Research

 

Section I: Introduction of Topic
Black Arts Movement


      The Black Arts Movement was a movement that gave African Americans more of a voice in the arts, such as music, literature, dance, poetry, and theater. African Americans used this new outlet as a way to wage an effort for change. They wanted to use their talent in the arts to speak out against the injustices that were being practiced against them and to make the public aware of what they had been through. With Imamu Amiri Baraka as its leader, the Black Arts Movement wanted to instill pride in African Americans showing that they could have things written by them, acted out by them, and performed in theaters that they owned. I think the contributions made by the Black Arts Movement set the stage for the African Americans in the arts today. Some questions I'm interested in are: who were the others that spearheaded the Black Arts Movement, what were its long term effects and its significance, and what are some of the important works that came from that era. My intended audience is students, teachers, and anyone interested in history.

SectioII: Books, Videotapes and CD-ROMs from UNC-CH libraries

Elam, Harry Justin and Krasner, David. African-American performance and theater history: a critical reader. England: Oxford University Press,      2001. UNC-Ch library Call Number: PN2270.A35 A46 2001
Neal, Larry. Visions of a liberated future: Black arts movement writings. New York: Thunder Mouth Press, 1989. UNC-CH library Call Number:      PS3564.E18 V5 1989
Baraka, Amiri [videorecording]/ the Lannan Foundation in association with Metropolitan Pictures and EZTV. Produced and directed by Lewis      Mac Adams and John Dorr. 60 Min. Los Angeles; The Lannan Foundation, c1991. NonPrint Videocassette. Call Number 65-V4713      Academic Universe

Lexis-Nexis Sources


Gladney, Marvin J. (1995 Summer). The Black Arts Movement and hip hop. African American Review [Online], page 291.  Available:      LEXIS-  NEXIS [2001, May 24].
Harper, Phillip Brian (1993 Winter). Nationalism and social division in black arts poetry of the 1960s. Critical Inquiry [Online], page 234.      Available LEXIS-NEXIS [2001, May 24]. Muwakkil, Salim. (1999, January 10). What ever happened to BLACK POWER? In These Times      [Online], page 14. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [2001, May 24].
Neal, Larry. (January-February 1987). The social background of the black arts movement. (music, poetry, literature, theater, politics). The Black      Scholar [Online], page 11. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [2001, May 24].
Thomas, Lorenzo. (1995, Summer). "Classical jazz" and the Black Arts Movement. African American Review [Online] page 237. Available      LEXIS- NEXIS [2001, May 24]. Watson, Jamal E. (2001, January 28). Black Artists Bridge Divide Generations Keep Movement Alive. The      Boston Globe [Online], page B6. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [2001, May 24].

Web Sources

The Black Arts Movement.

http://www.aalbc.com/poet/blackartsmovement.htm

     This website offers a wide range of information about the Black Arts Movement from its beginning to its participants. It also explores the literary societies and publications formed during the movement. This site has is very appealing with all its pictures and provides links to the prominent artists during the movement and to other sources of information.

Women in the Black Arts Movement

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/l/jlp345/

     This site profiles the influential women of the Black Arts Movement. It offers a brief analysis of their works including themes and compares them to their male contemporaries. It recognizes the need to talk of the women in the movement as individuals. It includes an introductory essay and individual links to each of the artists. One good thing about this site is that is offers links to extra sources of information.

 

Amiri Baraka

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/baraka/bio.htm

      Offers an in depth profile of the Movement's founder, from his days as Leroi Jones to his contributions after the end of the movement. It includes interviews with Baraka, his commentary on subjects ranging from "black art" to "black tradition,"selections from his works, brief information on the Black Arts Movement, and external links. With distinct headings, this site is easy to follow and read.

Historical Background of the Black Arts Movement (BAM)

http://www.black-collegian.com/african/bam1_200.shtml

     By far, the most comprehensive look at the movement in terms of influences and effect. Profiles the history and social context of the Black Arts Movement in two parts. Taken from the book, "The Magic of Juju: An Appreciation of the Black Arts Movement (BAM)," it also profiles the organizations established out of the movement and its leaders. Source of Web site: Kalamu ya Salaam

Black Creativity: On the Cutting Edge

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/archive/1994/941010/941010.cover.gates.html

     Stemming from the Black Arts Movement. It parallels the new works by the artists with their awareness to the cause of and effects of the movement. Source of Web site: Henry Louis Gates Jr.

 

Mini Essay

 

Tiffany Shlain and the World Wide Webbys
TOPIC AREA: Net People and Places

     To find out who's who in the ever-changing world of cyberspace, ask Tiffany Shlain, 31-year-old founder and director of the Webby awards. Shlain's keen sense of style and innovative approach has turned the Webbys into a major tinsel town event. Dubbed the "Digital Diva" by the major of San Francisco, Shlain bought glitz and glamour to the Valley of the Geeks by creating the only awards show for Internet sites that matters. (2) "Tiffany has a vision in her head about making the Webbys something with cultural significance and placing the Internet in the fabric of our culture," said Shlain's husband, Ken Goldberg, 38, an engineering professor at UC Berkeley. (2) To this end she has established the wonderfully pompous sounding International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which includes a host of big name judges, such as Simpsons creator Matt Groening on humour, David Bowie on music and Francis Ford Coppola on film. (1) Shlain's showmanship and eye for catchy presentational techniques have given the Webbys a number of instant 'traditions,' such as the 40s paparazzi, the ceremony's trademark five-word acceptance speeches, and the 'nominees altar' in the foyer. (1) Her success with the Webby awards has made her somewhat of an authority on the Internet, with regular appearances on several major talk shows including "Good Morning America." Tiffany received her BA degree from University of California at Berkeley where she was selected as a Valedictorian speaker. She has completed intensive programs on filmmaking at New York University in 1991 and on leadership at Harvard Business School in 2001.

(1) For more information:

Tiffany Shlain

http://www.webbyawards.com/about/shlain_bio.html

A short biography of Tiffany Shlain with some of her awards and college history.

The Webbys

http://www.girlgeeks.com/ycareer/car_buzz/webbys.html

Spotlights Tiffany Shlain and her success with the fourth annual Webby awards. Clips available. Source of the Web site: Girlgeeks

Good Morning America Internet Expert Tiffany Shlain

http://204.202.137.115/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/gma_000915_shlain_chat.html

Provides a transcript of an online chat between Shlain and other people. Gives her views on the function of the Internet. Source of Web site: ABC News Notes:

(1) Hari Kunzru, "Digital diva's big night; Forget the Oscars, the hottest ticket in town is the Webby awards," The Guardian, 22, May 2000, p.66.      Also Available [Online] LEXIS-NEXIS [Accessed: 25 May 2000].

(2) Booth Moore, "From The Valley Of The Geeks Comes The Digital Diva," Los Angeles Times, 7, July 2000, p.1. Also Available [Online]      LEXIS- NEXIS [Accessed 25 May 2001].

 

 

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