ARTSEDGE: Spotlights

Featured Spotlight:

A World of Poetry

There are as many types of poetry as there are poets. From the poetry of Yeats to the lyric poets of the Harlem Renaissance to modern day poets who mix it all up with hip-hop culture, this month's collection of lessons, how-to's, and interactive explorations offer a wealth and diversity of poetry spanning the decades and global cultures.

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Archive:

		Consider Classical Music Lyrical, harsh, abrupt, militant, mysterious – classical music encompasses and conveys a broad range of experiences. This month’s collection of images, audio clips and text will introduce you to the world of classical music from the perspective of a listener and a performer, and how it can enhance teaching and learning in your classroom.

		In Like a Lion... The old adage "In like a lion, out like a lamb" is often used to describe the blustery days of March. The change in seasons offers the perfect opportunity to learn about art and science of weather. What techniques does a painter use to portray the changing landscape? How have composers captured Mother Nature’s ever-changing moods? How can creative movement help us understand more about the atmosphere, wind and rain? This month’s collection of images, audio and text will introduce a number of ways to integrate the arts into weather-related lessons.

		Destination: Japan Let's go to Japan! Our collection of images, audio and text is your passport to exploring the richness and beauty of Japanese arts and culture. Explore how Japanese poets use haiku, a highly structured form of poetry, to capture the fleeting beauty of nature. Experience a range of Japanese theater, from the melodramatic spectacles of the Kabuki theater to the solemn, highly ritualized Noh. Peruse the intricate Ukiyo-e, impressions of artisan-carved woodblocks, designed to depict “pictures of the floating world of the common man.” Japan’s art is inextricably woven into the everyday lives of its people; studying these artistic traditions will provide your students with a glimpse into the history, values, and aesthetics of the Japanese people.

		Tennessee Williams Explored Why Tennessee Williams? In the years since his first play premiered, Williams' characters have become fixtures in the American consciousness. Indeed few playwrights have created so many seminal characters. To explore the work of Tennessee Williams is to explore stories that are uniquely American, essentially human, and thus capable of touching and teaching us a great deal about ourselves. Understanding Williams' work, the playwright himself, and seeing both within the context of American theater and the work of other great playwrights, open up a world full of poetry and meaning for your students, and deepen their understanding of how literature reflects every day life. The featured lessons explore works that deal with the psychological climate of the post-Civil War South, dramatize the tensions and tragedies of American families, and define important themes and concepts in modern American theater.

		Weaving Words: The Art of Storytelling Telling stories is an essential part of being human. People everywhere, throughout history, have told and still tell stories. Whether it’s to remember history, to communicate feelings, or honor an individual, telling stories helps us understand the world in which we live. Stories help us better understand how and why people throughout the world respond differently to key moments in life. We learn more about ourselves, our culture, and other cultures by experiencing the thoughts, feelings and actions of characters in a story brought to life through music, dance, or dramatization. This month’s Spotlight collection will help you and your students see how the art of storytelling runs through human history and culture like a thread, weaving all into one vibrant tapestry.

		Life, In Focus It is often said that “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Like a written language, photographs can be “read” to discern the messages and stories they are intended to reveal. In one glance, photographs convey a wealth of information about people, places, events, and times we may never experience directly. By capturing a moment in time, photographs serve as primary source documents to help us better understand and interpret the past. However, as our artist interviews reveal, a photographer takes pictures based on his or her own perspective. Photographs often have a specific intent to inform, persuade, or even shock. Interpreting photographs, therefore, requires careful analysis of both the content and the photographer's point of view. This month’s Spotlight collection will help you and your students more effectively read pictures, and uncover the stories they are waiting to tell.

		Chasing Arête The ancient Greeks sought to extend themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually, to reach their full human potential; constantly pursuing arête —a Greek word, translated as “virtue” but also encompassing the quest for excellence. The best of Greek traditions—art, athletics, and philosophy—reflect the importance of arête in all human endeavors; whether striving for perfection on the Olympic field or simple everyday tasks. This month’s Spotlight will immerse your students to Greek history and civilization, and help them see the many ways in which the culture and traditions of the ancient Greeks still influence us today.

		Things That Go Bump in the Night Ghosts and ghouls, monsters and madmen, and haunting music that sends a shiver through your soul. During this chilling month of October, weave a spell through your classroom with our wickedly wonderful resources. Explore the role and portrayals of monsters in classical literature and in popular culture. Experience the intense, eerie orchestral music of Berlioz and Saint-Saens. This month’s Spotlight collection features images, audio, and text guaranteed to bewitch and beguile your students, and keep your classroom spellbound.

		First Americans In celebration of the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall, and in honor of Native American History Month, we have gathered our favorite lessons and resources on the arts and culture of the First Americans. Through dance and sculpture, poetry and storytelling, your students can explore the rich symbolism of many traditional and contemporary Native American art forms, engage in sensitive interpretation of Native cultures and increase their understanding of the many peoples of our diverse nation.

		The Art of Democracy The world of politics, presidential races, and the campaign trail is revealed in our collection of text, audio, and images. In honor of the Presidential Inauguration this month, we have assembled lessons on a variety of topics, from political cartoons to historical songs to creating campaign posters. Explore The White House Historical Association: Classroom, where students and teachers can explore many arts-based activities, including a timeline of important musical events at the White House and a curatorial online gallery of paintings housed in the White House.

		Martha Graham: Steps of a Giant The "mother of modern dance," Martha Graham is considered one of the most influential and peerless dance artists of the 20th century. Her fearless, provocative explorations of the varied terrains of the human psyche were a constant revelation throughout her long career, which spanned over 65 years. This month, use our collection of lessons and images to explore the life, career, and remarkable accomplishments of this celebrated icon of modern dance. Through lessons, such as "Graham's Appalachian Spring: A Study," learn about the seminal achievement of Martha Graham's choreography which married Aaron Copland's music, unique movement, and themes of the American frontier. Using the mini-site, "A Dancer's Journal: Learning to Perform the Dances of Martha Graham," explore the fictional life of a young dancer as she learns the Graham technique and prepares for several roles. This month's Spotlight will immerse you and your students in the work and life of Martha Graham - a world you will not soon forget.

		Back to School with the Arts! Welcome Back ! To celebrate the beginning of the new school year, we're Spotlighting the many ways for you to teach in, through, and about the arts. We hope this collection will inspire you to use the arts in your classroom in new and creative ways. As always, we are delighted to be a resource for you, and we hope you will tell us how we are meeting our goal of delivering compelling arts experiences—- feel free to drop us a note by using the Feedback button at the top of each page. Have a wonderful school year, and we'll see you online! The ARTSEDGE Team

		Exploring The Nutcracker A holiday party, a young girl's fantastical dream, a heart-pounding duel, an enchanted forest, and, of course, a handsome prince? All these and more magical elements comprise the holiday treat, The Nutcracker. With this month's collection, learn about creative movement and classical dance, and how to integrate and use it in the classroom. Students can explore the history of ballet, and take a behind-the-scenes peek at two ballet companies. Discover the beauty of ballet and revisit a timeless classic with this month's spotlight!

		Festival of China Rich with 5,000 years of history and 1.3 billion people strong, China has moved into the 21st century at a breathtaking pace. As this dynamic civilization catapults to prominence upon the world stage, the Kennedy Center was the site of the single largest presentation of Chinese performing arts ever hosted by a single institution, even in China itself. Throughout the month-long festival, ARTSEDGE worked to capture the celebration for classroom audiences. From the unpacking of the 2,200 year-old Terra Cotta Warriors to a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for artist Cai Guo-Qiang’s pyrotechnics event on the Potomac River, we will be giving classrooms unprecedented access to Festival musicians, actors, dancers and puppeteers through video and audio pieces, slideshows, performance guides and deep interactives. Use the lessons and links here to start your study of China, and check back throughout the next few months— we will be adding new content to the site as the Festival unfolds!

		Celebrating Theater for Young People This winter, join us as the Kennedy Center proudly welcomes audiences to the Family Theater, the new home of Imagination Celebration. This 320-seat theater designed to house performances for young people and their families will open December 9, 2005, with a stage adaptation of "Alice," a children's book by actress and comedienne Whoopi Goldberg. Since 1973, The Kennedy Center’s Youth and Family Programs (YFP) has presented performances for young people from preschool through high school, in both school and family audiences. Tens of millions of children, teachers, and families have enjoyed Imagination Celebration performances over these first three decades—both here at the Center and as part of Imagination Celebration on Tour, which visits more than 69 cities annually. A program of the Center’s Education Department, YFP holds unique position in the field of performing arts for young people as a program that not only presents but also develops, commissions, produces, and tours productions in the traditional genres of theater, music, and dance as well as puppetry, musical theater, storytelling, and opera. ARTSEDGE supports these Center-produced works with lessons, interactives, print and other integrated media resources that help students gain a richer understanding of live performance and the world of the arts. In celebration of our newest performance space—and the next 30 years of bringing the performing arts to young audiences—we have gathered some of our favorites for this month’s Spotlight.

		"Add" Art to Your Classroom! In celebration of National Math Month, we’ve gathered materials that help your students explore the many connections between the arts and math. From the numbers behind the music to the geometry in art and architecture, you'll discover that the influence of math is a common denominator in the arts!

		Art and Sport Celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month by asking the question, which comes first: ‘art and sport’ or ‘sport and art’? In many instances, one relies on the other, or compliments the various relationships between the two. Learn how art and sport work together by investigating bike skills through drama, observing Olympic athletes and the visual arts, demystifying the myth that boys can’t dance, and—prepare to be astonished—watching rock climbing techniques and its correlation to ballet.

		Camp ARTSEDGE Make the days of summer an interactive adventure! Arts, Academics, and Adventure await your students and their parents this summer on ARTSEDGE! Have your students take home a summer project worksheet to share with their parents. Students and their parents will collaborate as they learn more about storytelling, dance, songwriting, filmmaking and photography. The shared learning experience will bring them closer together!

		Celebrating Jazz When the first notes were played in New Orleans more than 100 years ago, jazz became the first original art form to develop in America. Blending sounds and sentiments from western Africa, America gospel singing,and European harmonies, jazz is characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis has called jazz a "conversation," or music that "makes it up as it goes along." Join us on an in-depth exploration of one of America's richest musical forms; in addition to lessons and interactives, look for special jazz-connected Web-releases throughout the Spring!

		Batter Up! Learning about orchestral music has never been this much fun! In honor of the World Series, ARTSEDGE explores the "connection" between baseball and music. Our celebration centers around Perfect Pitch, a major interactive designed for students in grades 5-8. This multimedia exploration introduces students to the most enduring all-stars of the orchestra: the instruments. Perfect Pitch includes music clips and important "stats" about the "players"—from bassoons to xylophones—that have brought orchestral music to audiences since the Baroque era. They can mix and match instrument sounds to create a winning orchestral team, then test their orchestra know-how with an interactive quiz. To help your students play like power-hitters, two lessons— How Romantic! Parallels in Music and History and Playing in the Orchestral Team— have been developed to guide you in using the interactive in the classroom and extending the learning across the curriculum. In this spotlight, we have also collected our other orchestra-themed lessons that you might find useful as your kids start to play with orchestral themes. Have a ball!