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Soulstepping Reviews
In Soulstepping, Fine
(interdisciplinary studies, communication studies, humanities, Virginia
Tech) presents yet another genre of the synthesis of African American
culture: coordinated group movements, theater and ritual, break dancing,
ring shouting, jazz, playing the dozens and signifying, costuming, hip
hop, and juba--i.e. soulstepping.
Soulstepping appears to have
originated within black college fraternities about 1925, but it has most
recently become exceptionally popular, not only among blacks on campus but
also among Latino/a and Asian groups. To provide a definition and history
of the subject, the author--who was introduced to stepping in
1983--discusses Greek-letter societies and campuses and their role in
stepping. Her field is folklore, and she takes her subject seriously. The
book is well illustrated.
Summing up: Highy recommended.
- D .R. de Lerma, Lawrence University.
Soulstepping: African
American Step Shows, by Elizabeth Fine, (University of Illinois,
$24.95). Soulstepping- rhythms created by hands and feet and accented by
words- is common among black fraternities and sororities and has been
growing in popularity since Spike Lee introduced mass audiences to it in
his movie “School Daze” in 1988.
The white author, who first
witnessed stepping when a black friend invited her to a step show on the
Virginia Tech campus in 1983, does a thorough job from describing its
history—which some believe is rooted in Africa— to showing its spread to
national competitions and popular movies and television.
- Cassandra Spratling, Knight Ridder Newspapers, Long Beach, CA,
PRESS-TELEGRAM, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003
“Marching in Place”
Her
Soulstepping: African American Step Shows—a comprehensive look at the
tradition that explores its history, socio-cultural relevance, and
ever-broadening scope—. . . [is] a well-rounded and lively look at a
subculture that, she says, has received “little formal study” and is
virtually unknown in many circles. . . . Fine’s vivid characterization and
outsider’s ardor might even help the uninitiated overcome their
reservations and get out to a show where they can see the real thing for
themselves.
-
Sarah Godfrey,
Washington City Paper, July 11, 2003
Soulstepping: African
American Step Shows by Elizabeth C. Fine (Associate Professor in the
Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of the Humanities
Program, Virginia Tech) is an informed and informative introduction to a
complex and unique form of performance that blends dance, percussion,
chanting, drama, initially developed by African-American fraternities and
sororities, and has evolved to now being practiced and performed
worldwide.
The history, culture,
politics, and art of this African-American performance artform is examined
in-depth; with black-and-white photographs embellish this impressively,
scholarly, highly recommended contribution to Black American cultural
studies, reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
- Midwest Book Review (Originally posted on Amazon.com)
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