ART 318: Sub-Saharan African Art (GS)

Course Description

This course will introduce students to the diverse range of religions, social systems, and artistic practices that are a reflection of different cultures throughout Sub-Saharan Africa (including East, Central, West, and South Africa from ancient to today). In this class students will address certain controversial ideas such as the concept of “the primitive;” the narrow definitions of the category “history;” the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, and the African diaspora. Students will contextualize static images found in texts and in museum displays to better understand socio-politics, spirituality, and ritual life of select African cultures. In lectures, discussions, readings, and through research students will discover that Sub-Saharan African art is based on a rich history, is continuously developing, and has a global reach in the contemporary art world. Prerequisites: ART 209 or 210 or junior standing or instructor consent.