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Showing posts from February, 2023

Sun Ra - Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 14

Sun Ra - Brother from Another Planet - A Joyful Noise The two documentaries, by their names, seem to introduce two different aspects of Sun Ra's musical charm and style, and of course, his own spiritual thoughts and artistic pursuits. The name Brother from Another Planet seems to sum up the life of Sun Ra, the avant-garde jazz musician who chose his stage name from the ancient Egyptian god of the sun and transformed the power of his music into a sun-like energy that shines on the world. In people's minds, Sun Ra is like an outsider from far away, looking down on the earth and creating his own artistic record of the world and life as he sees it. What Sun Ra seems to bring to the table is not just music, but an idea, a deeper insight that comes from beyond humanity and reality. Some would call this style of his art cosmopolitanism, as Sun Ra himself says: music that one does not have in harmony with the spirit there, and therefore out of step with the universe." It is a...

Stevie Wonder - Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 13

Stevie Wonder -Songs in the Key of Life The documentary is a look back at the making of Stevie Wonder's classic album "Song in the Key of Life" with the participation of musicians, producers, family, colleagues and the artist himself. This album came at a classic time in Wonder's career, a particular stage in which he nearly gave up his music career, and Wonder was seriously considering quitting the music business to devote himself to charities for the disabled and children because of his anger at the way the U.S. government was running things. But that same year, he changed his mind and wanted to make the most of his career and make an impact on the world with the power of his music for as long as he could. The contract was worth 37 million dollars and gave Wonder complete artistic control over the composition, making it one of the most valuable deals between an artist and a record label of the era. As a result, songs in the key of life became the pinnacle of his ...

Marvin Gaye - Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 12

Marvin Gaye -What’s Going On -(Documentary) Both documentaries tell the story of a genius' life with regrettable tragedy, but also with emotion and gratitude for the timeless music he left behind. Marvin Gaye, the genius of Washington, D.C., made the entire city proud of him and even has a park dedicated to his kind soul and awe-inspiring musical talent. The pain he experienced was only more recognized and felt after his passing, which makes it even more impossible to forget his talent and the beauty and darkness of his life. Gaye's life was so great and dramatic that even the two documentaries combined only give a quick glimpse of his story. But even with this brief acquaintance, you will find that Gaye's music can still be needed and remembered at all moments of your life. They can still gently soothe your soul, describe the deepest peace and the most beautiful love, bring back decades of astounding musical memories, and reach musical achievements ahead of their time. ...

Question & Works - Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 11

Three   Questions: 1.  T he  r ole of Black Woman Artists in the  h istory of Black Culture and Art . 2.  The connection between artistic expression and the actual political issues of the same time. 3.  T he significance of music and cultural festivals or arts exhibitions for the documentations and dissemination of Black cultural history,   Ten Pieces of Work: 1.  T he Liberation of Aunt Jemima  1972   –  Betye  Saar  (pp. 112) This painting uses the work items that women use in their daily lives, and expresses the social environment from a more life-life perspective. 2.  Rainbow Mojo - Betye  Saar  (pp.123) U sing abstraction, which is rare in black art, as a form of expression, it shows the diversity of styles. 3.  Symbiopsychotaxiplasm :   Take One 1968, film still – William Greaves  ( pp.119) T hrough documentary photos, we can express the most realistic scenes of reality, and although the...

Black Power Mixtape - Journal Entry 10 Xiongyue Yu

The   Black   Power   Mixtape   The film's source material is largely derived from old 16mm film used by Swedish journalists in the 1960s and 1970s to capture scenes of urban unrest and revolution in the United States. It wasn't until thirty years later that these fragmentary video clips were discovered in the basement of Swedish television. The images were pieced together as if they were the most raw and unfiltered historical footage, edited and produced by contemporary Swedish filmmakers, and finally presented to the audience, and to give every viewer a realistic impression of that movement and the struggles of that era.   A documentary made up of real historical footage, a rap album featuring collaborations of the best contemporary rap musicians, a unique perspective brought to life through compelling footage and thought-provoking interviews.   It is also the brave, unofficial and impressionistic history of the black power movement that America once trie...

FESTAC ‘77 - Journal Entry 9 Xiongyue Yu

FESTAC'77 - the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture   Video from the UNESCO Multimedia Archive captures the spectacle of F ESTAC  '77, also known as the Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Cultures, a cultural carnival held in Lagos, Nigeria, from January 15, 1977 to February 12, 1977. It is a long-standing event that celebrates African culture and showcases African music, art, literature, theater, dance and religion to the world.   As you can see in the video, people are participating in this feast in a carnival atmosphere, with extremely rich forms of art and entertainment. It can be seen that this is also an event that hopes to unite the people of Africa with a sense of participation and cohesion through art and culture. Although the festival is polarized among both locals and onlookers, the majority of those who have experienced it or are close to it say that it plays an important role in their lives and livelihoods.   Alth...

Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 8 - What Happened Miss Simone

As Simone's lyrics say, "Everyone should be free", this is a story about music, but also a story about freedom. Many people believe that Nina Simone is the prototype of the female jazz musician in the  Soul,  and her life has more legend and charm compared to that unique temperament.   Simone has spent her life pursuing her musical vision and finding freedom in that vision. She once replied that freedom is like love, there is no way to talk about it with others until you experience it, but when it comes, you will feel it. It was on stage that Simone experienced such freedom. She enjoyed the stage, achieved success, and paid the price for this greatness.    Simone grew up with a strong purposeful piano education as she moved forward with her dream of becoming the first black classical pianist. During her studies, she learned that the influence of music is extremely strong, so she later chose to use her singing voice to give voice to her people and lead their thou...

Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 7 - Summer of Soul

Summer of Soul is a documentary that brings back 50 years of rare footage from the Harlem Cultural Festival held in Mt. Morris Park in 1969.   This festival of revelry and partying was held in 1969, an important and tumultuous year for the black community, a year when everything seemed to be changing, a milestone year of change, awakening and breakthrough in music, style, and the relationship of black consciousness to society and politics.   Host and planner Tony Lawrence, with his amazing organizational and communication skills, successfully organized and staged the Harlem Cultural Festival, which became an unparalleled carnival of its time and served its other purposes - to distract people from the riots and panic and to  to  protect Harlem from destruction. And the festival did become an irreplaceable experience and memory in the minds of the 300,000 black people who participated.   With the support of Lawrence and then New York Mayor John Lindsey, the festiv...

Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 6 - Amazing Grace

The film is more like an Aretha Franklin concert than a documentary. Although the picture is not very clear because of the age of the film, and many songs are treated differently from the original 1972 album because of the preservation of the audio, this does not affect the moving and uplifting effect it brings to the viewer, because it is still a legendary film about the greatest female singer, the goddess of people's hearts, and meets every gospel lover across time.    The film needs no introduction to open with music, and the first to appear was  Wholy  Holy , a pop-oriented gospel song, including a mix of pop music that Aretha brought into the concert, which was criticized by the music critics of the time, but none of the audience in attendance objected. Because her devotion transcended religious beliefs, her absolute passion, power, creativity and beauty was felt by religious and non-believers alike. Her art also transcended race and language, so that all who li...

Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 5 - David Hammons, Black First American Second, 1970

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  David Hammons, Black First American Second, 1970  •  The double self-portrait was incredibly powerful as it reveals what people felt during this time in history.  •  In the image, one version of his body holds tightly to the American flag, while another version of himself is painfully cleaved by its stripes. •  I believe the image illustrates the discrepancy between what the US Constitution promises about being a citizen and the reality of the disempowered black population. •  The artist uses his own body print in the work, making it even more powerful to convey its messag e. •  By using this creative expression, the artist describes how he felt socially, an inevitability of being discriminated against as a Black person before becoming equally American in public perception.

Xiongyue Yu Journal Entry 4 - Dana C.Chandler, Jr with Fred Hampton’s Door, 1960

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  Dana C. Chandler, Jr with  Fred Hampton’s Door,  1960 ( pp.  71) •  Published in Time Magazine in 1970 •  In the picture, Dana C. Chandler stands alongside a painting entitled Fred Hampton's Door, which is stacked against a larger canvas titled "Free Huey." •  I think what is interesting in this image is that it demonstrates how art was used by people back in the day as a medium for communicating, spreading important and urgent messages, and expressing what they believed in.  o  “Black art is the tremendous force for education and political development.” ( pp.  70)  •  In 1967, Chandler  witnessed the  violent dispersal of peaceful protests in Boston by the police, and he began calling himself a "Black Expressionist."   •  Huey's freedom is the urgent message conveyed by this painting. o  Huey Newton is the Black Panther Party chairman who was imprisoned in 1968 for allegedly killing an Oakland police...