NORTH AMERICA: Creative Expression and Artistic Traditions
Chapt 6, Sect 2
1. How do the literature and music of the U.S. and Canada reflect diverse
cultures?
African American cultures, and rhythms and sounds from Africa, Europe, and Asia
have contributed to jazz. American writers such as Willa Cather have been
influenced by the immigrant experience in America.
2. How do the art and architecture of the U.S. and Canada reflect the history
and landscape of the nations?
Artists and architects of both countries have been influenced and inspired by the
different landscapes of their country. Architects have adapted buildings not only to
fit in with the landscape, but to bring the ‘outside inside.’
Quebecois literature French Canadian literature
improvisation
spontaneous creation of music or some other form of performing art
Group of Seven
group of Canadian landscape artists, whose bold colors and unique style inspired other
Canadian artists to experiment
Langston Hughes
African American poet who wrote about life in Harlem
Andrew Wyeth
popular American painter whose work focuses on rural scenes
Literature
Music
Art
Architecture
Willa Cather
Jazz, Bluegrass,
Zydeco
Andrew Wyeth
Frank Lloyd
Wright
United States
Langston
Hughes
Canada
Lucy Maude
Montgomery
Quebecois
Literature
Georgia
O’Keefe
Group of Seven
Native
American
artists
Arthur Ericksen
Nuggets:
 American writer John Steinbeck (Grapes of Wrath) wrote about a poor family
escaping the dust storms of the Southern Great Plains.
 Langston Hughes, African American poet, wrote about life in Harlem before the
civil rights movement.
 American author Herman Melville (Moby Dick) wrote about the struggles of
people with nature, using a whaling story as its subject.
 American writer Mark Twain wrote about life along the Mississippi River
 Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote a series of books (Anne of Green
Gables) that was much like Laura Ingles Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie
NORTH AMERICA: Creative Expression and Artistic Traditions
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Chapt 6, Sect 2
Quebecois literature encouraged readers to have pride in their French culture.
Three musical traditions that came from the blending of musical traditions from
immigrants are Jazz, Cajun Zydeco, and Bluegrass.
Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong was one of the most popular jazz musicians
American painter Fritz Hugh Lane painted New England whaling/boating scenes
American painter Georgia O’Keefe painted the desert Southwest landscapes
American architect Frank Lloyd Wright became famous for designing homes in
the prairie style that blended in with the Midwest landscapes.
Canadian architect Arthur Erickson designed homes to fit seamlessly into the
forests of British Columbia.
The race to build the tallest skyscraper reflected the wealth and power of the
U.S. and Canada.
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SUMMARY: The literature. Music, art, and architecture of the U.S. and Canada reflect the history, landscape,
and cultural diversity of the two countries.