Podcast
Questions and Answers
What category has historically not been considered craftwork?
What category has historically not been considered craftwork?
- Lace making
- Quilting
- Textiles
- Sculpture (correct)
What shift occurred in the 1980s regarding the decorative arts?
What shift occurred in the 1980s regarding the decorative arts?
- They were completely ignored by art historians.
- They were separated from any artistic analysis.
- They were deemed less valuable than high art.
- They were recognized as equal in aesthetic value to high art. (correct)
Which factor is mentioned as shaping the perception of high art?
Which factor is mentioned as shaping the perception of high art?
- Historical context
- Gender and class (correct)
- Technical skill
- Cultural significance
Which of the following is considered a 'domestic' object mentioned in the content?
Which of the following is considered a 'domestic' object mentioned in the content?
What historical perception hindered the study of African art created by enslaved people?
What historical perception hindered the study of African art created by enslaved people?
What was the primary role of West African men in textile production?
What was the primary role of West African men in textile production?
Which of the following activities were primarily dominated by women in West African societies?
Which of the following activities were primarily dominated by women in West African societies?
What impact did western aesthetic standards have on African artists in the New World?
What impact did western aesthetic standards have on African artists in the New World?
In what way did enslaved artists express their cultural memory despite restrictions?
In what way did enslaved artists express their cultural memory despite restrictions?
Which of the following cultural groups is NOT mentioned as part of the diverse African backgrounds brought to America?
Which of the following cultural groups is NOT mentioned as part of the diverse African backgrounds brought to America?
How did slave ship rolls and insurance records contribute to understanding the origins of enslaved Americans?
How did slave ship rolls and insurance records contribute to understanding the origins of enslaved Americans?
Which aspect of African culture was evidenced in colonial architecture?
Which aspect of African culture was evidenced in colonial architecture?
What was a significant restriction placed on enslaved individuals concerning their cultural practices?
What was a significant restriction placed on enslaved individuals concerning their cultural practices?
What is the relationship between the West African lute and the American banjo?
What is the relationship between the West African lute and the American banjo?
Which component is common between the akonting and the banjo?
Which component is common between the akonting and the banjo?
Who notably referenced the banjo in the context of its African origins in the 18th century?
Who notably referenced the banjo in the context of its African origins in the 18th century?
Which of the following instruments is NOT mentioned as a predecessor to the banjo?
Which of the following instruments is NOT mentioned as a predecessor to the banjo?
How were the akonting and banjo typically played during the colonial era?
How were the akonting and banjo typically played during the colonial era?
What unique feature of the akonting did Laemouahuma Daniel Jatta highlight in his study?
What unique feature of the akonting did Laemouahuma Daniel Jatta highlight in his study?
Which region is NOT associated with the origins of similar instruments to the banjo?
Which region is NOT associated with the origins of similar instruments to the banjo?
What material is mentioned as being stretched over the gourd lutes similar to the banjo?
What material is mentioned as being stretched over the gourd lutes similar to the banjo?
What does Wheatley imply about the themes suitable for her poetry?
What does Wheatley imply about the themes suitable for her poetry?
What does Moorhead's artistic portrayal of Wheatley highlight?
What does Moorhead's artistic portrayal of Wheatley highlight?
What artistic elements are included in Moorhead's portrait of Wheatley?
What artistic elements are included in Moorhead's portrait of Wheatley?
What aspect of social status does Wheatley's attire in the portrait reflect?
What aspect of social status does Wheatley's attire in the portrait reflect?
Which description best characterizes the tone of Wheatley's poem excerpt?
Which description best characterizes the tone of Wheatley's poem excerpt?
What significance does the Boston Newsletter announcement hold for Moorhead?
What significance does the Boston Newsletter announcement hold for Moorhead?
What does Wheatley's use of 'living characters' in her poem suggest?
What does Wheatley's use of 'living characters' in her poem suggest?
What does the phrase 'solemn gloom of night' indicate in Wheatley's poem?
What does the phrase 'solemn gloom of night' indicate in Wheatley's poem?
Which element of American architecture is derived from African cultural heritage?
Which element of American architecture is derived from African cultural heritage?
What is the akonting primarily used as?
What is the akonting primarily used as?
Which of the following best describes blackface minstrels?
Which of the following best describes blackface minstrels?
What is chinking or bousillage used for in log cabins?
What is chinking or bousillage used for in log cabins?
Which artist is known for the portrait of Phillis Wheatley?
Which artist is known for the portrait of Phillis Wheatley?
What distinguishes the akonting and banjo from the ngoni and xalam?
What distinguishes the akonting and banjo from the ngoni and xalam?
In which region did the first recorded use of the banjo occur?
In which region did the first recorded use of the banjo occur?
What was the original name of the banjo as referred to in Haiti and Martinique?
What was the original name of the banjo as referred to in Haiti and Martinique?
When was the banjo first recorded as being used in the United States?
When was the banjo first recorded as being used in the United States?
What material was NOT mentioned as part of a Suriname banjo's construction?
What material was NOT mentioned as part of a Suriname banjo's construction?
Which group primarily played the ngoni and xalam?
Which group primarily played the ngoni and xalam?
What significant cultural impact did the transport of the banjo have when Caribbean slaves moved to North America?
What significant cultural impact did the transport of the banjo have when Caribbean slaves moved to North America?
Why were the akonting and banjo significant in the context of music history?
Why were the akonting and banjo significant in the context of music history?
Flashcards
High-Low Art Debate
High-Low Art Debate
The belief that certain art forms, like crafts, are less valuable or important than "high art" like painting or sculpture.
Reclassification of Craftwork
Reclassification of Craftwork
The re-evaluation of craftwork as valuable and equal in aesthetic merit to traditional art forms.
Decorative Arts
Decorative Arts
Functional objects that combine design and decoration, often crafted by hand.
Art History
Art History
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Factors Shaping Art Perception
Factors Shaping Art Perception
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African Gender-Based Labor Divisions
African Gender-Based Labor Divisions
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African Cultural Groups in America
African Cultural Groups in America
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Western Aesthetic Standards on African Art
Western Aesthetic Standards on African Art
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Resilience of African Artistic Practices
Resilience of African Artistic Practices
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African Influence on Colonial Architecture
African Influence on Colonial Architecture
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Africans as Architectural Forces
Africans as Architectural Forces
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Geographic Origins of Enslaved Americans
Geographic Origins of Enslaved Americans
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Cultural Memory and Creative Expression
Cultural Memory and Creative Expression
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Akonting
Akonting
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What is the Akonting?
What is the Akonting?
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Banjo
Banjo
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African Roots of the Banjo
African Roots of the Banjo
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Early Observation on the Banjo
Early Observation on the Banjo
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Laemouahuma Daniel Jatta
Laemouahuma Daniel Jatta
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Tracing the Banjo's History
Tracing the Banjo's History
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The Akonting's Influence on the Banjo
The Akonting's Influence on the Banjo
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Vernacular Instruments
Vernacular Instruments
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Griots
Griots
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Origin of the Banjo in the Americas
Origin of the Banjo in the Americas
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The Banjo in Haiti and Martinique
The Banjo in Haiti and Martinique
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Banjo in the United States
Banjo in the United States
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Construction and Playing of the Banjo
Construction and Playing of the Banjo
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Banjo in African-American Music
Banjo in African-American Music
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African-American Music and Cultural Exchange
African-American Music and Cultural Exchange
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Line Drawing
Line Drawing
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Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro
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Art History and Social Context
Art History and Social Context
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Chinking or Bousillage
Chinking or Bousillage
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Academy
Academy
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Blackface Minstrels
Blackface Minstrels
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Burnish
Burnish
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Study Notes
African Art and Design in the Colonial Era
- African artists arrived in America in the 1500s.
- The earliest documented presence of Africans in America dates to 1526.
- Between 1500 and 1860, an estimated 12.5 million Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas.
- African deaths during the Middle Passage (the journey across the Atlantic) were substantial, estimated at 1.5 million.
- By the 1860 census, the African population in the United States exceeded 4 million, 90% of whom were enslaved.
- Enslaved Black Americans were heavily restricted in their creative output until the 18th century, mainly producing utilitarian goods like baskets, ceramics, and textiles.
- This art was often classified as "low" art, considered craft rather than fine art.
- In the 1980s, the "decorative arts" produced by enslaved and marginalized groups began to be reclassified and recognized as having aesthetic value, equivalent to painting and sculpture.
- This challenged the high/low art debate and examined the role of gender and class in art perception.
- African art traditions, unlike Western hierarchies, viewed art as integral to daily life, with various forms, such as masks, textiles, and ceramics, created for religious, political, and social purposes.
- African gender-based labor divisions differed from European norms.
Africanisms in the New World
- African Americans brought a vast cultural spectrum (e.g., Akan, Bakongo, Baoule, etc.) to the Americas.
- Despite restrictions, enslaved Africans in America retained cultural memory and creative skills.
- Slave-produced artifacts were often dismissed as merely functional, not art.
- Enslaved Africans were significant contributors to architectural projects (e.g., the White House and the U.S. Capitol).
- They built colonial-style buildings in diverse local traditions (e.g., Spanish-colonial buildings in St. Augustine, Florida, and French colonial features in Louisiana).
African Architectural Construction
- Enslaved Africans were central to American architectural construction.
- They built Spanish, French, Creole, and other architectural styles across many parts of America.
- Styles varied regionally and reflected blending with existing European styles while preserving African features (ex., poteaux-en-terre, etc.)
- Examples include the construction in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
- Africa House is a testament to these elements.
Sculptural and Other Art Forms
- Enslaved African Americans excelled in metalwork (e.g., iron and bronze), a craft long established in their homelands.
- They played key roles in shaping early American ironwork, including on the gates and balconies of Charleston, South Carolina.
- Slave-created woodworking persisted in various forms, carving and furniture production for wealthy homes.
- Black artistry extended to the creation of items such as musical instruments (e.g., banjos influenced by similar West African instruments) and ceramics (e.g., colonoware) which demonstrated both artistic skills and cultural adaptations.
Additional Points
- 18th-century black artists, like Scipio Moorhead, defied social barriers to pursue artistic expression.
- Phillis Wheatley's status as a poet highlights creativity despite slavery's harsh realities.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the distinctions between craftwork and high art, particularly in relation to decorative arts. Explore the historical perceptions of art, including shifts in the 1980s and views on African art created by enslaved individuals. This quiz covers important concepts that shape our understanding of art today.
