THTR 363: Beginning Costume Development and Analysis: Class Activity

Researching Culture:

Look in the following 2 eBooks that will help you to understand the African American experience between 1900-1950:

African American Culture: An Encyclopedia of People, Traditions, and Customs

• Try looking up topics related to characters in August Wilson's plays, such as professional basketball or football, or jazz music, between 1900-1950.

Daily Life of African Americans in Primary Documents

• Look at Volume 2, which covers 1865-2020
• What do you learn about aspects of African American life in the early 1900s?

Be prepared to show the class some highlights from what you found.

Costume/Fashion:

Look at these two eBooks about costume and fashion:

Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages 

• Use the drop-down menu to select The Modern World Part I: 1900 to 1945. Look for information about the African Americans. 

Fashion and Jazz: Dress, Identity and Subcultural Improvisation

• Look for information about fashion and jazz in the late 1920s.

Be prepared to talk to the class about what you found.

Costume/Fashion:

Go to Artstor, and search for images that depict the African American experience between 1900-1950

Tips:

• Try searching for different terms for African Americans (including outdated terms) 
• Can you find images of a specific location, such as Pittsburgh or New York City?
• Try using the options on the left sidebar to look for different types of images, including photographs or fashion

Be prepared to show several images you found.

Searching for Images in Books and eBooks:

Use the search box below to search the library catalog for: African Americans and also add one of the words below that will help you to find a book with images:

• Pictorial
• Photograph*
• Illustration*

Look for sources 2 print books that are available in the Clark Library that would help you to understand and visualize the African American experience between 1900-1950.

Go downstairs to find the books on the shelf and bring them back to the classroom.

Be prepared to show the class some highlights from what you found.