Baverstock Oaks School
Region: Auckland
Art form: Multi-Disciplinary / Spoken word – Rap
Project name: Hip Hop – A Cultural Movement
Project information: Ākonga will explore the use of Spoken Word poetry and/or Rap to express ideas and tell their personal stories. They will also explore Hip-hop dance as the extended communication form in this Social and Historical creative art form.
The overall goal is to show, in a meaningful way, that every student's story and experiences are valid and that in sharing them we develop a greater understanding and tolerance for each other. This project will enable ākonga to express themselves creatively, confidently and clearly. In the performance of their spoken word, rap or dance they will get a sense of purpose and pride in overcoming fear and other challenges to present their thoughts and ideas to others.
The work will be supported by sessions in which we will explore the history of spoken word poetry (starting with Shakespeare's Sonnets and Wilfred Owen's Anthem for Doomed Youth) as a means to communicate ideas and opinions to "the public". Then we will explore the cultural movement of Hip-hop and rap as we know it from the 'streets' in the 80s and 90s (with a passing view of the impact of jazz and blues in the context of slavery and oppression) to the East v West Coast movement to the impact of the Detroit sound (Eminem) and the use of hip-hop by musicians in New Zealand to express their stories and similar experiences of colonisation.
Project starting: July 2021
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