defining a black aesthetic: what makes black art black?
DESCRIPTION
A historical/cultural exploration by Footsteps of the impact of spirituality on the creation of Black ArtTRANSCRIPT
Defining A Black Aesthetic
What Makes Black Art Black?
2:19 17:19
My Favorite Things as created
My Favorite Things by a creator
Hard Knock Life as Created
Hard Knock Life by a Creator
2:39 3:58
As with everything, we begin with the Spirit
We start with the belief that God is the creator of everything
And by everything that means us
and by us, we mean everybody
As God is multi-dimensional, each of God’s people sought and found their own pathway on God’s earth
Cultural Worldviews
African American
Hispanic: FATEEuro-American: DOMINION
Asian American: HARMONY
?
This is the tale of God’s people from the African Diaspora and the pathway they took and the art they have created along the way…
As with everything, we begin with the Spirit
2 things of the Spirit we believe inrhythm
Is substancecreativityis process
We are rhythmic
The many are oneCircadian RhythmUltradian RhythmsCellular RhythmsBiorhythmsBrain Waves: beta, alpha, theta, deltaParasympatheticSympathetic Nervous Systems
Our combined rhythmic patterns are the reality and metaphor of our uniqueness: our soul
And together we are a polyrhythmic, soulful people
From cradle to grave, we, God’s creation, have the inalienable duty from God to celebrate our creation by being creators ourselves
Creativity is our individual birth right and finding pathways to express our unique rhythm is our way of glorifying God
Creativity is the spiritual expression of our rhythmic uniqueness
The essence of Black Culture
1. Your creativity is about expressing who you are – the soul of your rhythm -- to God
The structure of Black Creativity
As August Wilson said: You have to find your song and sing it
Whatever creative pathway you embrace, you must master its tools so that you can fully express God’s glory in whatever way you are moved to do so
2. As you are always evolving your product must also
1. Your creativity is about expressing who you are to God
The structure of Black Creativity
Improvisation is one’s uniquely ever-evolving rhythmic style
The Result: A Lifetime of Defining One’s Self-image through Stylistic Improvisations
3. Your creativity connects you with other creators that God has created
2. As you are always evolving your product must also
1. Your creativity is about expressing who you are to God
The structure of Black Creativity
With Black Art, everyone is simultaneously audience and artists…we are ALL creators and observers of God’s Glory
Expressing God’s glory each in our rhythm is a circle of Love
The highest expression of Black Creativity is God’s Glory and that soulful prayer is Love
Cultural Worldviews
AA: CREATORS
Hispanic: FATEEuro-American: DOMINION
Asian American: HARMONY
The use of the Black Cultural Toolbox for creative expression
The definition of Black Art
Black Art Pillars
Black Cultural Toolbox Story-telling, Uplift
versus The Real (the good, the bad and the ugly of life), Juxtaposition of Forms, Rhythm, Improvisation…
Double Consciousness, Right Now, Early Adopters, Relativity, Community is family, Communal-Individual Expression, Naturalism, Celebration Always, Social Science, Mind-Body Connection, Emotional Embrace…
And what about technology? How does it fit in?
The technology for creative expression is ever-evolving but what has remained the same in Black Art is the felt-need to be expressive
The Digital Century is tailor-made for the Black Creative POV of audience as artist: It is Black Arts on Steroids
A Black Artist’s American Dilemma
Serving Two Masters: The Spirit or Manna