African Art and Culture Quiz

Questions and Answers

What do the artist's modern art forms and colors represent?

movement and change, not only in her own life, but in the life of the African people.

Where is the artist of the painting originally from?

Ethiopia

How is death viewed in African culture?

a transition process in which loved ones go from one world to the next

What do the patterns on the wall panels symbolize?

the potential and vigor of the person being initiated Signup and view all the answers

What do individuals from the Ivory Coast believe about the spirit world?

Everyone existed previously in a spirit world, thus some people have 'spirit spouses.' Signup and view all the answers

In the bwami system of the Lega people, what did the masks do?

The masks linked the spiritual and human worlds together Signup and view all the answers

What material was often used in African art to depict people of power?

gold Signup and view all the answers

What would be a good occasion to give a biiga doll?

When a child is born or someone is trying to have a baby Signup and view all the answers

What African method of demonstrating status can be seen?

the dress of the king Signup and view all the answers

How is art used in African initiation rituals?

Art is used in the form of masks, dances, and songs to tell traditional stories and present important morals and values. Signup and view all the answers

What is a biiga doll used for?

a fertility figure Signup and view all the answers

Inspiration sources, such as a surface design system called ______, are still rooted in tradition.

uli Signup and view all the answers

What is nkanda?

initiation rights Signup and view all the answers

What is a kikaku?

a three-sided roofed enclosure Signup and view all the answers

What do initiation rituals represent in the bwami system of the Lega people?

moving up in status or levels Signup and view all the answers

Who is the artist of the painting?

Julie Mehretu Signup and view all the answers

What does the other world spouse represent?

all the above Signup and view all the answers

What does the mask symbolize?

the connection between the ancestors in the living and dead community Signup and view all the answers

What does the middle figure represent?

a European colonial administrator Signup and view all the answers

What major change took place with the arrival of contemporary African art?

adoption of modern materials Signup and view all the answers

Of all the urbanized people of the Americas, the Incas were the most brilliant __________.

engineers Signup and view all the answers

What happened every morning in the Inca capital?

A llama was sacrificed. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Inca believe gold and silver were?

They believed that gold was the sweat of the sun and silver was the tears of the moon. Signup and view all the answers

What other symbolic value do the Aztec pyramids hold?

They represented mountains, a source of life-sustaining water and fertility. Signup and view all the answers

Machu Picchu is located in modern day __________.

peru Signup and view all the answers

What is the Land of Four Quarters?

Another name for the Inca Empire Signup and view all the answers

What does the checkerboard pattern on this Inca textile indicate about the person wearing it?

A military officer or royal escort Signup and view all the answers

What Aztec symbols can you recognize?

An eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Aztecs worship their deities in pyramids?

They offered human sacrifices. Signup and view all the answers

What do the dots on the page refer to?

The dots refer to the number of days in one aspect of the Mesoamerican calendar. Signup and view all the answers

What role are textiles believed to have played in Incan culture?

indicated a person's ethnic identity and social rank Signup and view all the answers

What does a silver or white llama symbolize in Inca culture?

the Inca ruler Signup and view all the answers

How did the Aztec people decide where to settle?

They had seen an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus. Signup and view all the answers

The Inca valued gold and silver for their ________________.

religious and symbolic value Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the piece?

The Founding of Tenochtitlan Signup and view all the answers

Who was the ruler of the Aztec empire when the Spanish conquest began?

Moctezuma Signup and view all the answers

What is this headdress made from?

quetzal bird feathers Signup and view all the answers

How are the Aztec pyramids positioned?

They are positioned like a giant celestial calendar. Signup and view all the answers

When worn, the buffalo-hide robe would have transformed the warrior into a living representation of?

his exploits Signup and view all the answers

How was the robe painting acquired?

The robe was collected by Lewis and Clark on their expedition into the western lands acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. Signup and view all the answers

What tribe constructed buildings like the ones seen?

pueblo Signup and view all the answers

How did the Northwest Coast people develop and use animal imagery in their homes?

Northwest Coast people lived in extended family groups or clans that claimed descent from a mythic animal or animal-human ancestry. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tribes lived in the Southwest?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Describe the communities of the Pueblo people and the functions of their homes.

The little towns of the Pueblo consisted of multistory dwellings and areas in which people would make food or conduct trade. Signup and view all the answers

What is twining?

Twining is the sewing together of a vertical warp of rods. Signup and view all the answers

What type of intricate handwork is seen?

weaving Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the Pomo legend, explaining the significance of the basket.

According to Pomo legend, the earth was dark until their hero stole the sun and brought it to the earth in a basket. Signup and view all the answers

What device is pictured?

A baby carrier Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following symbols did the Sioux believe protected them from natural and supernatural forces?

thunderbird Signup and view all the answers

What did the Northwest Coast tribes believe they descended from?

a mythic animal Signup and view all the answers

What is quillwork?

soaking porcupine and bird quills with natural dyes and working them into surface patterns on other objects Signup and view all the answers

Quillwork was considered a _________ art form.

woman's Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of woodlands art?

personal adornment Signup and view all the answers

What are the three techniques used in basket weaving?

coiling, twining, plaiting Signup and view all the answers

What imagery was important to the Northwest Coast tribes?

animals Signup and view all the answers

What Native American tribe created the shoulder bag seen?

Delaware People in Kansas Signup and view all the answers

What types of symbols were used in quillwork?

symbols of protection and well-being Signup and view all the answers

Plains men recorded their exploits in paintings on all of the following except:

buffalo-hide robes Signup and view all the answers

What caused many of the Moai at Easter Island to be destroyed?

Many of them were knocked down and destroyed when the natives entered a period of warfare among themselves. Signup and view all the answers

On what part of the face was a female Maori tattooed?

Around the mouth and on the chin. Signup and view all the answers

Based on your knowledge, what country is this man from?

New Zealand Signup and view all the answers

What do the relief sculptures on the support poles, wall planks, and lower end of the rafters represent?

Ancestors Signup and view all the answers

What is moko?

Tattooed designs of the Maori people that became a personal signature. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the art of the Pacific Island cultures similar in many ways?

Because the different islands are close together, they share many of the same artistic characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the early inhabitants of Australia?

Aborigines Signup and view all the answers

How many Moai figures have been discovered on Easter Island?

around 1,000 Signup and view all the answers

What role did women play in the creation of the Maori Meeting House?

The lattice panels were made by women, however, because of ritual prohibitions, women could not enter the meeting house. Signup and view all the answers

What do the parts of the image represent?

The currents are represented by sticks held together by coconut fibers, and the shells mark the islands on the route. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name for the sculpture?

carved lintel Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the figures from Easter Island in 1978?

They were restored to their original condition. Signup and view all the answers

What country are the Maori from?

New Zealand Signup and view all the answers

Where are the above sculptures located?

Easter Island Signup and view all the answers

Where on their bodies did the Maori men have tattoos?

on their faces and the lower body between the waist and knees Signup and view all the answers

What does the structure symbolize?

the sky father Signup and view all the answers

What purpose did the piece serve?

It adorned storehouses and meeting houses. Signup and view all the answers

Why was tattooing such an important part of the culture in Oceania?

It indicated personal rank. Signup and view all the answers

What is depicted?

Wapepe navigation chart Signup and view all the answers

What are the figures believed to be?

ancestor figures or memorials to dead chiefs Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

African Art and Initiation

Modern art forms and colors signify movement and change in the artist's life and the lives of African people.
The artist, Julie Mehretu, hails from Ethiopia.
Death in African culture is perceived as a transition to another world rather than an end.
Wall panel patterns symbolize the potential and vigor of individuals undergoing initiation.
People from the Ivory Coast believe in a spirit world where they have "spirit spouses."
The bwami system of the Lega people uses masks to connect the spiritual and human realms.
Gold is commonly used in African art to signify people of power.
Biiga dolls symbolize fertility and are gifted during childbirth or when trying to conceive.
The dress of a king illustrates status in Ivory Coast culture.
Artifacts such as masks, dances, and songs convey traditional morals and stories in initiation rituals.

Incas and Aztecs

The Inca civilization was renowned for their engineering skills among urbanized populations in the Americas.
Every morning in the Inca capital, a llama was sacrificed.
Incas viewed gold as the sun's sweat and silver as the moon's tears, showcasing their spiritual importance.
Aztec pyramids symbolize mountains, representing sustenance and fertility.
Machu Picchu is located in modern-day Peru.
The Inca Empire is referred to as the Land of Four Quarters.
The checkerboard pattern on textiles often indicates military or royal status.
Aztecs worshipped deities in pyramids through human sacrifices.
The dots on the Mesoamerican calendar reflect specific days.

Native American Art and Culture

Textiles in Incan culture represent ethnic identity and social rank.
A silver llama symbolizes the Inca ruler.
The Aztecs chose settlement based on an eagle perched on a cactus, a pivotal sign.
Plains men depicted their exploits through various art forms, excluding cow-hide robes.
Moai figures on Easter Island were largely destroyed due to intertribal conflicts.
Maori women played vital roles in creating meeting house panels but had restrictions on entering the structures.
Tattooing in Oceania, particularly among Maori, represented personal rank and cultural significance.
Quillwork, primarily a woman's art form, involved using dyed quills to create surface patterns.
Pomo legend emphasizes the significance of a basket as a means to bring light to the world.

Artistic Techniques and Symbolism

Techniques in basket weaving include coiling, twining, and plaiting.
Northwest Coast tribes utilized animal imagery, linking lineage to mythic ancestors.
The Wapepe navigation chart reflects pathways made using sticks and seashells marking islands.
The carved lintel and other structures symbolize various elements of indigenous cosmology, representing ancestors or the sky father.

Cultural Heritage and Identity

The intricate societal structures of the Pueblo included multistory dwellings contributing to communal trade and life.
Tribal identities, like those of the Delaware People, showcase the continued presence of traditional crafts and symbols.
Each culture's art serves as a reflection of its historical experiences, beliefs, and social hierarchies.

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Description

Explore the rich symbolism and significance of African art in this quiz. Delve into themes of initiation, spirituality, and cultural beliefs as you learn about the artwork of influential figures like Julie Mehretu. Test your knowledge of the role of art in representing tradition and status within various African communities.