Unit 3: Global Art Developed by Cynthia Millis and Lisa Wildermuth for Online Model ARTS 1303 Course

Africa Please study the related Map and Timeline in the required text.

Chronology Saharan Rock Artc BCE – c. 1 CE Nok c. 500 BCE – c. 200 BCE Great Zimbabwec.1100 CE – c CE (height) Ife c. 800 CE – c CE Benin c CE CE Islam spreads to Africa c. 800 CE (beginning)

Given the diversity of the continent, it is very difficult to sum up Africa and African art in just a few words. Using a general web search (GWS), answer the following. How many countries are found on the continent of Africa? What types of climates are found in Africa? What types of general political structures/organizations are found in Africa (i.e. How are people organized?, How big are the groups?)? Ignoring the diversity you’ve just described, early art historians from the West tried to sum up Africa and African Art in a few simple terms. They used words like “primitive” to describe African Art. You will still see this term in outdated material. >“primitive” We will look at art that exemplifies both the origins and deeply established traditions in African art!

Saharan Rock Art

Scholars vary the names, but agree there seem to be distinct styles/periods in Saharan Rock Art. Using the Trust for African Rock Art site, provide a brief description for each of the styles listed below.Trust for African Rock Art 1.Large Wild Fauna/Early Hunter/Bubalus Period Style 2.Round Head/Archaic Period Style 3.Pastoral Period Style 4.Horse Period Style 5.Camel Period Style

Based on your descriptions from the previous slide, can you identify the style of each of these?

We revisit some of the same content theories introduced in Prehistoric art in Europe. >“sympathetic magic”/“hunting magic” >composite or hybrid form Here we add possible evidence of early masked dances and body art/manipulation – very important art forms in Africa. >masquerade/masquerader

TITLE: CULTURE/ARTIST: FORM & MEDIUM: WHEN: WHERE: HOW: WHAT: CONTEXT:

Nok

According to the required textbook and Roger Atwood for Archaeology Magazine, the Nok culture was “discovered” when a sculpture was unearthed in 1943 by _______ in a town named _________.Archaeology Magazine We know very little about the Nok because: We do know: What we do have are the remains of several incomplete terra cotta figures that the culture created. >terra cotta

Referencing the required textbook and Mr. Atwood’s Archaeology article discuss the following. Archaeology The subjects of these figures include: The figures share construction characteristics including: The figures share stylistic characteristics including:

TITLE: CULTURE/ARTIST: FORM & MEDIUM: WHEN: WHERE: HOW: WHAT: CONTEXT:

Great Zimbabwe

According to the required textbook, PBS, and the Met:PBSMet The people who ruled the kingdom and built the Great Zimbabwe were the ancestors of the ____________. In the language of the people >zimbahwe or zimbabwe Scholars believe the kingdom flourished because of which activities: Scholars also believe the Great Zimbabwe site itself functioned as: Great Zimbabwe was made up of 3 parts: Describe the construction method at the site. Be sure to include >battering

Using the sources from the previous slide, what is the possible symbolism of the Conical Tower at Great Zimbabwe? >granary The birds on monoliths such as this one from Great Zimbabwe seem to have some human characteristics including: >monolith What might these human-bird hybrids symbolize?

TITLE: CULTURE/ARTIST: FORM & MEDIUM: WHEN: WHERE: HOW: WHAT: CONTEXT:

Ife

According to the text and Dr. Suzanne Preston Blier, Ife was the founding city of the ________ people. It is known as “_____________”.Blier Describe the Ife creation myth including the term >oni Describe some of the visual symbols of Ife, particularly those associated with the oni, including: >scarification

According to Blier’s article, describe the Yoruba belief regarding one’s head (see proportionally larger head of previous figure). Many heads portray past onis (also represented are queens and high-ranking members of society). Scholars believe these heads might have been used in a number of ways: 1. attached to a temporary body to produce a funerary figure 2. placed on altars in a form of ancestor worship 3. used to display crowns during rituals₁

According to the text, the sculptures were made using the _____________ method, some made with bronze (copper plus _______) others with brass (copper plus _________). Describe the sculpting method you named above: The Ife sculptures’ style has been termed “idealized naturalism”₁. What do you think this means?

TITLE: CULTURE/ARTIST: FORM & MEDIUM: WHEN: WHERE: HOW: WHAT: CONTEXT:

Benin

According to the text, what was Benin’s connection with Ife? >oba If you refer back to the chronology for this section, you will note the ending date for Benin is very specific (most dates on the chronology are approximate “c” – circa). This is because the Benin Kingdom as a political entity ended in this year with the sack of the palace in the “Benin Punitive Expedition” carried out by the British. Using a GWS, describe the circumstances leading up to and result of this expedition.

TITLE: CULTURE/ARTIST: FORM & MEDIUM: WHEN: WHERE: HOW: WHAT: CONTEXT:

Using the text, describe some of the visual symbols of Benin (particularly those associated with the oba).

Most heads portray past obas. Although different from the Ife heads in style, they share construction technique and materials. Review that technique and those materials below:

According to the text and MFAH, scholars believe these oba heads were used primarily for:MFAH They were displayed on _____________, associated with what other items?

Islamic Africa

Looking back in the text and to your previous Islamic PowerPoint, review the founding of Islam. Record below. Then according to the Met, discuss the spread of Islam in Africa.Met

Again using your text and previous Islamic PowerPoint review the terms: >minaret >qibla >minbar >mihrab >madrasa

According to the text and New York Times article, describe the construction history of this building.New York Times How is this an “ongoing” tradition? Describe some architectural elements that differ from mosques previously studied in the course including the terms >toron >finial

TITLE: CULTURE/ARTIST: FORM & MEDIUM: WHEN: WHERE: HOW: WHAT: CONTEXT: