Alongside each of our major programs, Level Ground works with artists to curate a themed media syllabus of podcasts, articles, films, books, etc. An important companion piece to SKEW, this Syllabus was curated by Culture Curator Salima Allen to intentionally deepen and expand what you’ll experience through SKEW 04: Black Embodiment.

CURATOR’S NOTE:

Collective Effervescence is a spontaneous phenomena coined by Émile Durkheim, in which a collective participates in the same acts or thoughts simultaneously. This sociological concept occurs commonly during religious gatherings, musical events, and other ritualistic assemblies. 

Acting as an energetic exchange, collective effervescence allows for the singular to become unified with a greater mass, often resulting in a feeling of sacred vivacity.

With this in mind, we explore the ways in which Black embodiment can be expressed through music and mirrored togetherness.

–Salima Allen, SKEW 04 Culture Curator

Films:

1. Amazing Grace directed by Alan Elliott & Sydney Pollack (Film, 2018, streaming on Max)

2. United Skates by Stephanie M. H. Camp (Film, 2018, streaming on Max)

3. Rize directed by David LaChapelle (Film, 2005, buy or rent on YouTube)

4. The Night James Brown Saved Boston directed by David Leaf (Film, 2008, streaming on Peacock)

Videos:

5. The power of a crowd! Unspoken collective decisions and expectations. (Video, 15:18)

6. Art on energy exchanges, body, movement, and collaboration. (Video, 8:57)

7. The energy this song possesses is timeless and undying. (Music video, 4:07)

8. Feeding off of a crowd... music that takes you into a trance-like state. (Ignore the interruption at 2:16-2:45.) (Video, 7:51)

Go experience this sensation for yourself:

9. Melanin Ravers (A meet up and Instagram page dedicated to uplifting Black ravers)

10. Hood Rave LA (“A place where we can be…”)

11. Supernatural (A love letter to Black queer house and club music)