Chapter 15

Art

What We Will Learn

How do anthropologists define the arts? What are the various functions of art in

society? How do music and dance reflect other

aspects of a culture?

Cross Cultural Definition of Art

Art Should ….

1. Be creative and playful.

2. Be unconcerned with practicality or usefulness of the object produced

3. Produce an emotional response.

Cross Cultural Definition of Art

Art Should ….

4. Be transformational an image or idea transformed into a painting, dance, song, or poem.

5. Make a symbolic statement about what is being portrayed.

Art in Small-scale Societies Art is often left behind on rocks or cliffs or

in forms that can be taken with them: Performing arts (song, dance, and

storytelling). body decoration, such as jewelry, body

painting, tattooing, and scarification. artistic decorations on artifacts such as

weapons, clothing, and food containers.

Art in Complex Societies Associated with the elite. Often owned and controlled by the upper

classes. Glorifies and serves the interests of the

upper classes.

Functions of Art Emotional Gratification for the Individual Contributes to Social Integration Social Control Preserving or Challenging the Status Quo

Graphic And Plastic Arts The Western notion of graphic and plastic

arts usually refers to painting, sculpture, printmaking, and architecture.

The anthropological definition also includes such art forms as weaving, embroidery, tailoring, jewelry making, and tattooing and other forms of body decoration.

Four Major Concerns of Ethnomusicology 1. Ideas about music

How cultures distinguish between music and nonmusic.

The functions music has for the society. Whether music is seen as beneficial or

harmful to the society. What constitutes beautiful music? On what occasions should music be

played?

Four Major Concerns of Ethnomusicology

2. Social structure of music The social relationships between

musicians. How a society distinguishes between

musicians on the basis of age, gender, race,ethnicity, or education.

Four Major Concerns of Ethnomusicology3. Characteristics of music:

How the style of music in different cultures varies (scale, melody, harmony, timing).

The different musical genres that are found in a society (lullaby, sea chantey, hard rock, and so on).

The nature of musical texts (words). How music is composed. How music is learned and transmitted.

Four Major Concerns of Ethnomusicology

4. Material culture of music: The nature of the musical instruments

found in a culture. Who makes musical instruments and

how are they distributed? How are musical tastes reflected in

the instruments used?

Music: Egalitarian Societies and Stratified Societies

Egalitarian Societies Stratified Societies

Repetitious texts Nonrepetitious texts

Slurred articulation Precise articulation

Little solo singing Solo singing

Wide melodic intervals Narrow melodic intervals

Music: Egalitarian Societies and Stratified Societies

Egalitarian Societies Stratified Societies

Nonelaborate songs (no embellishments)

Elaborate songs (embellishments)

Few instruments Large number of instruments

Singing in unisonSinging in simultaneously

produced intervals

Functions of Dance Psychological – helping people cope

more effectively with tensions and aggressive feelings.

Political - expressing political values and attitudes, showing allegiance to political leaders, and controlling behavior.

Functions of Dance Religiously – various methods of

communicating with supernatural forces. Socially - articulating and reinforcing

relationships between members of the society.

Educationally - passing on the cultural traditions, values, and beliefs from one generation to the next.

Verbal Art Myths are stories of our search for significance,

meaning, and truth. Legends are told as if they were true, but often

are only partially true or not at all true. They attempt to explain the establishment of local customs, the movement of populations from one land to another, or the traits of folk heroes.

Folktales have no particular basis in history and exist largely for the purpose of entertainment.

Quick Quiz

1. According to the text, art should make a symbolic statement about what is being portrayed. In other words, art should communicate information

a) by being technically skilled.

b) by being transformational.

c) by being creative.

d) by being representational.

Answer: d According to the text, art should make a

symbolic statement about what is being portrayed. In other words, art should communicate information: by being representational.

2. The term primitive art is

a) the best term we have for some forms of art.

b) an accurate description of art from small-scale societies.

c) a valid concept in that it directs classifications of art to recognize the skills and abilities of pre-modern peoples.

d) not used because of its misleading connotations of both inferiority and evolutionary sequencing.

Answer: d The term primitive art is not used

because of its misleading connotations of both inferiority and evolutionary sequencing.

3. Art in small-scale societies is ________ to a greater degree in other aspects of the culture.

a) developed

b) imagined

c) created

d) embedded

Answer: d Art in small-scale societies is embedded

to a greater degree in other aspects of the culture.

4. Quite apart from whatever benefits art may have for the total society, it is generally agreed that art is a source of ________ for both the artist and the viewer.

a) conversation

b) pride

c) personal gratification

d) embarrassment

Answer: c Quite apart from whatever benefits art

may have for the total society, it is generally agreed that art is a source of personal gratification for both the artist and the viewer.

5. Because the human body is capable of a wide variety of movements, which body parts are active and which postures are assumed differ from one ________ tradition to another.

a) rhythm

b) dance

c) music

d) body art

Answer: b

5. Because the human body is capable of a wide variety of movements, which body parts are active and which postures are assumed differ from one dance tradition to another.