On September 9th I attended a Phi Slam event called Kaleidoscopic Color-Dressed Chromatic Dance Fest. This was a social dance event that is completely dry and it is essentially a giant dance party. The guys in Phi Slam, which is a Christian organization that is similar to a fraternity but they do not do typical frat things such as drinking, hazing or smoking, set up the event. Phi Slam has events just like fraternities and sororities do. This event was just one of the many events they put on throughout the year.…
The following Ethnography takes a very specific look into the vast world of New York hip-hop, a specific look at a category of a dance style, or more appropriately a dance tradition in hip-hop known as “b-boying and b-girling.” Joseph G. Schloss is the author of the book called “Foundation: B-Boys, B-Girls, and Hip-Hop Culture in New York.” The book provides an engaging, new and exciting look on this amazing hip-hop subculture. The New York culture of b-boying and b-girling holds lots of valuable history and traditions to world music. B-boying and b-girling is a way of dance that has been passed down from generation to generation while being preserved by the performers.…
In 1976, the Swedish group ABBA ravished the world with their hit song “Dancing Queen.” Even after 30 years since its exposition at King Carl Gustaf’s ball, the song remains a favorite in dance clubs. Mixed with pop-operatic harmonies and inspiration to the dance rhythm in George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby," as well as the drumming on Dr. John's 1972 album “Dr. John's Gumbo”, ABBA is able to convey an elated feeling of limitless joy and highlights the greatest music of the disco era. Through a beautifully woven blend of uplifting, empowering lyrics and a sophisticated melody scattered with heart-tugging high notes, “Dancing Queen” celebrates the carefree innocence of youth.…
For this analysis, I analyzed the documentary Rize. The story setting is focused on African American youth, during a time that was very controversial in African American history, in the United States. The introduction to this documentary depicts this time that was filled with violence and rioting involving African Americans, including the Watts Riots in 1965 Los Angeles, as well as the infamous Rodney King Riots in 1992 Los Angeles. In the documentary Rize, the themes of expression of emotion and dance as social and personal healing are represented by the dancing, costumes, characters, and music in the film.…
Killer Pig, preformed by the dance company L-E-V, demonstrates expressions of minimalism and intense honesty. The dance voiced the idea of a present force that influences the actions of the dancer leading to the natural instinct to kill. The dance gave off the impression of a primitive state through the erratic articulation of dancer’s bodies and their nude costumes. The combination of the lighting, music, choreography, and costumes allowed the audience understand the concept behind the dance.…
Case Study of a DJ: James Brown By Alvin Wilson Funky Drummer: There is a section where James Brown, the drummer and the sax come together in a beautiful and interesting manner. This portion of the song is from 3:38-3:56. It has that infectious riff. This portion when looped to create a chorus would surely get the crowd going incessantly. The beginning of the track which had the drummer hitting the rims (rim shot) with the electric guitar intro and the organ joining in later would make for a great intro to any song.…
Thinking back in American history, the most notable Native American event is the Trail of Tears. This event, for obvious reasons, is taught in every school and known by every American. Because of the cruel acts during this famous event, it is easy to single this one out and forget about many others. One of the major Native American events that is forgotten is the Ghost Dance of 1890. Like the Trail of Tears, the Ghost Dance effected the lives of the Native Americans; and by the end, a large amount lost their lives. Several things attributed to the onset of the Ghost Dance and there were numerous outcomes as a result of it.…
I knew many songs, but I did not see any music video. This is my first time to see America music video. The song is Avicii vs Nicky Romero - I Could Be the One. The video starts with an obesity woman. She wakes up at 6am every day and works hard.…
Lindy Hop and The Argentine Tango Dance and music play an important role in the cultural traditions of various societies. I chose to focus on two social dances from different cultures that are still celebrated today. For my familiar dance, I selected Lindy Hop which originated in the United States. This dance form is often shown in movies, and the free flowing movements caught my attention. Through my preliminary research, I discovered the Argentine Tango which interested me due to its improvisational nature and the ways music inspires movement.…
In today’s media race is used throughout programs such as television shows, movies, and music videos. They often times present a false stereotype that many believe are true when accessing media. When it comes to music artists will use music videos so there listeners will have a better understanding of the song. The music video analyzed is Kendrick Lamar’s alright which was released in 2015. As an artist who has a history of creating songs that are detailing experiences in which he has either lived or seen this video is a powerful statement released by him.…
Music is powerful and can cause people to dig deep in order to find its true meaning. However, two people may never agree on the meaning of a song because they interpret it differently. Another point is that “themes or pieces need not express only one emotion” (Copland). People can grab multiple emotions from a single piece. These emotions can allow people to go different places in their head and even to reflect on their life.…
The traditional view of art has changed over time just as most things have. Naturally, the act of perception has differed opinions on what society considers as art. Dance, paintings, photography, drawings, music, literature, and sculpting, are what comes to mind when contemplating the aspects of art. The limitation to defining a word so opinionated leaves out room for self-expression. The traditional ideas of what is considered art should be broadened; granted, although not tangible, art can be seen through ambitions, emotions, and expression through appearances when not limited to the customary definition.…
What is the Africanist Aesthetic? It’s the African-based cultural forms and philosophical approach existing in the African Diaspora that continue to reflect similar musical, dance, and oral practices as those in Africa; though not African, enough resemblances in the performer's’ attitude and relationship to audience exist that cultural connections to African cultural practices are apparent. How does African culture continue to show in Hip-hop over time? Hip-Hop culture, since around the 1950s, has shown the world different aspects of the Africanist Aesthetic within its culture. Though it is understood that not everyone in hip-hop is considerably part of the Africanist Aesthetics, they still embrace the creation of hip-hop and its origins.…
The Makishi Masquerade is an example of performance because it is an event that re-arranges restored behaviors of a ritual used to initiate boys between the ages 8-12. It is popular entertainment because it shows part of the Vaka Chiyama Cha Mukwamayi culture. It appeals to an audience because it provides visual and audio images of costumes, dance routines, and music these individuals use in this initiation The accessibility of this performance is youtube videos, documentaries, and/or books Being is the Makishi Masquerade itself.…
OutKast, a popular rap group throughout the nineties and early 2000s, has a renowned song entitled “Hey Ya!” which features the smooth flows of Andre 3000 and hard hitting rhymes of Big Boi. The song has been a huge hit for years and is virtually known by every American under the age of thirty. When the song was released in 2003, I was just three years old, but had already adopted my dad’s love for music and I frequented the kitchen tile as my dance floor whenever music was playing. OutKast’s song “Hey Ya!” holds a different weight than most other songs I grew up around because it is one of few memories I remember vividly about my childhood.…