Paul, This is not from any documented source, but from cultural experience -- if someone knows of a source other than the one I'm giving you, I'd appreciate being enlightened -- As far as art is concerned (particularly music), the term "crossover" seems to have been originally applied in the mainstream, to art created/performed by African American artists that was popular and appealing enough to white audiences to make it commercially viable for a producer to take the financial chance of backing the African American artist. The reason I emphasize that the first use seems to be African American art "crossing over" to appeal to a white audience is because the term "crossover" has particular significance in regard to the African American/white relationship in this country. The thing that is being "crossed over" is the color line. A light skinned African American was considered to be "passing" or "crossing over" if s/he held himself or herself out as "white" to those who could not tell by sight, that the person would be considered African American by those who knew him/her (as the daughter does in Imitation of Life). Just as people were expected to stay on their side of the line, so too were the elements of the cultures. Blacks were to like "black music;" whites were to like "white music." So when art appealed to those on the other side of the color line, the art (not necessarily the artist) was a "cross over" hit. Now of course the term refers to much more than blacks crossing over the color line or "passing" for white. And although I do know that the term "crossover" was used in the way that I have described it herein, I do not have documentation that the popular use of the word today is directly connected to the former use laid out here. It seems to be a logical progression though, don't you think? --- Paul Fryer <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Can anyone identify the source of the term > "crossover" when applied to the > activities of an artist moving from one genre to > another ? Or, early uses > of the term ? > Thanks. > > Paul Fryer > Senior Lecturer in Theatre > Rose Bruford College, Sidcup (U.K.) > > ---- > To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] > and put SIGNOFF Screen-L > in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/ ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]