Presentations



Students will give presentations each week of class. The presentations and Q&A sessions should last no more than 20 minutes. A powerpoint or similar visual slide show is a required portion of the presentation, and each of the students must participate fully.


EVS topics:

  1. What is the role of the Mississippi River in migration of birds? Untaken
  2. What is the importance of wetlands in coastal Louisiana? Mackenzie, Feb 15
  3. What are barrier islands? How do they form? What are their roles in hurricane protection? Which ones matter to New Orleans? Robby, Feb 15
  4. What is a delta? How does it form? What is its relation to the rise of civilization and to petroleum exploration? Nick, Feb 22
  5. Explain the processes of storm surge? How do they differ from a tsunami? Lucas, Feb 29


Music topics:

  1. Discuss the roots of jazz music and show how they influenced the development of early jazz in New Orleans. Consider the blues, work songs, music of the church as well as African, Caribbean and other musical cultures. Josh, Feb 15
  2. Early Jazz: Describe the career and influence of Louis Armstrong on American Popular music. Was Jelly Roll Morton the inventor of jazz, as he claimed? Why did he make this claim? Why did people believe him? What is his legacy? Brandon, Feb 22
  3. How did Traditional New Orleans Jazz develop in the popular music of today? Highlight pivotal events (such as the closing of the Storyville District, Mississippi River life, impact of WWII, etc.) and key figures (Mississippi Delta Blues artists such as Muddy Waters, BB King and Howlin’ Wolf, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, etc.) Dan, Feb 22
  4. Trace the history of Cajun/Zydeco music, described by Carl Brasseaux as the indigenous music of the black and multiracial French speaking Creoles of South Louisiana. Present artists such as Clifton Chenier, CJ Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Terrence Simien, etc. Kyle, Feb 29
  5. Contemporary popular music in New Orleans (choose one):
    • Give an overview of the club scene in New Orleans. Introduce some younger musicians on the scene today in New Orleans, such as, Monk Boudreaux, Kermit Ruffins, Galactic, J. Monque’d and where you might find them playing. Tiffany, Feb 29
    • Present several of the local piano legends of New Orleans, such as Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Fats Domino, Hughie (Piano) Smith, Ellis Marsalis, Allen Toussaint, etc. Andrew, March 7
    • Discuss the New Orleans Jazz Revival(s): (Preservation Hall, George Lewis, Dukes of Dixieland, Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Wynton Marsalis, etc.) and the Brass Band tradition: street bands, Doreen’s jazz, Dirty Dozen, Rebirth, New Birth, Hot 8, Chosen Few, etc.) Jon, March 7
    • Give an overview of the great New Orleans bands (and/or leaders) and their influence: Lloyd Price, The Meters, Irma Thomas, Earl King, the Meters, Ernie K-Doe, the Nevilles, influence of Allen Toussaint, Cosima Matassa, etc. Brittany, March 7