Independent Films, Documentaries, Art Movies

Graffiti Verite' 5 (GV5): The Sacred Elements of Hip-hop
by Bob Bryan

Synopsis:
Accolade Award-Winning documentary GRAFFITI VERITE 5 examines the close connections between graffiti art and other art forms in the larger hip-hop culture. What emerges in GV5 is a portrait of the educational value and liberating therapeutic power contained within the unique elements of the contemporary Hip-hop movement. Turntablism (DJing), Break-dancing, MC'ing (Rappin') and Graffiti Art are the four (4) Hip-Hop elements used in what Bob sees as a multifaceted communications modality and dynamic educational learning system.

Director Bob Bryan captured the excitement of this innovative hands-on Hip-Hop Summer Workshop, at Metro High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Bob documented the events there and discovers a close connection between the expressive forms of DJing, breakdancing, rapping, graffiti art and the Multiple Intelligence Theory (Dr. Howard Gardner, Harvard University) for students with learning differences. Through an exploration of these forms of expression, Bryan demonstrates how they have become a positive force in the lives of many people, despite the demonization of Hip-hop by much of the mainstream.

GV5 is designed to create a bridge between educators and students. The course provides teens with the supportive environment they need to freely express themselves and develop self-esteem through the arts. For educators it provides them with a window by which they can learn to appreciate and use the 4 elements of Hip-hop as an educational tool / bridge to teach the traditional 4R's, but in a fun, exciting, connective and creative way.