Lesson 3: Teacher's Production Log

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Facilitating Media Analysis & The Soul Train Line

Activity Type

Media Case Study

Key Instructional Focus

This lesson marks the shift from community-based dance (Savoy) to commercially-broadcast dance (Bandstand). The central question is: Does television preserve dance or change it into a product?

Discussion Prompts

The Twist: "Why was a dance where you didn't touch your partner considered a 'threat' to the social order of 1960?"
Soul Train: "How did Soul Train act as a response to the lack of Black representation on shows like American Bandstand?"
Commercialization: "When a dance is used to sell hairspray or shoes on TV, does it lose its original meaning?"

Running the Soul Train Line

1

The Setup

Divide the class into two lines facing each other. Explain that in the original show, dancers were showing off for their peers, not a teacher. The 'clapping' from the line is just as important as the dancing in the middle.

2

The "Walk"

Dancers come down the line in pairs (or solo). They have roughly 10-15 seconds. Encourage rhythmic walking or 'stepping' if they are too shy to 'dance'.

3

The Celebration

Crucial rule: No one is judged on their skill. The line's job is to make the people in the middle feel like stars.

Management Tip

"If a student is paralyzed by the spotlight, have them walk down the line with a partner holding a 'prop' (like a cool pair of sunglasses or a pretend microphone). This shifts the focus from their body to the character."

Era-Appropriate Tracks

• "The Love I Lost" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
• "Best of My Love" - The Emotions
• "Super Freak" - Rick James

Screen to Street

Screen to Street Slides

Trend Tracker Worksheet

Soul Train Facilitation Guide