Chap 3 / Term : American Vibes

Theme : Territory & memory

Chapter 3

American

Vibes

Issue at stake

How has music enabled Americans to break the rules?

Activity 2 : Watch the video & take notes

America's musical journey (2018)

Answer the following questions

1. Why is music special to America?2.What is America's Musical Journey?

Activity 3

Exchange together

How does music affect people's lives? What role does it play in society? How does music make you feel? Give examples.

Quote of the week

'I believe the history of American music is just as important as anything political because it's changed generations of people.'

Dave Grohl

You are in charge of one document answer the questions and be ready to present it to the rest of the class.

Lesson 2

An era of transgression

1) What do you know about Woodstock? The hippie movement? 2) Introduce your document (source, author, main theme). Be ready to present it (where, when, who, what). 3) Why do Woodstock and the hippie movement still live on in people's minds?

Music of the day

'María María', Santana (1999)

Play

Exchange in pairs

What do the documents reveal about America and Americans at the time?Would you have liked to attend the Woodstock festival? Why or why not? Do you feel attracted to the hippie movement? Why or why not?

Lesson 2 : A means of telling stories

1 . The spirits of '76 2 . History of Rap Music 3 . Pink : 'What about us?"

Cultural note

First Amendment of the US Constitution

It protects several basic freedoms in the United States including the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government. It was part of the Bill of Rights that was added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791.

The Spirit of ‘76 (previously known as Yankee Doodle), by Archibald Willard, 1875.

1 . Listen to the document and take notes 2. Pick out numbers, places and names to present the document (where? when? theme?).

More information about the painting

The Spirit of ‘76 is a huge artwork painted by Archibald Willard in 1875. It was displayed in 1876 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United States’ declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776. It pays tribute to the American revolution and the people’s spirit of independence and love of their country. Yankee is a term used by the British to refer to the colonists who served alongside their troops during the French and Indian war. The colonistswere perceived as poorly organised at the time. Doodle is a way of referring to a fool, someone gullible. Originally sung by the British, the Americans adapted the song and turned it into a patriotic anthem after Britain surrendered at Yorktown in 1781. Today, America’s national anthem is the StarSpangled Banner, a poem written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 and later set to music. Congress adopted the song as a national anthem in 1931.

More information about the song

History of Rap Music

Rap in the U.S.A

History of Rap Music

• How would you define storytelling? What goals can storytelling achieve?

• To what extent is rap music a form of rebellion?

This is America, by Childish Gambino, 2018.

Compare & contrast the lyrics and the background. How Childish Gambino conveys his message?

Pink ! What about us? 2017

1 ) Focus on what you see: describe the images in P!nk's video clip. (Who? What? Where? How? Why?) 2) Who is P!nk addressing? 3) What is she calling for in the lyrics?

America's musical journey

Pink ! What about us? 2017

• What do the documents reveal about how songs or music videos can be used to tell stories that break the rules?

• Read the culture note on the opposite page. Should the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution cover artistic expression? Why or why not?

• Are words more powerful than images? Why or why not?

Pink ! What about us? 2017

• What do the documents reveal about how songs or music videos can be used to tell stories that break the rules?

• Read the culture note on the opposite page. Should the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution cover artistic expression? Why or why not?

• Are words more powerful than images? Why or why not?

Lesson 4 : How music changes society

Lesson 5 : The summer of love

Lesson 5 : The summer of love

1. Recap the document (What? When? Where? Who? Why? How?)` 2. Exchange with your neighbor about what you understood. 3. Would you have like to be part of the summer of love? Why, why not?

Lesson 6 : Song corner

• Strange Fruit, by Billie Holiday, 1939.
• With God on Our Side, by Bob Dylan, 1964.
• Say It Loud, I'm Back and I'm Proud, by James Brown, 1968.
• War, by Edwin Starr, 1970.
• Born in the USA, by Bruce Springsteen, 1984.
• Killing in the Name, by Rage Against The Machine, 1992.
• Rebel Girl, by Bikini Kill, 1993.
• Kyoto Now, by Bad Religion, 2002.
• Same Love, by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert, 2012.
• The Monsanto Years, album by Neil Young and Promise of the Real, 2015. Alright, by Kendrick Lamar, 2015. Quiet, by MILCK, 2015.

You are in charge of one song from the selection. 1) Search the internet to find more information about your song. Present it to the class (title, name of the artist and a short biography, release year, music style, historical and political context). 2) What is the message of the song? How is it conveyed (lyrics, music, stylistic devices…)? 3) Look at the following infographic : What strikes you? How does your song relate to it? 4) Is the song efficient? How does it make you feel? What do you think the artist is protesting against?

THANK YOU!

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