Nicaraguan Mural (Managua 1985)

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Nicaraguan Mural (Managua 1985)
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Expressive culture learned and patterned ways of
creative activities that include art, leisure and
play.
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One definition of art

• A kind of play that is subject to certain
  culturally appropriate restrictions on form and
  content.

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The way art is defined affects

• (1) the manner in which a person classifieds
  values and treats artistic creations
• And (2) the manner in which a person classify and
  treats those who create art, the artist

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Another definition of art

• Art is the application of imagination, skill, and
  style to matter, movement and sound that goes
  beyond the purely practical

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Art could be

• Food
• Story telling
• Object creation
• Performance

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Art can be classified by period or medium

• Classical
• Postmodern
• Modern
• Graphic or plastic
• Performance
• Verbal

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Western distinctions of art

• Fine art(art for arts sake)--rare, expensive,
  formally trained artist, non utilitarian,
  produced for a market
• folk art--non trained artist, anonymous,
  utilitarian, not produced for market

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Aesthetic agreed upon notions of quality
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Ethno-aesthetics

• An approach that looks at local notions of art
  quality or variations in aesthetic criteria

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Yoruba of Nigeria

• 19th century Yoruba (Idebu) carving
• Standards in terms of Form and content

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The study of art is more than the study of the
products of arts

• Who makes art and why?
• The role of society in the process of making art
• Artistic expressions grow out particular
  economic, political and social contexts

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Reinforce social patters

• Resistance
• Example Nicaraguan Mural

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The functions of art Social control and
resistanceEntertainment and education
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Social Control and Resistance through performance
(theatre)

• To legitimise political leaders,
• A site for resistance and political contestation
  El Gueguense

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Entertainment

• To participate
• To have a good time

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Education

• It provides a sense of identity for members of a
  community
• It identifies group boundaries,
• It teaches people the value of their traditions,
  and the importance of ceremonies, etc
• Example indigenous expressive culture songs and
  dance.

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Anthropologists focus

• on the artist
• on ethnicity, gender and power
• on performance arts ( ethnomusicology and the
  anthropology of performance)

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Performance arts

• Dance, music and theatre
• Ethnomusicology--Steven Feld 1982 Sound and
  Sentiment Birds, Weeping, Poetics and Song in
  Kaluli Expression
• The anthropology of Performance -sites for
  cultural negotiations

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The anthropology of Museums

• Role of museums in exhibiting culture
• Representation
• Who has the right to represent?
• Interests groups (Indigenous groups)
• New ethical guides(professional academic
  disciplines)

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Discussion Question

• To understand art in a particular society or
  culture we need to look beyond art itself.
  Explain. Give an example to illustrate your
  answer.