Lecturer
André "Drosha" Grekhov
Period Duration
Week 9-17 Block 4
ECD2, 18 hours
Competencies
3,5,6
Summary
In this class we will study the historical development of the urban culture and its dance forms from the 1950's emergence of hip-hop precursors, to the 21st century institutionalisation of urban dance.
Content and design of the class
We will cover the key historical moments such as the rise of funk styles in San Francisco Bay area, the spread of popping, locking and waacking across the USA, the emergence of breaking in South Bronx, the New York ballroom scene, or the phenomena of the house club scene. We will analyse this complex journey of urban culture, that lead to the contemporary branching out of hip hop to videoclip industry, mega-battles, cultural entrepreneurship, institutional education, social work and theatre companies that characterise the urban scene today. The approach to artistic history will be embedded in the social and political movements in US as well as main cultural tropes such as the principle of melting pot, protest art, grassroots culture, cultural appropriation and cultural assimilation, cultural trends, linear and non-linear development, group process and individual authorship, modern pop culture or cultural globalisation. We will equally pay attention to the specifics of dutch urban scene and culture.
Learning Goals
- Student can identify key points in the development of hip hop culture in US from 1950s till today
- Student can recognise and analyse different forms and styles of urban dance.
- Student Is able to critically analyse artistic work using theory.
- Student can identify and discuss major artistic, social and historical concepts relevant to understanding of the hip-hop culture.
- Student can analyse and situate contemporary developments of urban culture.
- Student can position their artistic study and practice in relation to the history of urban dance.
- Student is able to participate in a discussion with both convergent and divergent arguments, in a constructive manner
Working Methods Used
The course will be structured through a combination of lectures, readings, watching documentary films and discussions.
References
Schloss, Joseph G. Foundation: B-boys, B-girls and Hip-Hop Culture in New York, Oxford University Press, 2009
Youtube content:
From mambo to hip hop documentary, James Brown, the hippest trip in america, when disco ruled the world, Ballroom scene, hip hop years part 1, style wars, club scene, planet bboy, mtv decade, detours experimental dance collaboration, rize documentary.
Study Material
Notebook, pencil /pen, computer, video documentaries, books, articles
Assessment
Presentation of a case study. Students are expected to apply concepts learned in class on a case study that wasn’t previously discussed.
Learning Goals in the class contribute to the overall development of the competency indicators
3.2 / 3.4 / 3.5 / 5.1 / 5.2 / 6.2 / 6.3