Beyoncé and School Redesign

I know this sounds really unexpected and a bit bizarre but here goes . . .

Part 1. It’s hard to imagine being under 85 years old and not having come across some reference to the Beyoncé music video “Single Ladies”. I learned long ago to appreciate art from many different perspectives and was impressed when I caught a 20 second clip of the vid a week or two ago. I downloaded the entire clip on iTunes and was really impressed. Technically it is amazing, and the choreography is extremely dynamic.

Part 2. When I mentioned the clip to a friend I found out that there were lots of funny versions on YouTube so I decided to check a few of those out. I eventually stumbled across an interview with Beyoncé where she explained that her inspiration had been a YouTube video by the choreographer Gwen Verdon, who was the wife of choreographer Bob Fosse. Beyoncé had seen one of the pieces that Verdon had choreographed to a song called Mexican Breakfast in the 60’s. When she saw it she had admired it for being an outstanding example of what could be done with a single take. She further wondered what could be done if you were to take that concept and update it, using technology. The result? Single Ladies! There is even a YouTube version where the Verdon/Fosse version and the Sweet Charity scenes have been combined with the music from Single Ladies, including the run up the wall and the "signature move" that everyone will remember from SLs,

Part 3. The connection with school reform and redesign? I am always amazed by what creative, talented, inspired artists can do with the ideas and forms that are a part of their heritage. I am also inspired by the creative educators I see who are able to take the influences of the past and update them in new and inspiring ways that are themselves copied and emulated many times. This is the value of the best reform efforts I see going on. They update the past that few of today’s students could relate to, and breathe fresh air into them.

However wonderful and inspiring you may find this particular Beyoncé work, when it comes to a metaphor for school reform, this is my advice: Take a look at all the hundreds of knock off attempts to copy Beyonce’s new work. Everyone seems to think they can copy what was done and be a star! However, most of these are poor quality and laughable and will certainly have little lasting effect.
Small wonder to me that most school reform/redesign attempts have very little impact. I read an article yesterday about a district that had “researched the best school redesign/reform work” and had come to a conclusion of what they would do in their district. My prediction? Look for the equivalent of a knock-off imitation. It will bear strong resemblance to the best of the work that inspired it, but as far as impact on student learning – I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Note: Hotlinks to the vids are available on my blog at http://twelchconsulting.com/blog/2009/01/13/25/

Tags: Beyonce, Redesign

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Permalink Reply by Beth Gaunce on January 15, 2009 at 9:27am

I enjoyed these videos–thanks for sharing. My daughter also showed me of a few of the knock-offs, and this is what I would share about them. In Beyoncé’s video, we are treated to what I would call the essence of a performance–not only is the dance done in one take, but the black and white scheme and the superb but very restrained use of lighting allow us to get as close as possible to the music and dance. The knock-offs are gimicky, full of heavy handed attempts to enhance the product that only lessen the artistic effect. With all that technology has to offer in the making of music videos, Beyoncé chose to go straight to the heart of the performance. The quality of what she is doing is so high that no further “special” effects are needed.

How difficult it is for teachers–with so much technology at our fingertips–to be deliberate in the choice of enhancements for classes, both virtual and face to face. And beyond technology, we get bogged down in templates for planning, the “one right way” of the moment, and lesson design for the masses. In do doing, we rely on artifice and turn our backs on the essence.

If we as teachers could be as honest and brave as Beyoncé and make deliberate individual choices of how best to provide to each student what he or she needs to become a learner, perhaps we could stop using technology for technology’s sake, or refrain from filling out lesson templates just to say we have completed them. Maybe we could avoid some of the dangers of the knock-off trap. (Of course, we will have to work as hard as she does……but what a reward!)