Who Shot Rock and Roll (Art Museum)

This is a photograph of two musical artist, Jay Z and Puff Daddy. The picture was taken in by Mark Seliger, a very famous photographer for the Conde Nast Publications, but has also taken several pictures for GQ and Vanity Fair. The picture is in traditional and plain black and white while the two were taking a break from recording a music video. 

When I was walking around the museum trying to decide which artwork to do my blog on, this one immediately stuck out. I really love how Seliger captures the two calmly sitting by one another on their mobile devices. They look relaxed and like normal people. The two famous rappers look like ordinary people in this picture which is what makes the picture so neat. The picture is in black and white, which I think gives it a unique look, you can't see flashy jewelry or bright colored clothes, only the silhouette of the two men. What really stands out about the picture to me is the cigar in Jay Z's left hand. It reminds the viewers that the two artist are still high class that is taken away by the black and white photography.  

The Big Apple

1) The shag consists of 6 steps that are count 1,2,3,4,5,6, and the repeated. Even though the music is in 4/4 time. The male dancer and female dancer are doing the exact same steps just opposite one another.

2) The Big Apple was originally known as the House of Peace synagog. In 1915 the building was burnt down by fire and replaced with the current building. When the building was a place for worship, men would sit on the floor while the women would be required to sit on the floor. The building was sold in 1936 because the congregation had outgrown the church. The same year the property would be renamed as the Big Apple Night Club. Mostly attended by african american youth, but traveled to New York by white students attending the University of South Carolina. The shag would become a very popular dance at the club. The Night Club was abandon  in 1979, and later the building was moved from its original spot to the corner of Hampton and Park St. In 1993 the building was bought by the Historic Columbia Foundation and renovated, but maintained it original architecture (high ceilings and very open) and is now available to rent out for special occasions such as weddings.

3) The shag originated in nightclubs in Myrtle Beach South Carolina in the late 1920's and early 1930's. Also known as "Beach dancing" and is mentioned in several songs such as Shagging on the Boulevard by Alabama, I Love Beach Music by the Embers, and Under the Boardwalk by the Drifters. All of these songs are about shagging in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. Charleston South Carolina and The Big Apple Nightclub are also responsible for introducing shagging to the nation The shag is usually danced to music in 4/4 time, mostly blues and Motown. The shag is danced from the waist down and requires smooth and fast footwork, unlike many dancing involving the hips and upper body. South Carolina is responsible and also the home of the "shag", No wonder its the State Dance!

Assignment 6 (Dance)

1. The Barque dance form is very similar to the styles that are seen in our modern day ballet. It was first developed in France at the court of Louis XIV during the "Barque Period". A slight difference from todays ballet to Barque dance; in modern day ballet, the dancers dance at a very high level, meaning that they are up on their tip toes throughout the entire dance. In Barque dance, the dancers dance at a low level, meaning that their heels barley came off the ground. King Louis XIV developed a school of dance, and also developed an international vocabulary for dance. Some examples of Barque are the minuet, courante, chaconne, and gigue. These dances were both performed by professionals at the time on stage, and by everyday people in a ballroom parties.


2. People dance for so many reasons:
1) It may be their job as a professional
2) Dancing at parties for fun
3) to express themselves
4) at weddings, there is a "first dance" as man and wife
5) some people dance for exercise
6) some people dance for religious practices
7) In some countries, proper dance is required to show maturity
8) people dance to celebrate
There are so many types and different forms of dancing that everyone does it.


3) Some examples of non-western dance are: Belly dancing, Cha-Cha, rhumba, conga, all African dance forms, and folk dancing. These dances greatly differ from the ballroom dances we see here in America. They are very fast dancing art forms with several different steps.