Carolyn C. Smith
Meaningful Art of Africa
Objectives
The students will
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1. give an interpretation of a piece of art work.
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2. show the relationship of African art with its history.
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3. produce a creation of their own, giving it a title and write a brief description and/or interpretation of their work.
Materials Needed
barbie doll size figures, paint, construction paper, glue, discarded sewing notions, scraps of material
Vocabulary: function, interpretation, rituals, ceremonies, customs, traditions
Brainstorming Questions:
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1. Why do people dress up for Halloween?
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2. What other times do people disguise themselves?
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3. Why do you think Africans disguise themselves during some of their ceremonies?
Procedures
Introduce the vocabulary above. Discuss with the students that the pieces of art work produced by Africans since the beginning of time had a definite purpose. Discuss thoroughly the section in the unit titled
Functions and Meanings of African Art
. Remind the students that their art work was a means of recorded history for them. Point out to the students that the earlier African art work can’t be truly interpreted because of the mystery of the many groups of people found in the region. Discuss with the students that although there has been much exploration of Africa, there are areas which are too remote for outsiders to penetrate. This means that there are still areas unknown to our modern society.
Related Activities:
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1. Divide the students into groups of threes or fours. Next have them to choose a village and dress up a doll as one of the villagers. Make sure that the students give a brief description of the tribe they chosen as well as the purpose of the disguise. Add this art work to their Mini African Culture Center.
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2. Have the students to create an African village and write a skit including the various figure heads of that village. This skit could be video taped and shown to the class later.
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3. Arrange for a speaker to come in to discuss African Art.
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4. Arrange a field trip to the Afro-American Culture Center located on Orchard Street.