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Ancient Arts of Africa
ARHA298 SP

This course will study these early West and Central African art traditions within the framework of several conceptual paradigms. We will look at these arts both as unique forms of cultural expression, representing solutions to formal and, where sufficient historical context exists, functional problems specific to those cultures; and as artistic traditions representative of universal human sensibilities. The later Benin bronzes and the Afro-Portuguese ivory carvings will be considered as a respon se to contact with Europeans, to the development of new and foreign markets (in the case of ivories) and as an effort to comment on the European Other. The arts of sub-Saharan Africa, from prehistoric rock art to the earliest contact with Europeans on t he Atlantic coast in the 15th century, provide rich and diverse subject matter. From the 2000-year-old terra cottas of northern Nigeria to the bronze sculpture of Ife and Benin, these arts show the great antiquity of African artistic traditions. Traditio nal West African architecture and the development of distinctive styles of mosque construction will also be studied.

MAJOR READINGS

De Grunne, TERRES CUITES DE L'AFRIQUE ANCIENNE Willett, LIFE IN THE HISTORY OF WEST AFRICAN SCULPTURE Ezra, ROYAL ART OF BENIN Bassani and Fagg, AFRICA AND THE RENAISSANCE: ART IN IVORY

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One short paper, one 10 page term paper, one exam

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 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: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000

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