ANTH 358 - Cross Cultural Approaches to Art

3 Credit(s)

How can the term “art” be applied in a cross-cultural context? This course approaches the changing definitions of this category from both contemporary and historical perspectives. Our study will include material from four broad cultural areas in detail: Native American, Aboriginal Australian, African and Chinese. We will consider how contemporary artists in all four areas have had to negotiate between the continuity of tradition and social change. The course will address broad topics such as the ritual use of art, authenticity, aesthetics, tradition and modernity, art education, social memory, politics and creativity. Fall.