African Art in Motion

· Univ of California Press
E-book
292
Pages
Éligible
Les notes et avis ne sont pas vérifiés. En savoir plus

À propos de cet e-book

This captivating book offers an in-depth exploration of the profound relationship between dance, art, and objects in African culture, focusing on the ways in which movement breathes life into static forms. In many parts of Africa, dance extends beyond the human body, uniting with everyday objects such as spinning tops and cutlasses, transforming them into vibrant, autonomous works of art. The Tiv people of Nigeria exemplify this philosophy, where the motion of a spinning top or a twirling blade is imbued with the same artistic essence as human dance. This broader conception of dance highlights a fundamental principle in African art—the fusion of movement, form, and life. Motion, in this context, is not just a performance but a bridge to sacred realms, where the aliveness of an image or object is essential for it to function as a work of art.

The book further delves into the unity of African art forms, where sculpture, dance, music, and visual objects are all intertwined, creating a holistic aesthetic experience. Famous examples, such as the Basinjom mask of Cameroon, illustrate how art maintains its vitality even in stillness, requiring ceremonial practices to anchor its powerful presence. The author explores how these performances and objects combine, not only to enhance the visual brilliance of the art but also to create metaphors for ethical and spiritual existence. This seamless integration of the arts provides a rich framework for understanding the icons of African culture—attitudes of the body like standing, sitting, and balancing, which transcend time, evoking themes of stability, flexibility, and balance. Through this lens, the book offers a journey into the timeless, poetic world of African danced art, where physical movement and artistic expression unite to reveal deeper truths about life and spirit.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1974.

À propos de l'auteur

Thompson Robert Farris : Enter the Author Bio(s) here.

Donner une note à cet e-book

Dites-nous ce que vous en pensez.

Informations sur la lecture

Smartphones et tablettes
Installez l'application Google Play Livres pour Android et iPad ou iPhone. Elle se synchronise automatiquement avec votre compte et vous permet de lire des livres en ligne ou hors connexion, où que vous soyez.
Ordinateurs portables et de bureau
Vous pouvez écouter les livres audio achetés sur Google Play à l'aide du navigateur Web de votre ordinateur.
Liseuses et autres appareils
Pour lire sur des appareils e-Ink, comme les liseuses Kobo, vous devez télécharger un fichier et le transférer sur l'appareil en question. Suivez les instructions détaillées du Centre d'aide pour transférer les fichiers sur les liseuses compatibles.