From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Art Movements
The Art Movements
In the 20th century three main art movements tran- by the government. The focus of art in this era changed
spired from the black population: The Harlem Renais- as compared to the Harlem Renaissance. Artists focused
sance, The WPA Artists and Be Bop Musicians and The more on the Black population as a whole rather than
Black Arts Movement. their individual selves. This was influenced by the WPA
jobs which made the black artist work in their collective
The 1920s: The Harlem Renais- groups as opposed to their previous segregated art.
During this era, the Be Bop experience was also creat-
sance ed. The Be Bop experience was a cultural revolt in which
“hipsters” revolted by wearing beards, dark glasses,
Developed in New York City during a post-war period
berets, used confidential speech, had a militant attitude
when the U.S. economy was elevated. The idea of the
towards politics and shared a love for art. This revolt
“New Negro” came about during this time. “New Negro”
was contained to closed circles of people who were bitter
was intended to symbolize movement from the south
about their unfair lifestyle.
to the north and how the freed slaves felt with their
new approaches to life. Several Organizations such as
the NAACP, the Urban League and the Garvey movement The 1960s: The Black Arts
were also forming around this time.
This was the first cultural movement ever made by
Movement
the blacks. It was difficult for them to be taken seriously After the Civil Rights Movement failed because of assas-
since they had always been considered culturally inferior sination, imprisonment and racist ideological attacks[cita-
to the whites. Companies began buying their products, tion needed], a group of young, middle-class youths formed
producing them and created a selling market for their a new movement against America. “Black Power” became
culturally different art. Some young black artists would their message. They desired to be accepted into the main-
be invited to social gatherings “downtown” where they stream world: To unify into one world without racism.
would meet wealthy investors that began to sponsor However, what they did not account for was how impos-
them. sible a revolutionary change like this would be without
total accordance with the capitalist economic and politi-
The 1930s and 1940s: The WPA cal system.
artists and Be Bop musicians References
The Great Depression left many working people without
jobs, food or shelter. This was the case for Black people
as well, only they often suffered worse because they were
External links
always the last to he hired and the first to be fired. Black • Intro to Afro-Am Chpt 9
artists were also affected the Great Depression since their
prosperity depended upon people buying their work and
supporting them. If no one was there to buy their work
then there was no money there for them to have. This
domino effect hurt the social organization of the artist
who were brought up in the Harlem Renaissance.
Luckily, Franklin D. Roosevelt came to the artist aide
and gave Black artist in all parts of the county Workers
Progress Administration (WPA) jobs. Artists began work-
ing together in collective groups. They were employed
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Categories:
• American art movements
• African-American culture
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Art Movements
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