Teacher Reading List:
1.
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Vogel, M. Susan. African Aesthetics. New York. Center for African Art, 1986.
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This book focuses on Aesthetics as a precise African language. The author gives detailed examples of African aesthetics.
2.
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Thompson, Robert Farris. African Art in Motion. Los Angeles/Berkeley, CA. University of California Press, 1986.
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An illustrated book that focuses on the History of African art. It also gives detail information about various regions and how their art was influenced.
3.
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Thompson, Robert Farris, Ed. Yoruba Artistic Criticism: The Traditional Artist in African Societies. Indiana University, 1980. This book focuses on the contribution of African artists and their criticism in African art and sculpture.
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4.
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D’Azevedo, Warren L. The Traditional Artist in African Societies. Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 1973. Based on a collection of papers presented at a conference in 1965, some of the commentaries are on the role of the artist in such societies as Yoruba, Ashanti, and Mende.
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5.
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Hornburger, Jane M. and Whitney, Alex. African Countries and Cultures. New York: David McKay Co., Inc., 1981. An illustrated dictionary. Helpful when gathering background information about African cultures.
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6.
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Naylor, Penelope. Black Imalies: The Art of West Africa. Garden City, Doubleday and Company, Inc. Interesting book that explains the relationship between the sculpture of Africa and the cultural belief of societies. Filled with artistic examples.
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7.
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Price, Christine. Made in West Africa. New York, E.F. Dutton and Co, 1975. Many different forms of West Africa are featured in this books. Photographs of artwork and sculptures. The art objects are organized in alphabetical order by sculpture names.
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8.
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Segy, Ladislas. African Sculpture Speaks. New York, Hill and Wang, 1969. A beautiful and interesting book filled with photos of African sculpture. This book gives much detail about various African sculpture and where the ideas that inspired them came from.
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9.
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Willet, Frank. African Art. New York, Praeger Publishers Co., 1975. An extensive study of all African arts. Very informative, covers the history of African art.
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10. Chanda, Jacqueline. African Arts and Culture. Worcester, Massachusetts, Davis Publication, Inc., 1993. This book represents an introduction to African art and culture.
11. Eaton, Marica. Basic Issues in Aesthetics. Belmont, CA, Wadsworth, 1988. This book represents the basic issues that involve aesthetics in sculpture and art.
12. Lanksford, Louis. Aesthetics: Issue and Inquiry. Reston, VA, National Art Education Association, 1992. This book discusses basic aesthetics and how aesthetics relates to art.
13. Drewal, Henery John and Margaret Thompson Drewal. Glede: Art and Female Power Among the Yoruba. Bloomington, Indiana, University Press, 1983. This book focuses on the fetish among the Yoruba and culture and the female sculpture.
Suggested Video:
1.
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African Art and Sculpture. Junior High-adult. 1971. 21 minutes. Reveals the African’s sense of beauty and curiosity as displayed in works of art.
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2.
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Yaaba Soore: Path of the Ancestors. Senior High-adult. 1987. 17 minutes. This film explains what the various African tribal masks represent.
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3.
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African Art. Junior High-adult. 13 minutes. The influence of contemporary African history on today’s artist is outlined.
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Slides: Courtesy of Yale Art Gallery:
1.
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“Aron Etoma Mask” (20th c.) Temne Civilization, West-Central Sierra Leone.
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2
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“Ibeji Twins” (20th c.) Yoruba Civilization, West Africa, Nigeria.
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3.
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“Sowo Wui Helmet Mask” (19th c.) Mende Civilization.
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4.
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“Opon Ifa Divination Tray” (875-1900) Yoruba Civilization.
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5.
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“Agere Ifa Palm Nut Container” (19th c.) Yoruba Civilization.
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6.
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“Kanaga Mask” (20th c.) Dogon Civilization.
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7.
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“Figure of an Ancestress” (19th c.) Luba Civilization.
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8.
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“Mboko Bowl-Bearer Figure” (19th c.) Luba Civilization.
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9.
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“Gu Mask” (20th c.) South Central Ivory Coast.
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10. “Zamble Mask” (19th-20th c.) South Central Ivory Coast.
11. “Nkisi Figurine” (19th-20th c.) Kongo Civilization.
Hand drawings by the author taken from Chanda, Jacqueline; African Art and Culture, Worcester, Massachusetts, David Publication, Inc., 1993.
Classroom Music: Hancock, Herbie. Watermelon Man. Hancock Music Co. (BUI) 1992.
Student Question Worksheet:
1.
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Describe what you see in these sculptures. _______________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.
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How many sections are each sculptures divided into?________________________
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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
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What makes the sculptures seem balanced?_______________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4.
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Describe each sculpture. What does it remind you of?_______________________
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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5.
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Which sculpture is more concerned with life and death?______________________
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________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
6.
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How has distortion been exaggerated in the sculptures? _____________________
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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7.
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Why would you guess that African sculptors do not portray the human body the
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way that it looks to us in the human life?_________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
8.
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Which sculpture is smoother in texture? Which has a rougher surface?_________
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________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
9.
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What do sculptures like these make you think of or deduce about them?_________
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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
10.
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What can you speculate about these sculptures?____________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
STUDENT HANDOUT
Elements of African Aesthetics
Resemblance to a human being:
African artists praise a carved figure by saying that it “looks like a human being”. Artists seldom portray particular people, actual animals, or the actual form of invisible spirits.
Luminosity:
The lustrously smooth surface of most African figural sculpture, often embellished with decorative scarification, indicates beautify, shiny, healthy skin. Figures with rough surfaces and deformities are intended to appear ugly and reflect moral flaws.
Self-composure:
The person who is composed behaves in a measured and rational way; he or she is controlled, proud, dignified, and reserved.
Youthfulness:
A youthful appearance connotes vigor, productiveness, fertility, and an ability to labor. Illness and deformity are rarely depicted, because they are signs of evils.
STUDENT HANDOUT
ERE IBEJI. TWIN FIGURES, 19TH CENTURY. YORUBA NIGERIA (fig. 1)
STUDENT HANDOUT
SOWO WUI. HELMET MASK, 19TH-20TH CENTURY. MENDE CIVILIZATION (fig. 2)
STUDENT HANDOUT
ARON. ETOMA MASK, 20TH CENTURY. SIERRA LEONE (fig. 3)