Transcript What is art?

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
The Arts
The Arts
 What is art?
 Why do anthropologists / sociologists
study art?
 What are the functions of the arts?
Recap: What is Culture?
 Human adaptation and CULTURE
 In ordinary speech (both ENG & CHN), the word
“culture” is used to refer to sophisticated tastes in
art, literature, or music. But the sociological/
anthropological use of the term is much WIDER
and implies that anyone participates in society is
“cultured.”
 Culture includes EVERYTHING that a human
society produces and shares
 Culture (way of life, “codes or blue prints” of
societies) vs. society (people who shares a culture)
 Cultures cannot exist without societies.
 Culture isn’t one “thing” but an elaborate system
of mental and physical “things.”
作为“数据”的文化
根据泰勒对文化所作的第一个科学定义, 文化包
括人类在精神和物质领域的一切活动：文化可
以是阳春白雪，也可以是下里巴人；文化既是
普通百姓的日常行为，也是专家能人的技术创
造。在实践中，文化活动是一种规划、技巧、
设计和策略。
在格尔兹（Geertz）看来，文化，尤其是地方性
文化是一种供当地人阅读和研究者阐释的意义
丰富的“文本。” 人类学者可选取文化中任
何他们感兴趣的方面，通过“深描” 获取细
节以达到阐释文化意义的目的。而文化意义在
任何公开表达的符号形式如言语，仪式和习
俗当中都可找到。
What Is Art?
 Art is very difficult to define, but it
generally refers to the manifestations of
human creativity through which people
express themselves in dance, music, song,
painting, sculpture, pottery, cloth,
storytelling, verse, prose, drama, and
comedy.
 The use of human imagination to
interpret and enjoy life.
 People have been doing this for at 4,000
years.
 Forms of Artistic
Expression
- Body Arts
- Visual Arts
- Performance Arts
 Art and Culture
- Secular and Religious
Art
- Art and Gender
- Social Functions of
Art
Artistic expression is as basic to
human beings as talking.
 All human beings adorn
their bodies in certain
ways to make a
statement about who
they are, both as
individuals and as
members of social
groups of various sorts.
The Art of Storytelling
The art of storytelling
plays a critical role in
the transmission,
preservation, and
expression of cultural
traditions.
All people tell stories in
which they express their
values, hopes, and
concerns, revealing
much about themselves
and the nature of the
world as they see it.
Why do anthropologists study art?
 Art reflects a people’s cultural values.
This is esp. true of the verbal arts –
myths, legends, and tales. From these
anthropologists may learn how a people
order their universe and may discover
much about a people’s history as well.
Music and visual arts may provide
insights into a people’s worldview.
Art is a necessary kind of activity in which
every normal human being participates.
 The idea of art serving
nonuseful, nonpractical
purposes is Euro-centric.
 “Exquisite works of art”
were originally made to
be hidden away from
human eyes.
 Links between art and
other aspects are common
in human societies around
the world.
The Pervasiveness of Art
In many human societies creating art is often of
greater importance than the final product itself.
 The Navajo Indians
create intricate
sand painting as
part of a ritual act,
only to destroy it
once the ritual is
over.
J. S. Bach’s cantatas were
composed for church services.
Art & religion
Art and Religion
A lot of Western and non-Western art has been
done in association with religion, but not all
non-Western art has ritual or religious
importance.
Art and religion both have formal (museums and
churches, temples) and informal (parks, homes,
and regular gathering places) venues of
expression:
- State-level societies have permanent structures
for religion and art.
- Non-state-level societies lack permanent
structures for religion and art.
面 具 Masks
 first appeared during the
Shang and Zhou
Dynasties (3,500 years
ago) as a major element
in Chinese shamanism.
 generally made of wood
and worn either on one's
face (ghosts, demons and
celestial animals)
 exorcising dancers’
masks ; masks for festive
occasions; for new born
babies; for keeping
houses safe; for theatrical
performances
The Last Supper (Lord’s Table)
 A non-Christian
views this mural will
see what appears to
be 13 ordinary men
at a table.
Aesthetically s/he
may admire the way
the composition fits
the space available,
the way attitudes are
depicted, the way a
sense of movement is
conveyed.
 Record of customs?
 Real symbolic
meanings
Anthropological perspectives on arts
* “art for art’s sake” is a phenomenon distracting
and diminishing the reality of creative expressions
Ex. Objects were not intended by their makers to be
“art” (masks for ritual use, paintings for religious
contemplation, ancestor figurines, furniture, and
architectural details, etc.)
* the appreciation of different art forms varies
cross-culturally (Chinese arts and crafts have both
utilitarian and aesthetic values)
* artistic completeness or mastery is determined
and maintained by formal and informal standards
(regional variations)
* expressive culture of ordinary people
Expression of cultural identity for political
purposes (ex. The Mardi Gras costume of New
Orleans “Black Indians” & anti-American graffiti)
Anthropological perspectives on arts
 artists in traditional non-western societies
created objects or engaged in activities that
re-presented the central values of a culture;
artists cannot work on their art all of the
time as they still must hunt, gather, fish,
herd, or farm to eat; artists are seldom fulltime specialists whose career is their work.
 more collective production of art in nonwestern cultures than in Western cultures;
artistic traditions are generally transmitted
through families and kin groups
面 塑 Dough Sculpture
 Date back to the Han Dynasty
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(206BC-AD220).
Yellow River Valley (crude,
unconstrained and profound) vs.
Yangtze River Valley delicate,
exquisite & polished).
Materials & tools used: white
flour, scissors, a kitchen knife,
comb, Chinese dates, etc.
Well-leavened dough kneaded
according to the set pattern
Popular wedding and birthday
gifts; other ritual occasions
Decoration and beautification
 Origin closely connected
剪 纸 Paper-Cuts
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with the invention of
paper during the Han
Dunasty (206 BC - 221
AD).
For celebrations, festivals
and home decoration.
Paper cuttings are made
on red paper (red is a
lucky color).
Designs of dragons, birds,
people, flowers, or
sometimes Chinese
characters.
Materials: paper/card
(red)
scissors and/or knife
Art and Individuality
 Some anthropologists have criticized that the
study of non-Western art ignores the individual
and focuses too much on the group.
 However, in many non-Western societies, there is
more collective production of art than in Western
cultures.
 The degree to which artists can be separated from
their work varies cross-culturally.
 In all societies art is work
Ex. Chinese Embroidery (individuality) & Shadow
Puppets (collectivism)
Embroidery
 Long established art form (early
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Han Dynasty)
Items: robes, theatrical costumes
purses, shoes, spectacle cases,
banners, alter cloths and many
other pieces
Stitches: satin stitch (long and
short); Beijing stitch or French
knot; Stem stitch; Couching;
Chain stitch; Split stitch.
finely stitched pieces took 5-6
people years to complete
a pastime for wealthy ladies and
many members of the court
Art, Society, and Culture
 Art is usually a public phenomenon that is
exhibited, performed, evaluated, and
appreciated in society.
 Folk art, music, and lore refer to the
expressive culture of ordinary people.
 Art is a form of social communication.
(recurring theme: high/low brow)
The Culture of “Faking” in
the East
Folk Paintings (Huxian and Jinshan)
American Quilts
The Cultural Transmission of the Arts
Art is a part of culture, and as a result,
appreciation for the arts is internalized
during enculturation.
The appreciation of different art forms varies
cross-culturally.
Ex. American Idols (the artistic talent of
William Hung)
Verbal Arts
 Folklore. 19th century term first used to refer to
the traditional oral stories and sayings of the
European peasant, and later extended to those
traditions preserved orally in all societies
 Myth. A sacred narrative explaining how the
world came to be in its present form (e.g., Bible).
 Legend. Stories told as true, set in postcreation
world.
 Tale. A creative narrative recognized as fiction for
entertainment.
 Other verbal arts
 Myths are hallowed stories that express
fundamental cultural values.
 Ex. the Wizard of Oz and the original Star
Wars are modern American cultural myths
 A structural analysis of the two films
demonstrates that Star Wars is a systematic
transformation of Wizard of Oz.
Continuity and Change
 The arts are always changing.
 The arts incorporate a wide variety of
media.
 The arts will probably remain (the
most expressive) form of culture.
Concluding remarks
 With integration into global economic,
traditional handmade goods must compete
with mass-produced trade goods.
 Commoditization, marketization and
questions of “authenticity”
 Tourism’s complex effects
- support for preservation of material
cultural heritage (UNESCO’s 1972
definition)
Shanghai Nostalgia