Over the course of the semester, you will learn about different people, places,and things that have been a part of Minnesota’s history. The goal of this
activity is for you to experience some of these yourself and reflect on how that
experience relates to our course content.
You will have the option to select a museum/historical site or marker,
exhibits/performances, movies, books, or other cultural events at Normandale
or within reasonable travel distance of campus. This gives you the opportunit y
to learn more about a subject that we discussed in class, bring back what you
learned from the experience into our class discussions, and reflect on the
history of Minnesota as it ties into that novel, performance, or museum visit.
There are plenty of free options throughout the Twin Cities’ metro area – they
are probably something that you have passed several times without noticing.
Many of the museums in the Twin Cities also offer student discounts or special
events where admission is either free or significantly less for a cultural night
out.
The goal of this activity is to get you to look around at the places and things
you already know – or go out and explore new ones – and see how they relate
to or have changed over the course of Minnesota’s history.
To accomplish this, you will select a cultural event, museum, or popular culture
publication that is:
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Of interest to you and
Somehow relates to Minnesota History
Your book/movie or exhibit/performance review should be approximately
350-500 words long (approximately two-three pages). This review should be:
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12pt font size, and
Use an academic font style: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Cambria,
etc. (i.e. no Comic Sans)
Feel free to include or attach any photos you took at an event or museum with
your submitted write up. Please ask or confirm permission to do so before
taking them!
Note: This activity is designed to overlap with other projects or assignments in
our class – and possibly others you are taking this semester. For example, if you
are in an American Literature course and are reading some F. Scott Fitzgerald
writings already, you could then also read some of his novels and short stories
about St. Paul, MN or visit his childhood home for this Explorer in Minnesota
activity.
The important thing is to make sure that the item or event you are reviewing is
related to Minnesota History course content or created by/about Minnesotans.
Minnesota History
Reading and Viewing Guide – Week 13
Watch: “Funkin’ on the Northside – Prince & Black Minneapolis“ – https://youtu.be/OzVZmP6Jzk (01:04:50)
You only need to watch until the Q&A session starts (approx. 48:00)
1. What thing(s) did you notice first or find interesting? Why did those hold your attention?
2. How is music a way to revolt? How did funk serve as a method for this in Prince’s
music?
3. According to the lecturer, in African cosmology, “people are created in harmony with the
rhythms of nature and that free expression is tantamount to spiritual and mental health.”
Where else have we seen or heard about this in the long history of Minnesota? How did
Anglo or European (white) structures or systems attempt to control this during the
colonial and/or expansionist era?
4. How did tech or “geekdom” influence Prince’s music? How did this serve as a method of
resistance or rebellion against preconceived notions between African Americans and
technology?
5. Which themes or concepts that we have discussed in class did the lecturer cover in the
song’s lyrics from Prince’s “North Side”?
6. Does the date this lecture was created or produced have any further, deeper
significance on how relevant or reflective this piece is about what was going on at the
time? Think about what was going on in Minnesota, US, or world history that might
influence or explain why this piece is significant.
7. How is this lecture’s content different from what you knew about the subject before?
Does it put the subject of Prince’s music and Minnesota/Minneapolis history into a
different context or add more “background” detail to what you knew about it before?
8. Do you think that Prince and his music helped pave the way for other artists to occupy
similar spaces in music? If so, how? Can you think of other Minnesotan artists or acts
that challenge preconceived notions of gender, race, or technology used in music?
9. Extra credit: Which guitarist from Latinx descent does the speaker give credit as
influencing Prince’s styling?