Block Party Perspectives: Art by Dan Lish

I saw someone on Twitter today say that we should close off our streets and throw block parties once lockdown is over.

In this piece of art by Brighton-based artist Dan Lish, he recreates a block party, from the time of the birth of hip hop in New York – historians believe the actual date of this to be August 11th, 1973, when DJ Kool Herc and his friend hosted a party in the Bronx.

Picture 1: Block Party by Dan Lish (2001)

In this follow up piece, the perspective changes to a train going past and a little boy being inspired by what he can see from the window.

Picture 2: Back To The Old School! by Dan Lish (2018)

Here’s an example of the kind of music you would have heard the DJ play on the day.

There’s a long break in the song which is just drums – with two copies of the record, the DJ could keep the drums going as long as she or he wanted. Dancers improvised – the break dancers. Eventually, MCs would rap over the breaks too. Apache’s break is very famous and very sampled, used in a lot of later hip hop tracks.

QUESTIONS

1. Picture 2: There is a boy on the train looking out of the window. What do you think he is thinking? 
2. How do you think he would describe what he can see to his friends? 
3. Why do you think there is writing on the walls of the train? 
4. Picture 1: Where do you think the party is taking place? 
5. Why is the party outside? 
6. Who is at the party? 
7. What is the job of the person with the microphone? 
8. What is the job of the person with the headphones? 
9. Why are people shouting? What are they shouting? 
10. Why do you think people needed a block party?
11. Who would you be in this picture? Say why.

Thanks to Dan for approving this use of his art!