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CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART:Relevance of Art, Art and Politics

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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Lesson 42
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART
What is Art?
Art can be defined as the process and products of applying certain skills to any activity that transforms
matter, sound, or motion into a form that is deemed aesthetically meaningful to people in a society. Yet
there is no universal definition of art.
Art reflects the human urge to express oneself and to take pleasure from aesthetics. The creative process of
art is enjoyable, produces an emotional response and conveys a message.
Verbal art includes myths and folktales. Myths tend to involve supernatural beings whereas folktales are
more secular in nature. Like other art forms, verbal arts are connected to other aspects of a culture.
Art and Anthropology
Art plays a useful social function and is prominent in ceremonies and customs of most cultures. The forms
of artistic expression of relevance to cultural anthropologists include graphic and plastic arts (such as
painting, carving, and weaving), music, dance, and verbal art (such as myth and folklore).
Examples of Art
Painting, sculpture and ceramics are common forms of western art. Religiously inspired art forms are also
impressive (including architecture).
Smaller societies also have distinct art forms; the Nubian body decorations, Eskimo body tattooing and
Navajo sand paintings are examples of art.
Relevance of Art
Art contributes to the well-being of individuals and society. For individuals, art provides emotional
gratification to the artist and the beholder.
From the social perspective, art strengthens and reinforces social bonds and cultural themes, acts as a
mechanism of social control, and is a symbol of high status particularly in complex societies.
Differences in Art Forms
Major differences in art forms are found between different cultures of the world. In small-scale societies of
foragers, pastoralists or shifting cultivators, with nomadic or semi-nomadic residence patterns, the art in
these societies either involves performing arts (song, dance or story telling) or is highly portable (jewelry,
tattooing).
Judging the Quality of Art
In modern societies, what constitutes good art is largely determined by the professional art establishment
(experts, critics, academics).
In societies lacking professional art establishments, artistic standards are less elaborate and more diffuse and
democratic, relying on public reaction.
Complex societies, with specialization and sophisticated institutions invest in elaborate buildings, larger than
life canvases kept in museums.
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Art and Politics
It is possible to see symbols of political power expressed via art. In Polynesia, leadership based on
centralized chiefdoms results in chiefs using permanent tattoos to reflect their hereditary high status. In
Melanesia, on the other hand, power is more fluid and the `big men' indicate their authority using temporary
body paints.
Useful Terms
Tattoo ­ form of body art which illustrates onto the skin using permanent ink
Canvas ­ the cloth on which paintings are done
Diffuse ­ spread out
Art establishment ­ art experts, critics and academics. Museums and other art institutions are also part of
this establishment
Suggested Readings
Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various
principals highlighted in this hand-out:
Chapter 15 in `Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective' by Ferrarro and Chapter 26 in `Anthropology' by Ember
Internet Resources
In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following web-site for this lecture, which provide
useful and interesting information:
Art and Anthropology:
www.anthroarcheart.org or www.artandanthropology.com or www.augie.edu/dept/art
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Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?:Cultural Anthropology, Internet Resources
  2. THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
  3. MAJOR THEORIES IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Diffusionism
  4. GROWTH OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY (continued):Post Modernism
  5. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Comments on Fieldwork
  6. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):Census Taking
  7. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD
  8. ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
  9. FOCUSING ON LANGUAGE:Languages of the World, Structure of Language
  10. FOCUS ON LANGUAGE (continued):Levels of Complexity, Cultural Emphasis
  11. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURES:Optimal Foraging, Suggested Readings
  12. FOOD AND CULTURE (continued):Food Collectors, Food Production
  13. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURE (continued):Pastoralism, Agriculture
  14. RELEVANCE OF KINSHIP AND DESCENT:Kinship Criteria, Rules of Descent
  15. KINSHIP AND DESCENT (continued):Tracing Descent, Primary Kinship Systems
  16. THE ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE:Economic Aspect of Marriage
  17. ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE (continued):Family Structures
  18. GENDER AND CULTURE:Gender Stratification, Suggested Readings
  19. GENDER ROLES IN CULTURE (continued):Women Employment, Feminization of Poverty
  20. STRATIFICATION AND CULTURE:Social Ranking, Dimensions of Inequality
  21. THEORIES OF STRATIFICATION (continued):The Functionalists, Conflict Theorists
  22. CULTURE AND CHANGE:Inventions, Diffusion, Donor, Conventional
  23. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Cultural Interrelations, Reaction to Change
  24. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Planned Change, Globalization
  25. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION:Bands, Tribal Organizations, Chiefdoms
  26. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):State Systems, Nation-States
  27. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):Social Norms, Informal Mechanisms
  28. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE:Emotional Development, Psychological Universals
  29. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE (continued):Origin of Customs, Personality Types
  30. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE:Ideology in Everyday Life, Hegemony
  31. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE (Continued):Political ideologies, Economic Ideology
  32. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES:Variation in Associations, Age Sets
  33. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (continued):Formation of Associations
  34. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE:Similarity in Human Adaptations
  35. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE (continued):Inter-group Relations
  36. CULTURE AND BELIEFS:Social Function of Religion, Politics and Beliefs
  37. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE:Changing Definitions of Local Knowledge
  38. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (continued):The Need for Caution
  39. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT:Influence of Development Notions
  40. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Contentions in Development
  41. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Operational
  42. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART:Relevance of Art, Art and Politics
  43. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART (continued):Art as a Status Symbol
  44. ETHICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY:Ethical Condemnation, Orientalism
  45. RELEVANCE OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Ensuring Cultural Survival