Average Bufph Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
James Smethurst
2006-03-13
Emerging from a matrix of Old Left, black nationalist, and bohemian ideologies and institutions, African American artists and intellectuals in the 1960s coalesced to form the Black Arts Movement, the cultural wing of the Black Power Movement. In this comprehensive analysis, James Smethurst examines the formation of the Black Arts Movement and demonstrates how it deeply influenced the production and reception of literature and art in the United States through its negotiations of the ideological climate of the Cold War, decolonization, and the civil rights movement.
Taking a regional approach, Smethurst examines local expressions of the nascent Black Arts Movement, a movement distinctive in its geographical reach and diversity, while always keeping the frame of the larger movement in view. The Black Arts Movement, he argues, fundamentally changed American attitudes about the relationship between popular culture and “high” art and dramatically transformed the landscape of public funding for the arts.
This book dives deep into the cultural and political vibes of the Black Arts Movement. It's like a journey through the streets of creativity and resistance. Smethurst breaks down the movement's impact on literature, music, and visual arts, connecting the dots between social justice and artistic expression. The way he highlights the voices and struggles of Black artists is powerful. It's a 5 for sure, especially for anyone who's into the roots of Black culture and the power of art as a form of resistance.
