Makia Irvin
Research Mentor: Matthew Solomon
Mentor Department: Film, Television, and Media, LSA
Author(s): Amy Krausmann, Makia Irvin, Penelope Clark, Sanaah Alston-Henry, Sityena Muzeyen
Session: Session 5 (2:00 PM – 2:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Creative Project
Abstract
This project investigates the lost 1928 film The Big City to explore how Black cultural production during the Jazz Era can be reconstructed through interdisciplinary research and digital media. Focusing on the film’s depiction of the Black Bottom cabaret, a setting central to its narrative and cultural representation, the project examines how fragmented archival materials can be used to recover histories of Black performers whose contributions remain largely undocumented due to widespread loss of silent-era films and patterns of racial erasure in early Hollywood.
Our research asks how archival sources, performance studies, and spatial analysis can be combined to reconstruct and reimagine these histories. Using historical newspapers, continuity scripts, urban maps, film stills, and visual archives, we investigate both the fictional Black Bottom cabaret and the real historical locations that correspond to the fictional environment., including Detroit’s Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods. This includes examining nightlife spaces, costuming practices, and the cultural significance of cabaret performance, as well as recognizing the more than 100 uncredited Black performers involved in the film.
Due to the absence of the original film and limited surviving materials, this project prioritizes an interpretive but research-driven reconstruction rather than direct replication. Contributions include reconstructing nightclub interiors from visual evidence, identifying overlooked Black actors through archival research, developing historically accurate and non-objectifying costuming, and recreating dance movements such as the Black Bottom through motion capture technology.
These efforts culminate in the development of an interactive virtual reality experience presented in a virtual museum format. Utilizing tools such as Blender and Unreal Engine, users can explore a 3D-modeled cabaret environment, engage with historical artifacts, and participate in a Black Bottom dance minigame. Emphasizing atmosphere, movement, and spatial storytelling, the project creates an immersive and educational experience grounded in historical research.
By combining humanities research with digital tools, this project not only reconstructs aspects of a lost film but also restores visibility to marginalized performers and cultural spaces. More broadly, it contributes to ongoing efforts to recover and reinterpret lost films from the Jazz Age and Harlem Renaissance, highlighting new possibilities for engaging with overlooked histories through interactive
