Discuss the significance of the Harlem Renaissance as a cultural movement that included visual arts and various other art forms. Name several important artists and works from the Harlem Renaissance and explain the long-term effects of the movement on American art, society, and politics

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Responses will vary depending on the selection of artwork. In the period following World War I, the United States saw the flowering of art dedicated to building a better society. One of the most vibrant movements, the Harlem Renaissance, arose in an area of New York—Harlem, which was home to many black Americans of all economic classes. Three experiences merged during this period: the rich heritage of Africa, the legacy of slavery, and the realities of modern life. During the decade of the 1920s, Harlem served as a magnet to great talent in all the arts, such as music, visual art, theater, and literature, in addition to the sciences. Louis Armstrong, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Aaron Douglas are just a few of the talented artists in residence during this period. The Harlem Renaissance lasted only a decade and ended with the 1929 stock market crash. Artists continued to have a vision of a better society and believed that the arts had a social mission during those difficult times.