ART 218l - The Royal Arts of Africa

3 Credit(s)

Liberal Arts
In this course, we will investigate the powerful kingdoms that flourished in Western and Central Africa before and after European contacts. The royal arts of the kingdoms of Benin, Kongo and Kuba, to cite only a few, had elaborate and distinct artistic conventions in the representation of its rulers (both males and females) and regalia. We will study these conventions to understand how Western and Central African kingdoms established court-art traditions to define individual, dynastic, royal and national identity as well as gender roles. Further, we will analyze how these kingdoms were affected by and responded to colonialism and international trade. The concept and current protocols concerning repatriation of works of art seized during colonial times will also be discussed.