Architecture
Architecture in South Africa during the 1900’s consisted of small, paned windows made of timber with sash windows. The designs were inspired by those of Dutch buildings during that time.
Music
Music is a very important part of South African Culture, allowing a new way to express oneself and also enabling bridges to be build between races. Starting in the 1900’s, Marabi sound was played on pianos accompanied by pebble-filled cans. This began to develop into what we would characterize as an early form of jazz. By 1912, music gained popularity with the development of the first commercial recordings. The most famous musicians played similar to something modeled after American swing groups. Because of their success, the first professional black musicians in South Africa continued to thrive through the 1930’s and 1940s. Around that same time, broadcast radio became the new, up and rising way to listen to music. Music industries began to thrive and black South African music took the spotlight. There was also accompaniment from acapella groups.
As these musicians became more popular, they were sent to London to record for bigger labels. The first song to sell over 100,000 copies was “Mbube”, which was later adapted into the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. The 1950’s brought a new light to music in South Africa with the creation of Kwela music. This used instruments such as the penny whistle. As the South African Jazz continued to grow, as did the interactions between the white liberals coming into town to hear the music.This was considered one of the first real cultural interactions between races. |
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Art
In the Early 20th Century, South African art began to resemble geometric shapes to depict landscapes.
By 1930, woman began to bring techniques of post-impressionism and expressionism. This included techniques of bold color and composition, something that had never been done previously. The artists chose a specific and personal point of view when portraying their subjects.
Beginning in the 1940's, landscapes started to shift to abstract art through greater influence of the Europeans. Black Artists were neglected and white artist began to create South African Art their own. There was a large integration of European and African subjects,
The Song of the Pick. 1947
Gerard Sekoto
Gerard Sekoto
The Bride 1943
Irma Stern
post impressionism
Irma Stern
post impressionism
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v=qj0zE8N_2QA>.
Ethonmusicology Explained. Kwela. 9 Feb 2016. 18 April 2017 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5iNtSNTvDs>.
Female Figurine. The Metropoliton Museum of Art, New York.
Official Custodian of South African's Nation Brand. South African Art. 20 January 2014.
<https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/arts-facts/art>.
Online, South African History. The South African Society of Artists and it's Exhibitors. 10 May 2016. 11 April 2017
<http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/society-advancement-art>.
Oxford Art. Oxford Art Online. 18 April 2017 <http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/>.
Pierneef, Jacobus Hendrik. A House in a Landscape.
Pierneef, JH. An Extensive View of Farmlands. Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg.
Sekoto, Gerard. Girl with Orange.
Sekoto, Gerard. The Song of the Pick.
South African History Online. The Development of Music in South Africa. 21 July 2016. 1 April 2017
<http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/development-music-south-africa-timeline-1600-2004>.
Stern, Irma. The Bride.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. South Africa, 1900 A.D. 2017. 11 April 2017.
Union Buildings. 11 April 2017. 18 April 2017 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Buildings>.
Vandermerwe, Danie. Flickr. <http://www.southafrica.net/blog/en/posts/entry/building-blocks-a-brief-look-at-south-african-
architecture>.
v=qj0zE8N_2QA>.
Ethonmusicology Explained. Kwela. 9 Feb 2016. 18 April 2017 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5iNtSNTvDs>.
Female Figurine. The Metropoliton Museum of Art, New York.
Official Custodian of South African's Nation Brand. South African Art. 20 January 2014.
<https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/arts-facts/art>.
Online, South African History. The South African Society of Artists and it's Exhibitors. 10 May 2016. 11 April 2017
<http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/society-advancement-art>.
Oxford Art. Oxford Art Online. 18 April 2017 <http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/>.
Pierneef, Jacobus Hendrik. A House in a Landscape.
Pierneef, JH. An Extensive View of Farmlands. Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg.
Sekoto, Gerard. Girl with Orange.
Sekoto, Gerard. The Song of the Pick.
South African History Online. The Development of Music in South Africa. 21 July 2016. 1 April 2017
<http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/development-music-south-africa-timeline-1600-2004>.
Stern, Irma. The Bride.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. South Africa, 1900 A.D. 2017. 11 April 2017.
Union Buildings. 11 April 2017. 18 April 2017 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Buildings>.
Vandermerwe, Danie. Flickr. <http://www.southafrica.net/blog/en/posts/entry/building-blocks-a-brief-look-at-south-african-
architecture>.