ARTH 3435 - African Art (3 Credit Hours)

Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0
This course is an overview of the arts and visual cultures of Africa, ranging from ancient architecture, masquerades, and traditional sculpture modern photography, contemporary digital works and multimedia installations. Special attention is given to key moments of contact between different cultures within Africa and between Africa and the Americas and Europe, allowing students to develop a nuanced insight about Africa’s global presence and reach. It also considers the challenges and politics of interpreting African arts in our current globalizing world. The course is organized as a series of case-studies focusing on well-known traditions and artists from the following countries: Mali, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Senegal, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Tanzania. Students will engage in a variety of activities both in and out of the classroom including lecture, discussion, research, and/or writing exercises.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of “C” in ARTH 2531 or ARTH 2532 or permission of instructor.
Cross Listing(s): AAST 3435.