ARTH 33.01 African Art (Survey)
This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to African art in the twentieth century. It charts the development and dimensions of artistic expressions and cultural production in Africa from the colonial period to the contemporary. By looking at various case studies comparatively, the course explores the intersection of developments in artistic practice and identity, and cultural production, and sweeping changes in the political, social and economic spheres in Africa. It considers the effects of colonialism, postcolonial conditions, neocolonialism, economic liberalism, and globalization on cultural production and artistic practice. Following a chronological format, it will attempt to cover the different sub-regions of the continent but draws substantial amount of examples from sub-Saharan Africa.