Devin Allen, a photographer from Baltimore, Maryland
The Imagery of Hip Hop
Grades 9-12
Hip Hop emerged as a cultural movement in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City, among African American and Latinx communities facing challenges like poverty and crime. It started as a way for young people to express themselves through music, dance, art, and fashion. Photography also played a significant role in documenting and shaping hip hop culture. Photographers captured the energy and creativity of hip hop parties, graffiti art on subway trains and walls, and the expressive movements of breakdancers. These images helped spread hip-hop's influence beyond New York City, showcasing its artistic innovations and cultural impact to a wider audience.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
Students will be able to analyze the role of photography in documenting social and cultural movements, as well as personal narratives.
- How has photography captured and shaped the essence of hip hop culture?
- In what ways has photography contributed to giving a voice and sense of pride to marginalized communities?
Artworks Clip
- Devin Allen mentions learning from Gordon Parks and YouTube University before his work gained national attention. How does Allen’s self-taught approach influence the authenticity and perspective of his photographs?
- The video highlights two of Allen’s Time magazine covers that capture significant moments of social unrest and protest during 2015 and 2020. How do these images contribute to the national conversation about race and police brutality?
- Why do you think it is important for artists like Allen to highlight their communities and collaborate with other artists?
Vocabulary
Supplemental Enrichment Activities
In the above video clip, Devin Allen discusses how his work as a photographer intersects with that of other artists. His images document music and music makers, but are also informed by music.
Have students explore Hip-Hop (R)Evolutions on the National Museum of African American History & Culture website. Have them review images of hip hop photography or graffiti art and read about artists' experiences and influences in their creative process.
Then, have students pick a song (or choice of songs) to listen to. Ask students to create something visually, such as a painting, drawing, photograph, graphic story, etc.
» Go to WebsiteGraffiti has always been a visual art form in the Hip-Hop culture. Within the last 30 years, the hip hop culture has expanded to music, videos, and photography. Explore the Hip Hop Collection on the Sonic Editions website to see some of the most iconic members of the hip hop community captured in photographs. With a partner, discuss how music is interconnected to other art forms.
Hip hop has been around for over half of a century. Watch the video to visit another Hip Hop exhibition that has curated over 50 images from iconic photographers. Explain how the visual images create a storyline of Hip Hop throughout the years.