79-364 Art, Anthropology, and Empire

Units: 9.0 Department: History Related URLs: http://www.history.cmu.edu This seminar will explore the anthropology and history of aesthetic objects, as they travel from places considered "primitive" or "exotic," to others deemed "civilized" or "Western." First, we will consider twentieth-century anthropological attempts to develop ways of appreciating and understanding objects from other cultures, and in the process to reconsider the meaning of such terms as "art" and "aesthetics." Then we will discuss several topics in the history of empire and the "exotic" arts, including: the conquest, colonization and appropriation of indigenous objects; the politics of display and the rise of museums and world fairs; the processes by which locally-produced art objects are transformed into commodities traded in international art markets; the effects of "exotic" art on such aesthetic movements as surrealism, etc.; and the appropriation of indigenous aesthetic styles by "Western" artists. Finally, we will consider attempts by formerly colonized populations to reclaim objects from museums, and to organize new museums, aesthetic styles, and forms of artistic production that challenge imperialism's persistent legacies.

Popularity index Rank for this semester: #578 Rank in this department: #28   Students also scheduled 60-471 Advanced PDP Drawing: The Figure, A... 80-245 Medical Ethics 79-209 Theory and Practice in Anthropology 82-221 Intermediate German I 79-280 Russian History from the First to t... 76-378 Community Literacy and Intercultura... 76-294 Interpretive Practices 76-271 Introduction to Professional and Te... 76-266 Survey of Forms: Creative Non-Ficti... 79-207 Development of European Culture

Spring 2005 times

Sec	Time	Day	Instructor	Location
A	9:00 - 10:20 am	T	Eiss	DH 1117
		R	Eiss	DH 1117