The Harlem Renaissance: Literature, Music, and Art
Note: This assignment is based upon the Harlem
Renaissance Webquest created by Alyssa Munski and Andrea Witt,.
Introduction
Oh, Happy Day! The St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park is
preparing a new exhibit featuring the Harlem Renaissance. The
Design Committee is looking for students to present them with
ideas for what should be on display. The name of the exhibit
is The Arts of The Harlem Renaissance. Therefore, they are looking
for pieces of literature and poetry, art, and music that were
influential to this time period. They are also concerned with
having accurate information regarding the lives and accomplishments
of important artists of the Harlem Renaissance.
The Harlem Renaissance represents a time when African-Americans
were exploring their writing, artistic, and musical talents in
order that they may communicate their thoughts and opinions regarding
the condition of black communities in the United States during
the first three to four decades of the twentieth century.
Keeping in mind that the word renaissance means "rebirth,"
what artistic pieces were born out of this era? Who are the major
figures involved in this movement, and what were their contributions
to the Harlem Renaissance?
Task
You will assume the role of an expert in one of The Arts of
the Harlem Renaissance: literature and poetry, art, and music.
Working in a group of three, you will then select a number of
pieces as related to your field of expertise to be presented
to the Design Committee at The St. Louis Art Museum in the form
of a PowerPoint, or multimedia presentation.
Process
An Overview...
You will be working together to share what you learn about The
Arts of the Harlem Renaissance. You will be assigned to a group
of four (4) people. A random process will decide who becomes
what expert in the field of literature and poetry, art, and music.
Step1. Getting Started
Individually, you will read through these suggested sites
in order to gain some background information on what The Harlem
Renaissance was all about. Jot down notes in your journal. Be
sure to write down any questions you have, so you can come back
to them after you have a chance to confer with your group.
Step2. Time to Research
You are ready to research the sites suggested for your field
of expertise. Your job is to learn as much as you can about the
pieces of literature and poetry, art, and music that resulted
from this period of flourishing creativity.
Focus on works that have received credit for contributing,
supporting, analyzing, or interpreting the African American condition
in our country during the first four decades of the twentieth
century: 1900-1940.
Once you have justifiable reason to believe that this novel,
song, or painting has made it's "impact" on this time
period, you may consider choosing this piece for your presentation
to the Design Committee at The History Museum.
You must explain the reasoning for your choices and include
this in your Power Point. Finally, part of your research is to
find two sites not included that provide background information
on your content. Be sure to site these resources in your Power
Point.
If you are the Literature and Poetry expert, look for:
Facts about the lives of accomplished authors and poets who
were published during the Harlem Renaissance.
Works of literature (novels, poetry) written during this time
period.
Resources for the Literature and Poetry Expert
If you are the Art expert, look for:
Facts about the lives of accomplished artists of the Harlem Renaissance.
Paintings that represent the climate of the Harlem Renaissance.
Resources for the Art Expert
If you are the music expert, look for:
Facts about the lives of accomplished musicians during the Harlem
Renaissance
Pieces of music (songs or albums) representative of this time.
Resources for the Music Expert
Step 3. Power Point Collaboration
As a group, you will gather the pieces you chose and highlight
them in a Power Point presentation. You will want to give some
brief background information on the authors, artists, and musicians
before you present their "piece." Remember to include
an explanation for why you feel this piece is an important contribution
to The Harlem Renaissance. Again, be sure to site your resources
in the Power Point.
Click on the Evaluation to view the rubrics used for
this webquest.
Evaluation- Power Point (100 pts)
Your group will be receiving a grade for the Power Point
presentation.
Resources
Preliminary Readings:
Don't forget: You will want to take notes on this information
in your personal research journal, a microsoft Word document to be kept
in your English III Folder in your My Documents Folder. I might check
your notes at any time.
Harlem:
An African American Community On PAL--View a timeline of main events
that occured from 1900-1940.
Interactive Map
of Harlem
Virtual Harlem: Bryan Carter
Harlem Renaissance: A teacher's guide from Caroline Jackson (1978)
More on Bryan Carter's Virtual Harlem Project
African
American Odyssey: The Harlem Renaissance and the Flowering
of Creativity
Exploring the meaning
of the term, Harlem Renaissance
The New
Negro: An exploration of the Allan Locke's ideas.
Harlem Renaissance: A
Multimedia Resource
A Quick Guide to the
Harlem Renaissance
Harlem
Renaissance: The Library of Congress Webguide
Harlem
Renaissance from the Encyclopedia Britannica
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Personalities |
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Perhaps the most famous writer of the Harlem
Renaissance was Langston Hughes:
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