, and the Black Arts Movement.

Assignment Quiz 1
In general, the assignment quizzes focus most heavily on the assigned readings (especially the articles). The content of the assignment quizzes generally references topics covered in the assigned readings and viewings, but again, the heaviest emphasis is on the readings. For this reason, it is important to complete the assigned readings before attempting the quiz. Assignment Quiz 1 contains multiple choice and matching questions, with a heavy emphasis on the articles. You are allowed two attempts of the quiz, so if you do not earn 100% on your first attempt, check out the Submission View to study your performance before you try the second (and final) attempt.

NOTE: You should also use the submission views to help you prepare for the exams.

Viewing Your Submitted Quiz

To view your submitted Assignment Quiz: Go to the Assignment Quizzes & Exams tab. Click on the Submission icon ( ) for the assignment quiz you want to view. Under Individual Attempts, select the attempt you want to view (Attempt 1 or Attempt 2). Selecting the attempt allows you to view the quiz questions with the answers you submitted. The correct answers to each question will NOT be marked or highlighted. To determine correct or incorrect responses, look at the points earned for each question. If you earned full points on a question (e.g., 0.75/0.75 points), you answered the question correctly. If you did not earn full points (e.g., 0/0.75 points), your answer was incorrect.

Reading & Viewing Assignments for June 25-29

The reading assignments for June 25th through June 29th includes: Chapters 2 and 3 of Spectacular Blackness One article: Black Theatre The Way It Is: An Interview with Woodie King, Jr. by Kalamu ya Salaam (1997) REMEMBER: The assignment quizzes focus most heavily on the assigned readings, so it is important to complete the assigned readings before attempting the quiz.

Reading & Viewing Assignments for June 25-29

The viewing assignment for June 25th through June 29th includes two parts of a three-part video: Parts 1 and 2 of Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement Part 1: The Pioneers and Part 2: A Theatre of Our Own by California Newsreel (1978). While viewing this film, be sure to take notes regarding the evolution of black theatre; the perceived role of black theatre in promoting the Black Arts Movement; and the difficulties black playwrights, directors, and theatres faced in producing and staging plays during the BAM (especially those considered more militant in theme and tone). Also, pay attention to the debates mentioned by the artists themselves namely, those regarding activism, advocacy, black aesthetics, funding, critics, creative expression, etc.

Assignment Quiz 2
Assignment Quiz 2 contains multiple choice and matching questions, with a heavy emphasis on the film, Black Theatre. In particular, there is a matching question that uses visual images (photos) of key figures from the film. In order to complete the quiz successfully, you will need to complete the assigned readings and view the film before you attempt the assignment quiz. REMEMBER: You are allowed two attempts of the quiz, so if you do not earn 100% on your first attempt, check out the Submission View to study your performance before you try the second (and final) attempt. See the Viewing Your Submitted Quiz slide for more information. NOTE: You should also use the submission views to help you prepare for the exams.

Important Points for Unit 1

In this unit, you will learn general information about the Black Arts Movement, which is often referred to as BAM. The assigned readings and viewings, along with the introductory presentations, should acquaint you with the general nature of the era in which the BAM occurred. Specifically, the first unit covers the ways that the revolutionary rhetoric of the Black Power Movement influenced the artists of the era, led to the creation of an artistic sister movement, and how the influences of black power drove the desire to create a new black aesthetic. The BAM was characterized by a flowering of black literature, especially poetry and plays. Both literary forms were presented in new ways: poetry evolved into spoken word, often performed with musical accompaniment; plays were staged in new ways, represented new themes, and represented an entirely new aesthetic for their audience.

Important Points, continued

This unit explores the role of black theatre and the activism and activities of black theatre artists immediately before and during the Black Arts Movement. By listening to the voices of the actors, directors, playwrights, and producers, you will have an opportunity to see the issues as represented by black artists themselves. The efforts of BAM artists to define and redefine black art (in literary, theatrical, visual, musical, and filmic terms) was one of the more significant issues and controversies of the movement. By examining the context of the movement, it is easier to understand why the artists were preoccupied with creating their own standards for black art, beauty and culture, and how they sought to use those standards as a source of empowerment and pride. It is also easier to see the inherent problems with establishing an artistic standard based on the notions of blackness and what is and is not black.

A Few Considerations
As you read, be sure to make notes regarding: The influence of the Black Power Movement; Definitions (among the artists) of the concept and purpose of the Black Arts Movement (BAM); Key artists and concepts of the BAM; What events triggered the launch of the BAM (i.e., the assassination of Malcolm X in February 1965, etc.). The formulation of the movement, particularly the way some leaders of the movement (like LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka) were influenced by Black Power/Black Liberation and cultural nationalist rhetoric; Black artists efforts to use their literary and visual art to communicate a unified black cultural voice; How the artists defined what constitutes black art as opposed to art created by black people;

Considerations, continued
The arguments, both within the movement and outside of it, regarding the definition of the new black aesthetic. Before finishing this unit, be sure that you have submitted Assignment Quiz 1 (by the specified due date), submitted the Descriptive Review Project 1 files to the appropriate dropbox folder by the due date, completed all of the required posts to the Unit 1 Discussion Board, and submitted Assignment Quiz 2 (by the specified due date).