These examples illustrate how an interesting story may lead to a topic.
Drums Across Cultures
Drums are found in almost every culture in the world,
and they serve many different roles. Drums are an important part
of many sacred traditions and rituals. In parts of Africa, special
drums are believed to protect tribal royalty. In Central Asia
and North America, drums are used in shaman rituals. Drums are
also used as a method of communication in many cultures. The “talking
drums” of Africa are used to transmit messages over many
miles. Similarly, the snare drum has been used in European military
regiments to issue commands to soldiers. Drums are used musically
in almost every culture, from Islamic classical music to American
hip-hop.
Thinking Questions: Do other musical instruments play special roles
in different cultures? What types of instruments are unique to
specific cultures? What are the origins of a particular musical
instrument?
Other Possible Categories: Arts & Entertainment
Origins of Jazz Music
New Orleans, Louisiana is often called the birthplace of jazz.
The roots of jazz are in the work songs, spirituals, and hymns
of African slaves brought to the United States in the 1800s. By
the turn of the century, settlers from Europe had arrived in New
Orleans, introducing new musical traditions such as Spanish flamenco,
Irish jigs, and German waltzes. African-American musicians combined
all of these styles to create a new kind of music, called “jazz”.
Today, the term refers loosely to music with syncopated rhythms,
“blue” notes, and improvisation. It is one of the
most popular types of music in the world.
Thinking Questions: What accounts for a particular music’s universal
appeal? How does a style of music change and adapt as it is travels
to distant places or is adopted by different people? Is music
influenced by time, reflecting aspects of a particular period
or era?
Other Possible Categories: Arts & Entertainment
Traditional Dress Around the World
Everyone loves a party! Sometimes parties or celebrations require
special clothing. In India during Deepavali (Festival of Lights),
people light oil lamps and wear brightly colored clothing to thank
the gods for the happiness, knowledge, and wealth that they have
received in the past year. Women wear saris (long pieces of cloth
wrapped around their bodies); men wear kurtas (long tunics), churidars
(long scarves), and dhoti-punjabis (trousers). In Russia, a festival
called Maslyanitsa is held to say farewell to the winter season.
During the festival, people dance while wearing traditional Russian
clothing or folk costumes of dogs, cows, or cats. In Japan on
Hina Matsuri (Girls’ Day), parents celebrate the health
and strength of their daughters. Girls wear kimonos, a traditional
Japanese robe made from silk. On Tango-no-Sekku (Boys’ Day),
families celebrate their hopes and ambitions for their sons. Boys
sometimes wear a costume called gogatsu-ningyo, although more
often the costume is simply put on display in the home. The gogatsu-ningyo
consists of a helmet, armor, and swords and is usually accompanied
by flags, the family’s crest, arrows, and drums.
Thinking Questions: What special clothing is worn during your
regional holidays and celebrations? What do the special costumes
represent? What shared themes can you find among different cultures’
traditional clothing?
Other Possible Categories: Arts & Entertainment, History
& Government
Citations:
- Aronoff, Kenny. “History of the Drum
and Drum Set.” Home page. 2003. A.J. Pro Percussion.
8 Mar. 2004 <http://www.ajpropercussion.com/dc_hist.html>.
- Cole, Richard, and Ed Schwartz. Virginia
Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary. 2003. Virginia Tech Department
of Music. 8 Mar. 2004 <http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/>.
- “Timeline.” Jazz Kids. PBS. 8 Mar. 2004
<http://www.pbs.org/jazz/kids/time/index.html>.
- Kohler, Carl. History of Costume. New
York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1928.
- “Diwali: Clothes.” Dial India. 15 Jul. 2004 <http://www.dialindia.com/festivals/
diwali/clothes.html>.
- Niharica. “‘Diwali in India.”
Comp. Hos-McGrane, M. Holidays and Festivals Around the
World. 26 Jan. 1999. 15 Jul. 2004 <http://www.internet-at-work.com/
hos_mcgrane/holidays/niharica.html>.
- Olga. “Maslyanitsa in Russia.”
Comp. Hos-McGrane, M. Holidays and Festivals Around the
World. 4 Feb. 1999. 15 Jul. 2004 <http://www.internet-at-work.com/
hos_mcgrane/holidays/olga.html>.
- Yuko. “Japanese Children’s Festivals.”
Comp. Hos-McGrane, M. Holidays and Festivals Around the
World. 25 Feb. 2000. 15 Jul. 2004 <http://www.internet-at-work.com/
hos_mcgrane/holidays/2_yuko.html>.
- Sargent, Denny. “The Festivals of Shinto:
Tango-no-sekku.” Shinto and Its Festivals. 21
Jul. 2004 <http://www.thelema.net/hml/00Shinto/chap6.html>.
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