Provides a broad overview of the history of visual culture in different regions of continental Africa. Discusses different civilizations, which flourished in different parts of Africa from pre-historic time to the present. Offers study to native spiritual and ritualistic beliefs along with objects associated with and used in these various rituals and involved visual materials such as masks, helmets, costumes, weapons, body art, and other symbolic objects. Discusses African art in the Diaspora with focus on African artists in the Americas and the emerging African American art in North America. A field trip to a major museum is required.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
To develop an understanding of and appreciation for the different visual forms of African art and architecture as an important historic cultural region and its ramification on the development of African American art. To explore and comprehend the relationship between the artistic forms and objects produced for different spiritual rituals and different religious groups. To understand the interaction between visual materials, ritualistic performance, and architectural space in different traditional African societies. To understand the political interaction between the different phases of African cultures and their impact on the art of African artists in the Diaspora. To understand the formation and development of Modern African American art.
- From the Nile to the Niger: The Sahara and the Maghrib; Lands of the Nile, Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia; The Central Sudan; Mande World and the Upper Niger; The Western Sudan
Demonstrate an aesthetic awareness of the art of Africa from the Nile to the Niger, and explain its importance within it's cultural context.
- Western Africa: West Atlantic Forests; Akan Worlds; The Yoruba and the Fon; The Lower Niger.
Demonstrate an aesthetic awareness of the art of Western Africa, and explain its importance within it's cultural context.
- Central Africa: Crose River, Cameron Grassland and Gaboon; The Western Congo Basin, The Eastern Congo Basin
Demonstrate an aesthetic awareness of the art of Central Africa, and explain its importance within it's cultural context.
- Eastern & Southern Africa: Eastern Africa; Southern Africa
Demonstrate an aesthetic awareness of the art of Eastern and Southern Africa, and explain its importance within it's cultural context. * Demonstrate an understanding by comparing and contrasting the relationship between art, rituals, and visual cultures in the different regions of Africa.*
- The Diaspora: African Artists Abroad. Art of the African Diaspora in the Americas
Demonstrate an aesthetic awareness of the art of the African Diaspora, and explain its importance within it's cultural context.
- Chronological awareness and Geography
Identify and examine the history and development of African art and architecture through the chronological and geographical regions in Africa.
- Trends, stylistic approaches and mediums used in African Art
Analyze the artistic trends, styles, and mediums of the various forms of visual arts and architecture among the different traditional African sub-regions and periods.
- Rituals, cultural issues, iconography and political factors within African art
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between art, rituals, and visual cultures in the different regions of Africa and examine the iconography of the different art forms and objects in relation to the religious-ritualistic and political factors of each specific sub-period and its ramification on African art in the Diaspora.
- Influences of Arican art on the Western world
Examine the exchange, interaction, impact, and influence of the different cultures in Africa on European and American modern art.
- Aesthetics of African art
Recognize, identify, and analyze the iconography, style, and forms of African art and architecture through visual examination, analysis, and reading of related literature.
Assessment and Requirements
The instructor will identify and implement appropriate methods to assess the achievement of the learning objectives for the course. These methods may include objective and essay examinations, as well as out-of-class papers, Internet assignments, and library projects, all of which will be described in the course syllabus.
- Students will write one long critical research paper for the course along with 2-3 short essay papers on specific topics from the materials of the course.
- Each student will develop a presentation based on the research paper and present it to the class during the last week of the course.
- There will be a weekly reading assignment assessed by in class discussion and participation.
- The whole class will visit the Detroit Institute of Art and tour certain sections related to the African art and materials. The DIA visit is mandatory, and students will meet at the museum on a prearranged day and time. Students may conduct special research project at the African American Museum in Detroit or at a similar institution in the country or abroad.
Texts determined by department lead instructor
Outcomes
- Humanities and Fine Arts
- Humanities
- Category 5: Humanities and Fine Arts