Introduction to African art through analysis of African cultures and symbol systems.

Introduction to African art through analysis of African cultures and symbol systems.

This course provides an introduction to African art through analysis of African cultures and symbol systems. It evaluates African art in relation to the history and diversity of the continent and also in relation to perceptions and representations of Africa from antiquity to the contemporary era. We will learn the distinct styles of a diverse selection of ethnic groups and countries across the continent, while gaining a general understanding of the meaning and use of art in African societies. We will also examine the dislocation and presentation of African art in the West from the 19th century to present-day as well as investigate how the art of Africa has been categorized, interpreted, and displayed. We will explore issues of how western cultural presuppositions affected the presentation and interpretation of African objects in various museum and institutional settings, from anthropological to fine art, and debate the meaning of ‘authenticity’. Types of arts discussed include painting, sculpture, textiles and body adornment, ceramics, performance, contemporary arts and African Cultural practice in the Diaspora.