Aaron douglas artist challenges for youtube

Make a list of student responses on large flip-chart paper. I always ask students to recall what information they have previously learned in school and in textbooks about United States history during this period and to think about the reasons that information about the Harlem Renaissance was omitted from that curriculum. I use this social context to help students understand that the Civil Rights Movement in the s did not spring up in a vacuum.

This program provides the sociopolitical context of the Harlem Renaissance and emphasizes visual images of African Americans. It demonstrates the way visual culture colludes with political forces in acts of oppression and resistance. Various artists are discussed. Since the running time of the video is 60 minutes, teachers may want to choose excerpts to make the points they want to emphasize or clarify and to capture the attention of their students, depending on their developmental level.

After viewing the video, look closely at some of the paintings by Aaron Douglas in the books listed at the end of this lesson under Resources. What do you wonder about? They will notice figures walking away from an African landscape toward a ship. They will notice images of magnificent engineering feats collaged into one scene: Egyptian pyramids, the Brooklyn Bridge, skyscrapers.

Douglas is showing all the work of African-American people throughout history. Then move on to the other guiding questions. By the end of the discussion, the class will have made a very sophisticated analysis of the paintings. First students will observe each other walking. Then they will pose for each other in positions that would be made by protesters.

Observe the bends in legs and arms as well as body proportions. If available, refer to a simple picture that illustrates human body proportions. Suggest that students consider what it looks like when someone holds a protest sign, steps with pride, and expresses strong resistance.

Aaron douglas artist challenges for youtube

While doing this, talk about gesture. Show students how gestures affect their thinking and reactions. Ask them to notice the difference in ability to communicate when they use strong or many gestures and when they use weak or no gestures. Explain to students that they will be making silhouettes of their figures, so their depiction of character relies on the gesture, or stance, of the figure, not facial expressions or clothing.

Douglas received a fellowship to travel to various black colleges in the South in The Fellowship was awarded by Julius Rosenwald, a businessman who had personally funded the building of more than 5, schools in the South for African-American students. He was also responsible for financially supporting hundreds of black writers and artists. Douglas is renowned as an individual who helped facilitate massive changes and reforms regarding the education of African-Americans and the potential opportunities available to them.

In the later years of his life, he would often travel between Frisk University and New York so that he could attend exhibitions and lectures. The University presented him with an honorary doctorate in and continued to lecture until he passed away in Douglas is often regarded as an influential figure in African-American history who helped define the cultural identity that they wished to create on their terms and by their own rules.

This identity was formed by both African and modernist elements that represented the convergence of the traditional and the contemporary. He achieved more than that, helping to open the door for many aspiring young African-American artists. Douglas was the first African-American artist to incorporate African themes into his modern art.

This book takes a look at the role he played in transforming the American cultural landscape. With his art, Douglas created a potent legacy of African-inspired modern art. Regarded as a key figure within the Harlem Renaissance, his work helped define the culture and art of his generation and people. This is a period in African-American history that deserves close study, as does this wonderful book.

Aaron Douglas was an important and influential African-American artist whose role in the Harlem Renaissance was seen as invaluable. He was involved in many aspects of social reform, from working with various groups that fought to end racism, to educational institutes where he taught students the importance of African-American culture as a self-defined movement of expression and change.

He managed to take tribal motifs and styles and re-interpret them through a contemporaneous lens, mixing the old and the new in the hope of discovering a new visual language that could be used to communicate this emerging cultural vocabulary. He added rhythmic elements to his art through the use of visual patterns , emulating the repetitive pulses and grooves of jazz music.

Aron Douglas was an artist and a social reformer. He helped set the tone for an emerging culture of African-Americans that were proud of their heritage and history. He was part of a movement that wanted to change the way black people were seen and treated in Western society, demanding civil rights and to be treated fairly. Douglas helped create many organizations that would further the education and artistic culture of many African-American people, promoting the idea that art could act as a means by which a new culture could express their desires and hopes for the future.

He had a huge Legacy across the nation, and was even invited by president John F. Kennedy to attend a dinner and party. He left a huge effect on the wrold, and made history with his art that signified the struggle and the life of an African American person in that time period. Sydney Nelson. Create your own. Symbolism is rich throughout Let My People Go.

Moses is a central figure symbolizing deliverance. The painting draws a connection between the biblical exodus and the African American fight for freedom. African American history is subtly referenced through imagery, linking past struggles to contemporary movements. The use of spiritual and biblical motifs serves to reinforce the theme of liberation and divine justice.

Douglas used oil on masonite, a material that allows for vibrant, durable colors. His technique demonstrates precision and control. Combining Art Deco and Cubist styles, Douglas uses overlapping shapes and dynamic compositions to create depth. These techniques build a sense of narrative progression and highlight crucial aspects of the story.

His disciplined brushwork results in a polished, cohesive piece that communicates both visually and thematically. His unique style and themes continue to inspire and influence modern artists and cultural institutions. The painting is part of Gallery and regularly attracts visitors with its vibrant colors and historical significance. Additionally, Fisk University also holds notable works by Douglas, highlighting his role in shaping African American art.

These exhibits showcase his influence on Art Deco and Cubism. His art not only symbolizes a key period in history but also helps educate new generations about the cultural and social issues of his time. Modern artists often reference his work, emphasizing themes of freedom and equality. Educational programs frequently discuss his contributions to modernism and African American art.

Art institutions like the National Gallery of Art use his pieces to explore the intersections of art, history, and social justice. Let My People Go encapsulates the spirit of resilience and the enduring quest for freedom that marked the Harlem Renaissance. Through his innovative use of silhouettes and layered imagery, Douglas not only tells a biblical tale but also reflects the contemporary struggles of African Americans in the s.

The artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the past while continuing to inspire future generations to strive for equality and justice. It creates a parallel to the African American fight for freedom and equality.