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Academic Year 2000/2001


African Art History (Freshman Seminar)
ARHA 297 SP

Clusters:
African Studies

The seminar begins by asking the question, What is Africa?, proceeds by considering what constitutes art in Africa (by extension, we may redefine art in general), and then asks how African scholars go about retrieving cultural history (or the history of cultural artifacts) in sub-Saharan Africa. We will also emphasize writing; writing for precision and clarity of description (formal analysis) and writing for analytical and interpretive detail (contextual ethnography). A Saturday field trip to New York City will be mandatory.

MAJOR READINGS

Jan Vansina, AFRICAN ART HISTORY S. Brett-Smith, THE MAKING OF BAMANA SCULPTURE Peter Mark, "16th & 17th Senegambian architecture," HISTORY IN AFRICA, 1995 A. Appiah, IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Examinations and Assignments not known

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

African Art History (Freshman Seminar) ] The seminar begins by asking the question, What is Africa?, proceeds by considering what constitutes art in Africa (by extension, we may redefine art in general), and then asks how African scholars go about retrieving cultural history (or the history of cultural artifacts) in sub-Saharan Africa. We will also emphasize writing; writing for precision and clarity of description (formal analysis) and writing for analytical and interpretive detail (contextual ethnography). A Saturday field trip to New York City will be mandatory. MAJOR READINGS: Jan Vansina, AFRICAN ART HISTORY S. Brett-Smith, THE MAKING OF BAMANA SCULPTURE Peter Mark, "16th & 17th Senegambian architecture," HISTORY IN AFRICA, 1995 A. Appiah, IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS: Two short papers, lead one class discussion on readings; one long research paper. ADDITIONAL REUQIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS: Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office. COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ART    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001


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