1. The Harlem Renaissance Poetry Slam Web Quest Lauren Kaczor – Chloe Cooper – Mary Fennell – Yana Yahknes

2. Introduction Wouldn’t it be cool to go back in time to a place where poetry, art, and music flourished? Just think of all the “cool cats” you could kick it with as the slow, jazzy music soothes the soul. What if you could meet famous poets like Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, or Sterling Brown? How about chillin’ in a famous New York club like the Cotton Club? Throughout your Quest, you will explore the culture and surroundings that contributed to the Harlem Renaissance. Along the way, you will go through steps that will provide you with a better understanding of the people, places, and poetry of this great era. Here is the question that you should keep in mind throughout your Quest: What was the Harlem Renaissance all about? And how did it influence art and culture today?

3. Task Your task is to virtually go back in time to the Harlem Renaissance era of the 1920’s and 1930’s. You will be playing the role of the Cotton Club’s poetry slam bookers/event planners. In other words, you will be responsible for creating a night of poetry, jazz, and visual art for club goers. You will be required to book specific famous poets for the slam, as well as musicians to sing and play popular music. You must also choose the art work to decorate the stage and surrounding walls, making sure that the pieces you choose enhance the mood. Now you are ready to move on to the process section of your quest. Let’s get started!

4. Process In the proceeding slides, you will have to choose two poets, two art pieces, and two musicians that you would like to showcase in The Cotton Club. Copy and paste this table and print it out. In this table, please write what you learned about each topic Let the planning begin! The Cotton ClubPoetsArtMusicians

5. Process First, familiarize yourself with The Cotton Club. Check out this cool cat link for a brief history: The Cotton Club.The Cotton Club. The Cotton Club ♪ Where is The Cotton Club located? hat issues of race did it bring up? ♪ How was both black and white popular culture incorporated in the club? Now, check out this site. This website provides both a history and what the club is like today. ow did the club get its name? ♪ Who was allowed into the club? hen did the club reopen? After you have jotted down some hip info about the club, look at some pictures so you know what surroundings you are working with. Please direct yourself to the New York Architecture website and look at the images of The Cotton Club. ♪W♪What do you notice about how the club advertised for their shows? ♪ Describe the inside atmosphere of the club. How would it feel to be inside? What would the mood be like?

6. Process ♪Now that you know all about the Club where your event will be hosted, it’s time to find poets for your poetry slam. ♪Choose 2 out of the 3 poets to book for your show: ♪Meet Langston Hughes: Click here to read a brief biography of Langston Hughes. Play the audio at the top of the web page to hear Langston Hughes explain the background of his poem as well as reading it out loud.here ♪To learn about free verse and hear a reading of another poem, play this audio to hear a reading of one of his poems. ♪Make sure to write down any information you find about Langston Hughes in your chart. Poets ♪ Meet Claude McKay: Click here to read a brief biography of Claude McKay.here ♪ After your read his biography, pick out a poem from this website that you would like to read ♪ Make sure to write down any information you find about Claude McKay in your chart. ♪ Meet Countee Cullen: Click here to read a brief biography of Countee Cullen.here ♪ Check out this video to see a “poetry in motion” interpretation of one of Cullen’s poems entitled “Heritage”.video ♪ Make sure to write down any information you find about Countee Cullen in your chart.

7. Process ♪Now, choose 2 out of 3 musicians that you would like to have play at your event. ♪Meet Cab Calloway, a frequent player at The Cotton Club: Click here to meet the hi-de-ho man himself!here ♪Sit back a watch a swingin’ performance!watch ♪ What did you think? What did Cab do to keep the audience’s attention? How do his dance moves compare to the moves of today? Write what you have learned and what your thoughts are about Cab Calloway in your chart. ♪ Meet Billie Holiday: Click here to learn about this funky female.here ♪Check out her smooth slurring skills as she tells us a story with her music.smooth slurring skills ♪What did you think? Billie is notorious for bringing the audience “into” her song– how did she do this for you? Write what you have learned and what your thoughts are about Billie Holiday in your chart. ♪Now, get to know Duke Ellington! Click here to learn more about him.here ♪Click this link to listen to some of his music.link ♪What did you think? What, or who, influenced his unique technique on the piano? Duke Ellington is knows as “The Master of the Romantic Ballad” – how does this appear in his music? Write what you have learned and what your thoughts are about Duke Ellington in your chart? Musicians

8. Process ♪Now it’s time to decorate the club! You’re going to create a backdrop of Harlem Renaissance art. ♪Click on this link to see some of Jacob Lawerence’s art. First, tackle the “Beginnings” and listen to Jacob Lawrence talk about Harlem, then learn more about “The Young Artist” by browsing through his paintings. Finally, check out the “Over the Line” section to see Lawrence’s later work.link ♪Write a response in your chart explaining how Jacob Lawrence’s work reflects the atmosphere and energy of the Harlem Renaissance. ♪Now let’s check out Henry Ossawa Tanner! Here you will learn about his life and painting style.check out ♪Click here to get a better understanding of his Realist techniques in his art.here ♪How did Tanner’s family experiences influence his art? What did Tanner believe was his most influential piece of art? What is the main difference between his earlier pieces versus his later pieces? Record your answers and any other notes in your chart. ♪Click here to learn about Aaron Douglas’s work.here ♪Take a look at Douglas’s paintings and try to pinpoint African art and sculpture and how it influences his work. ♪Be sure to write your findings in your chart! Artists

9. Conclusion ♪Your quest is now coming to a close! You have previewed Harlem Renaissance writers, musicians, and artists. Now it’s time to pull it all together for your special night! ♪Create a theater brochure detailing the events of your night. Be sure to include the various artists you have chose, with a brief description for each. Don’t forget to include the titles of the songs they will be singing. ♪Break down the night, leaving specific amounts of time for each performance. ♪Go to this website to download a free template for your brochure.this website ♪Make sure to pull together all the information your have learned to create an appealing program for your night at The Cotton Club! ♪As an extension activity, you might want to learn some Harlem Reniassance dance moves to impress the cool cats at your event! Preview this website to see Lindy Hop, and make a video of your group doing these dance moves.this website