Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

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• Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
• The Arts

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The Arts

• What is art?
• Why do anthropologists / sociologists study art?
• What are the functions of the arts?

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Recap What is Culture?

• Human adaptation and CULTURE
• In ordinary speech (both ENG CHN), the word
  culture is used to refer to sophisticated
  tastes in art, literature, or music. But the
  sociological/ anthropological use of the term is
  much WIDER and implies that anyone participates
  in society is cultured.
• Culture includes EVERYTHING that a human society
  produces and shares
• Culture (way of life, codes or blue prints of
  societies) vs. society (people who shares a
  culture)
• Cultures cannot exist without societies.
• Culture isnt one thing but an elaborate system
  of mental and physical things.

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What Is Art?

• Art is very difficult to define, but it generally
  refers to the manifestations of human creativity
  through which people express themselves in dance,
  music, song, painting, sculpture, pottery, cloth,
  storytelling, verse, prose, drama, and comedy.
• The use of human imagination to interpret and
  enjoy life.
• People have been doing this for at 4,000 years.

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• Forms of Artistic Expression
• - Body Arts
• - Visual Arts
• - Performance Arts

• Art and Culture
• - Secular and Religious Art
• - Art and Gender
• - Social Functions of Art

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Artistic expression is as basic to human beings
as talking.

• All human beings adorn their bodies in certain
  ways to make a statement about who they are, both
  as individuals and as members of social groups of
  various sorts.

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The Art of Storytelling

• The art of storytelling plays a critical role in
  the transmission, preservation, and expression of
  cultural traditions.
• All people tell stories in which they express
  their values, hopes, and concerns, revealing much
  about themselves and the nature of the world as
  they see it.

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Why do anthropologists study art?

• Art reflects a peoples cultural values. This is
  esp. true of the verbal arts myths, legends,
  and tales. From these anthropologists may learn
  how a people order their universe and may
  discover much about a peoples history as well.
  Music and visual arts may provide insights into a
  peoples worldview.

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Art is a necessary kind of activity in which
every normal human being participates.

• The idea of art serving nonuseful, nonpractical
  purposes is Euro-centric.
• Exquisite works of art were originally made to
  be hidden away from human eyes.
• Links between art and other aspects are common in
  human societies around the world.

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The Pervasiveness of Art
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In many human societies creating art is often of
greater importance than the final product itself.

• The Navajo Indians create intricate sand painting
  as part of a ritual act, only to destroy it once
  the ritual is over.

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J. S. Bachs cantatas were composed for church
services. Art religion
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Art and Religion

• A lot of Western and non-Western art has been
  done in association with religion, but not all
  non-Western art has ritual or religious
  importance.
• Art and religion both have formal (museums and
  churches, temples) and informal (parks, homes,
  and regular gathering places) venues of
  expression
• - State-level societies have permanent structures
  for religion and art.
• - Non-state-level societies lack permanent
  structures for religion and art.

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? ? Masks

• first appeared during the Shang and Zhou
  Dynasties (3,500 years ago) as a major element in
  Chinese shamanism.
• generally made of wood and worn either on one's
  face (ghosts, demons and celestial animals)
• exorcising dancers masks masks for festive
  occasions for new born babies for keeping
  houses safe for theatrical performances

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The Last Supper (Lords Table)

• A non-Christian views this mural will see what
  appears to be 13 ordinary men at a table.
  Aesthetically s/he may admire the way the
  composition fits the space available, the way
  attitudes are depicted, the way a sense of
  movement is conveyed.
• Record of customs?
• Real symbolic meanings

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Anthropological perspectives on arts

• art for arts sake is a phenomenon
  distracting and diminishing the reality of
  creative expressions
• Ex. Objects were not intended by their makers to
  be art (masks for ritual use, paintings for
  religious contemplation, ancestor figurines,
  furniture, and architectural details, etc.)
• the appreciation of different art forms varies
  cross-culturally (Chinese arts and crafts have
  both utilitarian and aesthetic values)
• artistic completeness or mastery is
  determined and maintained by formal and informal
  standards (regional variations)
• expressive culture of ordinary people

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Expression of cultural identity for political
purposes (ex. The Mardi Gras costume of New
Orleans Black Indians anti-American graffiti)
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Anthropological perspectives on arts

• artists in traditional non-western societies
  created objects or engaged in activities that
  re-presented the central values of a culture
  artists cannot work on their art all of the time
  as they still must hunt, gather, fish, herd, or
  farm to eat artists are seldom full-time
  specialists whose career is their work.
• more collective production of art in non-western
  cultures than in Western cultures artistic
  traditions are generally transmitted through
  families and kin groups

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? ? Dough Sculpture

• Date back to the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220).
• Yellow River Valley (crude, unconstrained and
  profound) vs. Yangtze River Valley delicate,
  exquisite polished).
• Materials tools used white flour, scissors, a
  kitchen knife, comb, Chinese dates, etc.
• Well-leavened dough kneaded according to the set
  pattern
• Popular wedding and birthday gifts other ritual
  occasions
• Decoration and beautification

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? ? Paper-Cuts

• Origin closely connected with the invention of
  paper during the Han Dunasty (206 BC - 221 AD).
• For celebrations, festivals and home decoration.
• Paper cuttings are made on red paper (red is a
  lucky color).
• Designs of dragons, birds, people, flowers, or
  sometimes Chinese characters.
• Materials paper/card (red)scissors and/or knife

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Art and Individuality

• Some anthropologists have criticized that the
  study of non-Western art ignores the individual
  and focuses too much on the group.
• However, in many non-Western societies, there is
  more collective production of art than in Western
  cultures.
• The degree to which artists can be separated from
  their work varies cross-culturally.
• In all societies art is work
• Ex. Chinese Embroidery (individuality) Shadow
  Puppets (collectivism)

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Embroidery

• Long established art form (early Han Dynasty)
• Items robes, theatrical costumes, purses, shoes,
  spectacle cases, banners, alter cloths and many
  other pieces
• Stitches satin stitch (long and short) Beijing
  stitch or French knot Stem stitch Couching
  Chain stitch Split stitch.
• finely stitched pieces took 5-6 people years to
  complete
• a pastime for wealthy ladies and many members of
  the court

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Art, Society, and Culture

• Art is usually a public phenomenon that is
  exhibited, performed, evaluated, and appreciated
  in society.
• Folk art, music, and lore refer to the expressive
  culture of ordinary people.
• Art is a form of social communication.
• (recurring theme high/low brow)

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The Culture of Faking in the East
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Folk Paintings (Huxian and Jinshan)
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American Quilts
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The Cultural Transmission of the Arts

• Art is a part of culture, and as a result,
  appreciation for the arts is internalized during
  enculturation.
• The appreciation of different art forms varies
  cross-culturally.
• Ex. American Idols (the artistic talent of
  William Hung)

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Verbal Arts

• Folklore. 19th century term first used to refer
  to the traditional oral stories and sayings of
  the European peasant, and later extended to those
  traditions preserved orally in all societies
• Myth. A sacred narrative explaining how the world
  came to be in its present form (e.g., Bible).
• Legend. Stories told as true, set in postcreation
  world.
• Tale. A creative narrative recognized as fiction
  for entertainment.
• Other verbal arts

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• Myths are hallowed stories that express
  fundamental cultural values.
• Ex. the Wizard of Oz and the original Star Wars
  are modern American cultural myths
• A structural analysis of the two films
  demonstrates that Star Wars is a systematic
  transformation of Wizard of Oz.

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Continuity and Change

• The arts are always changing.
• The arts incorporate a wide variety of media.
• The arts will probably remain (the most
  expressive) form of culture.

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Concluding remarks

• With integration into global economic,
  traditional handmade goods must compete with
  mass-produced trade goods.
• Commoditization, marketization and questions of
  authenticity
• Tourisms complex effects
• - support for preservation of material cultural
  heritage (UNESCOs 1972 definition)

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Shanghai Nostalgia