Essay on Jazz Ken Burns - 1444 Words

Jazz by Ken Burns â€Å"JAZZ† is a documentary by Ken Burns released 2001 that focuses on the creation and development of jazz, America’s â€Å"greatest cultural achievement.† The first episodes entitled, â€Å"Gumbo, Beginnings to 1917† and â€Å"The Gift (1917-1924), explain the early growth of jazz as it originates in New Orleans and its expands to Chicago and New York during the Jazz Age. In assessing the first two episodes of Ken Burns 2001 documentary, JAZZ, this essay will explore the history of jazz, the musics racial implications, and its impact on society. In doing so, attention will also be given to the structure of the documentary, and the effectiveness of documentary film in retelling the past. In the first episode of†¦show more content†¦For this reason, their music incorporated a lot of dynamic improvisation and creativity, a characteristic that separates jazz from the other musical styles at the time of its birth. One of the two most important musical influences was Ragtime, a style of music of insistent syncopated â€Å"ragged† rhythm created by black piano players. Photos and video clips of people playing and dancing to ragtime are examples of Burns amazing use of art photography and photojournalism to make the story more vivid for the viewers. Ragtime was a style of music the youth enjoyed to listen and dance to while the older generation of white men considered it a product of anarchism. A quote by a Massachusetts attorney and politician of the nineteenth century, Edward Baxter Perry explains that â€Å" victims in [his] opinion can be treated successfully only like the dog with rabies, with a dose of led,† when talking about people who listened, and danced to ragtime. As segregation took over New Orleans, formerly freed creoles, whites who were of black descendants began to play together with the African Americans, combining their musical styles and creating an entirely new one that inco rporated which came to be known as jazz. Creoles were affluent in classical music and piano, which they incorporated into the making of jazz music. The second main musicalShow MoreRelatedBaseball By Ken Burns : Baseball Is The Constitution, Jazz Music, And Baseball1584 Words   |  7 Pagesin America, almost as long as America has been America. It has been with us through revolutions, civil wars, world wars, and depressions. To quote Gerald Early in Ken Burns’ documentary, Baseball, â€Å"There are only three things that America will be remembered for 2000 years from now when they study this civilization: The Constitution, Jazz music, and Baseball.† The memories shared through generations of baseball can be pictured by many, the pickup game of all the neighborhood boys in the vacant lotRead MoreThe History and Influence of Jazz in America Essay example852 Words   |  4 PagesJazz is consider one of the most influential types of music an America History. Some of the greatest artist in the world have contribute to the success jazz have had not only on America History but throughout the world. This paper will explain the history of jazz, where it all came from and the effect it has had on the America Culture. Meltingpot.fortuecity.com states the in the 1930’s and 1940’s jazz was at it all time highest. Although it is unclear when jazz first started some believe jazzRead MoreJazz Music1079 Words   |  5 PagesThe Beginning The word â€Å"jazz† did not become commonplace until around 1920 even though it had spent the preceding decade establishing itself as a musical genre. A mix of European harmony and African rhythm, blended with the current styles of the time such as ragtime and rhythm and blues, Jazz can be seen as an amalgamation of different cultures and has had huge influences on, and evolved concurrently with, American society in the past century. The birthplace of jazz is the subject of much more controversyRead MoreThe Jazz Age Essay1472 Words   |  6 PagesThe era of the Roaring Twenties, was a time of great societal change. Many of these changes were greatly influenced by jazz music. During this time, the country was coming out of World War I and the attitude of most people was dark and dismal. Dance and music clubs became tremendously popular in an effort to improve the quality of life for many people. After experiencing the death and destruction caused by World War I, young men and women were ready for a change. They wanted to forget aboutRead MoreThe Development Of Jazz During The 20th Century Essay2084 Words   |  9 Pagesmy own work The Development of jazz in the early 20th Century In the late 19th Century, a new art from was emerging out of the combination of all that had gone before it on American soil... jazz. Many factors propelled jazz music into the 20th century, but none as significant as those concerning race; the segregation between blacks and whites, and the political actions taken by the American government. From 1900 to 1940, it seems, three main jazz music eras brought their own set of politicalRead MoreJazz Music: Bebop Essay1151 Words   |  5 PagesBebop is one of the most artistic styles of jazz music. Bebop gradually developed during the 1940’s. Bebop focused more on the freedom of creativity rather than rhythmic aspects. According to The Bop Era, it also gave soloists more room for â€Å"innovative improvisation† (Glass). Through the works of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and other players we will discover how Bebop became such a prominent style during this era. Bebop is a â€Å"genre of American music originated in New OrleansRead MoreJazz And The Past, Present, And Future1810 Words   |  8 Pages Jazz and the Past, Present, and Future One of the most profound paradoxes that Jazz as a musical genre has spurred by way of its mere existence is contained within the connotation of the word â€Å"Jazz† itself. Attempting to unravel the mysterious history of this familiar word is a sisyphusian task due in part to the contested nature of the word, yet as Alan P. Merriam and Fradley H. Garner postulate in their article Jazz – The Word from the journal Ethnomusicology: studying the problems associatedRead MoreJazz and World War Ii: Reciprocal Effects and Relationships Essay854 Words   |  4 PagesJazz and World War II: Reciprocal Effects and Relationships Both Jazz music and World War II had a significant impact on each other. Jazz music boosted the morale of soldiers fighting abroad and also lifted the spirits of their loved ones back at home. Many jazz musicians were soldiers, and several others traveled overseas or across the country to entertain U.S. troops. Among these performers were Bing Crosby, Artie Shaw, and Benny Carter. Jazz music was not only evident in American culture, butRead MoreBebop Research Papaer Essay2700 Words   |  11 PagesBebop music was the next evolutionary change of Jazz music that succeeded swing music. This paper’s aim is look at musicians who impacted this era, exploring more in depth Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. In the early 1940’s, the swing bands began to all sound the same as well as work along predictable chord changes.1 The music was now not used for dancing. Some people believed that this would let the music go away from the elite social groups, and now be for everybody. Also just becauseRead MoreJazz Influences on the 20th Century1158 Words   |  5 PagesJazz Influence on the 20th Century Jazz is considered one of the most influential types of music in American history. Some of the greatest artists in the world have contributed to the success jazz has had not only on American history, but throughout the world. Jazz music has come to serve as the base of many music styles in the United States. This paper will explain the history of jazz, where it all came from, and the effect it has had on the American culture in the 20th century. To