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Music, Memory, Place and History

Inspired by the experiences of former comfort women, this music lesson guide offers an interactive take, using composer and saxophonist, Francis Wong’s score to tell the traumas of war and imperialism. Created by Francis Wong himself, this lesson can be used in Art and Music, perfect for grades 6-8.

Subject

Art, Music

Grade

6 +

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Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will learn more how to to gain a sense of the emotional journey of those who have gone through trauma through listening and performing music. Students will collage a poster, showing the highs and lows of war and imperialism. This is part of the collaborative art-based lesson guide, Justice for Comfort Women!: War & Imperialism. Download the PDF to see the full lesson. 

This project was funded by San Francisco State University’s Comfort Women Research & Creative Scholarship.

Vocabulary

  • War
  • Imperialism
  • Oppression

About Collaborator

Francis Wong has a 45+ year history in student and community activism, beginning in the Asian American Movement of the 1970s and 80s. He is known for his contributions to community-based arts that share the stories and perspectives of Asian Americans.

 

Francis Wong was honored as the Distinguished Graduate Student in Asian American Studies at the Graduate Student recognition ceremony on Wednesday May 25, 2016. Francis was honored for his academic excellence and for his artistic and community practice in the Asian American community. As an award-winning saxophonist, composer, and music director, while in graduate school he directed and recorded musical scores for Lenora Lee’s immersive dance theater works “The Detached” and “Rescued: NY Stories” (2014) which dealt with the issue of human trafficking and “Fire of Freedom” (2015) which dealt with issues of war, trauma, and women’s experience. He also released a CD of new work entitled “Needs Are Met” in collaboration with legendary saxophonist Ari Brown and veteran bassist Tatsu Aoki in Chicago.

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