Comparison

The Dogon are well known for their figures. The Ancestor Couple would be an example of that. The Ancestor Couple shows two abstracted figures seated on a wooden stool. Each figure has elongated oval faces, almond shaped eyes, and a pointy arrow-looking nose. The way that you can tell which is male and which is female is by looking at the figures. The male has his arm over the females shoulder. The female figure has breasts that represent fertility. Each figure also has scarification on their bodies. The figures, while being abstract, are also geometric which is common with the Dogon.

The Baule peoples believe in having a spirit spouse (Blolo Bla) that they have to keep happy. They are told to spend at least one night a week with their spirit in order to keep the spirit spouse happy. The spirit spouse is often a tiny abstracted figure that resembles a human. The Baule people keep their spirit spouse hidden away from others and are often covered up. They believe that the spirit spouse is jealous of you and you are jealous of it.

When comparing these two objects I found that they are similar in that with the ancestor couple they represent a male and a female and without one you are said to be incomplete. The same goes for the spirit spouse, you need to spend time with it to keep it happy and without it you are incomplete. Their use of functions are different in that with the ancestor couple you do not have to spend time with it to keep the balance, but with the spirit spouse you spend time with it. Also the spirit spouse is kept hidden from others while the ancestor couple is displayed and not meant to be hidden. With the spirit spouse you also give offerings and it is more of a shrine than the ancestor couple. Stylistically the two can be similar in that the figures can be abstracted. The spirit spouse may be similar to the ancestor couple in that if the spirit spouse is female it may show the breasts that represent fertility and scarification.

Even though these two pieces come from two different cultures and peoples they share some similarities and differences. I look forward to the next couple of weeks as we continue to learn more about different peoples and their art.

Masks and Masquerades

This week in class we got to learn about several groups of peoples the Baule, Bamana, and the Bwa. We focused heavily on their use of masks and the roles that those have in their lives. We also discussed Herbert Cole’s article “I am not Myself” which discusses African masks/masquerades. We also discussed how the masks mark and effect change.

With the all people we talked about this week, the use of masks in their lives often times marks change and is used as a teaching tool. For example the Kore Horse Masks in the Bamana are used to help teach. They point at the person that you do not want to be in a community. The Baule people use several sets of masks that help teach and help with the transitions of each stage of life. The first set would be the Kple Kple, this represents the younger male. It shows the immaturity of the younger male. The next is the Goli Glen and this represents a young male, but a male that would be going through puberty and is becoming more mature. The Kpan Pre represents the younger more graceful and calm girl. Lastly the Kpan mask represents the older beauty and wisdom of women.  The Bwa also have many masks that help mark change. One mask that we talked about would be the Dwo mask that is performed at funerals. The Dwo mask represents the cycle of life. The mask is danced and then right after it is done it is burned which ensures the renewal of life. This also reminded me of the first week of class when we talked about displaying things in museums and taking things out of context. I think that this mask should never be displayed in a museum because it not only is taking it out of context but if it would have been danced right then it should have been burned right away.

Herbert M. Cole’s article “I am not Myself” was a big part of our discussion this week. In the article he talks about how the masks carry the spirit and once you put on the mask and perform you are then embodied with the spirit of that mask. In class we discussed how there is a difference between represented and embodied. We talked about how representing is the mask, the visual thing you see while embodied is the spirit present, it is religious. We talked about with the chameleon mask and when the dancer is wearing the mask he is the chameleon. We used the example of the Eucharist with Catholics. The wine and bread becomes the body and blood of Christ it is religious and embodied.  The article says “but something essential has happened; this being is also a spirit. It’s visible face—the mask—is inanimate, with immobile features. This is and is not a human being. So transformed, the new being is saying:”I am not myself”.

Masquerades are used to teach and pass down information on how to live. They are changing and growing just like many other things. I had no idea how much masks have an impact on certain peoples. There is so much more to the markings, colors, and shapes than I had thought. I now know the importance and more importantly the meaning behind some of these masks and I look forward to learning more in class.

What is Cross-Cultural Pollination?

This week in class we discussed what cross-cultural pollination is. To me, cross-cultural pollination is when a group of people have an influence on another group of people. I think that this can be with art, music, traditions, or anything. In Daniel Consentino’s article “Radiance of the King” he discusses cross-cultural pollination between America and West Africa. We also talked about Barack Obama becoming president and the impact that has had in both America and Africa. African artists often depict Obama as a super hero because he is the first black president. They show this through their paintings, textiles, and other forms of art.

This week we also discussed the coffins made in Ghana. I think that it is interesting that the coffins are in the shape of whatever it was they were best known for. We looked at many examples of coffins like one that was in the shape of a boat because the person who died was a fisherman or the coffin that was in the shape of a lion because that person was a great hunter. I also was able to connect our funerary practices with those in Africa. We both have some sort of service to respect the dead and we both wear certain colors or outfits to these services. I think that this could also be another example of cross-cultural pollination in that Christianity has had an influence on West Africa and their practices.

In class we also learned about the Baule people. We talked about their use of spirit spouses. Whenever they are going through a hard time in their life they go visit a trance diviner. The trance diviner then talks to the spirits and then tells you how to make a figure that will help solve your problems. The Baule people have this figure (spirit spouse) that they are told to spend at least one night a week with. When we discussed this in class I thought about the similarities between the Baule people and the Dogon people we discussed in the first week of class. The Dogon people have figures called Ancestor Couple this shows two figures together (male and female) and we discussed how it represents that without each other they are incomplete. With the Baule people they have these spirit spouses and in order to be complete they need to have a spirit spouse; again, without it they are incomplete.

I look forward to learning more about African art and the people who make it.

Batiking with Nani

This week was a very interesting and enjoyable week. This week we got the chance to meet Nani. Nani has a big personality and I had a great time watching him, and listening to the things he had to say. I loved listening to his stories and learning how he views things. Aside from his love of textiles Nani also has a love for painting. He talked about how he does not paint at any given time, but rather when he feels he needs to paint he will then do so. He described it as an outside force that drives him to do his paintings. I feel like I can completely relate to him when he says that. I have often felt this way about things myself. I just get this urge to do something without any reason as to why.

In class we also discussed a lot about what ‘tradition’ is and how it differs with different types of people and even different areas of the world. Picton also discusses this in his essay. We also talked about how traditions are changing. For example, weddings have changed a lot in the last 20 years. We talked about how it used to be the woman wears white and a veil and the ceremony is held in a church. Now you see weddings that are held anywhere and the ceremony may be casual or fancy. We also talked about how gay couples are able to get married in certain states. I could relate to what we talked about in class with what Nani said about batik and how it originally started in Indonesia and since then has continued to spread. Traditions are changing and spreading.

While listening to Nani talk he also discussed his love for dance and the symbolism with wearing heavy amounts of fabric. He talked about how they do this to prepare for war/hard times. That if they are able to still do the same things with having this weight, that it makes them stronger and ready.



I think others can agree with me when I say the most interesting thing we did in class this week was learn how to Batik. I had a great time learning the history behind it and also how it has affected Nani’s life. Although I wish we would have had more time and space to Batik. I thought it was a great learning experience and I am so happy that I was given the opportunity to not only learn to Batik, but also meet Nani.

Here are a couple process photos from the workshop with Nani, enjoy!







Nani showing Josh how to properly dip the stamp.





Stamping with wax.









Dipping the fabric in dye.





After the wax was rubbed off.



Week One

Before starting this class, whenever I would think of African art I envisioned bold colors, wood carvings, masks, and bold patterns. Even in the short amount of class time, I have learned that there is so much more to the African culture and arts.

This week in class we learned about two different groups of people that live in Africa. The first we learned about were the Dogon people. These people are known for their abstract wooden figures. They often portray people with having a cone shaped head, slanted eyes, arrow shaped nose, and often times will have some kind of scarring on the figures.

                                                                  

Ancestor Couple. Dogon. Mali. Wood.

The second group we learned about was the Asante People. We learned about their use of stools and the status it has within the group. We also learned about staff finials and the use of proverbs. One in particular that I was drawn to was the staff finial that had the proverb “if you climb a good tree, you get someone to help”. I really like the message it holds. I agree that you need the help and support of the people around you to help you get to where you want to go.

“If you climb a good tree, you get someone to help.”

The thing I enjoyed most about this week was learning about the textiles of the Asante people. I am attracted to the beautiful colors and different designs. I also enjoyed the video we watched that showed how some of it is made. I learned that their uses of the textiles show different roles within their community and certain patterns or designs have certain meaning(s).

For class we were to read some articles that discussed how Western Civilization has influenced how we view African Art. Most African Art is meant to be used. Professor James Giblin Discusses this in his article “Issues in African History”. When a piece is placed in a gallery it, in a sense, loses its meaning. The art often times is meant to be danced with or presented in a special way or time that, by viewing it in a gallery as just a piece, you lose the meaning.

I enjoyed learning about both groups of people and their art and culture. I am excited to learn about new people and the way they live. I am interested to see new art and how it works in their life.