Listed in: Art and the History of Art, as ARHA-138 | Black Studies, as BLST-313
Formerly listed as: BLST-43 | FIAR-38
Rowland O. Abiodun (Section 01)
(Offered as BLST 313 [A] and ARHA 138.) In the traditionally non-literate societies of Africa, verbal and visual arts constitute two systems of communication. The performance of verbal art and the display of visual art are governed by social and cultural rules. We will examine the epistemological process of understanding cultural symbols, of visualizing narratives, or proverbs, and of verbalizing sculptures or designs. Focusing on the Yoruba people of West Africa, the course will attempt to interpret the language of their verbal and visual arts and their interrelations in terms of cultural cosmologies, artistic performances, and historical changes in perception and meaning. We will explore new perspectives in the critical analysis of African verbal and visual arts, and their interdependence as they support each other through mutual references and allusions.
Fall semester. Professor Abiodun.
Section 01
M 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM COOP 101
W 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM COOP 101
This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoruba Art and Language: Seeking the African in African Art | Cambridge University Press, 2014 | Abiodun, Rowland | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| The Yoruba Arts | Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994 | Abiodun, Rowland; Drewal, Henry and Pemberton, John III | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Osun across the Waters: A Yoruba Goddess in Africa and the Americas | Indiana University Press, 2001 | Murphy, Joseph M. and Mei-Mei Sanford | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| A Short Guide to Writing about Art | Harper Collins, New York, 2010 | Sylvan, Barnet | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.