All Flashcards
Define Harlem Renaissance.
Flourishing of African American cultural and intellectual life in Harlem, NYC, early 1900s.
Define Jazz Age.
Period in the early 1900s when jazz music and culture gained widespread popularity.
What is electric blues?
Blues music that emerged in cities like Chicago and Detroit, featuring amplified instruments and full bands.
Define improvisation in music.
The art of spontaneously creating music during a performance.
Define syncopation in music.
A rhythmic technique that emphasizes off-beat notes.
What are all-Black cast musicals?
Musicals produced by major Hollywood studios featuring entirely Black casts.
Define Bebop.
A style of jazz characterized by fast tempo, complex harmonies, and improvisation.
Define Big Band Swing.
A style of jazz popular in the 1930s and 40s, characterized by large ensembles and danceable rhythms.
Define call-and-response.
A musical pattern where a phrase is sung or played and then answered by another phrase.
What is the Great Migration?
The movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North in the early to mid-20th century.
What were the causes and effects of the Great Migration on blues music?
Cause: African Americans moved to northern cities. Effect: Transformed blues from acoustic to electric.
What was the cause and effect of the Harlem Renaissance?
Cause: Desire to celebrate Black identity. Effect: Flourishing of Black arts and intellectual life.
What was the cause and effect of the Jazz Age?
Cause: Increased signing of Black musicians. Effect: Spread of blues, gospel, and jazz nationwide via radio.
What was the cause and effect of all-Black cast musicals?
Cause: Limited opportunities for Black actors. Effect: Showcased Black talent, challenged stereotypes.
What was the cause and effect of jazz's evolution?
Cause: Migration and cultural blending. Effect: Emergence of diverse subgenres and contemporary fusions.
What was the cause and effect of the popularity of cabarets?
Cause: Limited opportunities in mainstream entertainment. Effect: Provided a platform for Black performers.
What was the cause and effect of Ellington's 'It Don't Mean a Thing'?
Cause: Desire for jazz innovation. Effect: Blended improvisation and sophisticated orchestration.
What was the cause and effect of Dunham's choreography?
Cause: Desire to fuse African and Caribbean dance. Effect: Elevated Black dance on Broadway.
What was the cause and effect of Waters' role in Cabin in the Sky?
Cause: Desire to break racial barriers. Effect: Challenged stereotypes, showcased Black talent.
What was the cause and effect of the film Cabin in the Sky?
Cause: Limited representation of African Americans in film. Effect: Significant milestone, but reflected racial limitations.
Who was Langston Hughes?
A writer who celebrated Black identity and experience during the Harlem Renaissance.
Who was Zora Neale Hurston?
A writer who celebrated Black identity and experience during the Harlem Renaissance.
Who was Josephine Baker?
A star who launched her career in Broadway musicals like Shuffle Along (1921).
Who was Paul Robeson?
A star who launched his career in Broadway musicals like Shuffle Along (1921).
Who was Ethel Waters?
First African American to headline her own TV show in 1939; starred in Cabin in the Sky.
Who was Lena Horne?
Starred in Cabin in the Sky.
Who was Louis Armstrong?
Starred in Cabin in the Sky.
Who was Duke Ellington?
Led the orchestra in Cabin in the Sky.
Who was Fats Waller?
Featured in Stormy Weather.
Who was Cab Calloway?
Featured in Stormy Weather.