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Summary: AN UPHILL BATTLE
Comment: Against The Odds captures the lives and works of African-American artists of the Harlem Renaissance,who through the Harmon Foundation, were able to crack the doors of America's artistic salons. Through interviews with the artists, news reels, photographs and pictures of their works we experience their uphill battle in trying to obtain recognition. Prior to the formation of the Harmon Foundation there wasn't an outlet for Black artists to display and sell their works. The genesis of the foundation with white liberals and approval from the Black intellectuals came at a price for the artistic freedom of the artists.
The artists had to fight an uphill battle coming from three fronts.First, Black intellectuals demanded an art that uplifted the race which would serve as propoganda in combatting negative stereotypes. Second, White liberals wanted a display of art reflecting the negroes' "primitive" African heritage. Then you had Black artists who painted in the European style and were not interested in African themes. Thus you had this battle of artistic freedom that the artists had to fight in addition to trying to survive.
This video shows the contributions of these wonderful groups of men and women who defied conventionality and produced great works against the odds. I thouroughly enjoyed their various styles and mediums of art work that they refused to compromise for either groups. for those who want to study visuals Black artists during this time period, this video is a must to have. You will be inspired, enriched and thoroughly pleased about these great giants of art.
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Summary: An Important Era in American History
Comment: This documentary reveals the visual artists who were part of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s. Most of us think of the literary artists of this era when we consider the renaissance: Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, etc. But this excellent history shows the painters, sculptors, and craftsmen who were part of the movement as well. W.E.B. DuBois and others made the movement possible by obtaining funding from various sources, many of them white. For the first time in American history, Blacks were able to attend art schools. The idea was to show through the arts that Blacks were full human beings. The hope was that this revelation to whites in power would win Blacks complete rights as American citizens. This didn't happen, however, the repercussions of the movement are still being felt. Though few visual artists of the renaissance were able to make livings as artists, many of them became art teachers in Black colleges and universitites.
This videotape is an excellent resource for art and literature classes, African-American Studies, and American history courses, as well as for individuals who enjoy learning something new.
