Decorative Arts and Craftwork Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What category has historically not been considered craftwork?

Lace making

Quilting

Textiles

Sculpture (correct)

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?

Historical context

Gender and class (correct)

Technical skill

Cultural significance

Which of the following is considered a 'domestic' object mentioned in the content?

Quilts Signup and view all the answers

What historical perception hindered the study of African art created by enslaved people?

Craftwork was judged as unworthy of research. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role of West African men in textile production?

They wove textiles using portable foot-pedal looms. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following activities were primarily dominated by women in West African societies?

Ceramic production and tent construction Signup and view all the answers

What impact did western aesthetic standards have on African artists in the New World?

They were applied to evaluate African artists' work. Signup and view all the answers

In what way did enslaved artists express their cultural memory despite restrictions?

Through the functional objects they were forced to make. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cultural groups is NOT mentioned as part of the diverse African backgrounds brought to America?

Zulu Signup and view all the answers

How did slave ship rolls and insurance records contribute to understanding the origins of enslaved Americans?

They indicated the geographic diversity of enslaved people. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of African culture was evidenced in colonial architecture?

Design and construction practices Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant restriction placed on enslaved individuals concerning their cultural practices?

The ban on creating art objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the West African lute and the American banjo?

The West African lute is a direct precursor to the American banjo. Signup and view all the answers

Which component is common between the akonting and the banjo?

A long wooden neck extending through the instrument's body. Signup and view all the answers

Who notably referenced the banjo in the context of its African origins in the 18th century?

Thomas Jefferson Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following instruments is NOT mentioned as a predecessor to the banjo?

cello Signup and view all the answers

How were the akonting and banjo typically played during the colonial era?

By plucking with the thumb and index finger. Signup and view all the answers

What unique feature of the akonting did Laemouahuma Daniel Jatta highlight in his study?

It has a removable wooden string bridge. Signup and view all the answers

Which region is NOT associated with the origins of similar instruments to the banjo?

Canada Signup and view all the answers

What material is mentioned as being stretched over the gourd lutes similar to the banjo?

Animal skin Signup and view all the answers

What does Wheatley imply about the themes suitable for her poetry?

Nobler themes require more refined language. Signup and view all the answers

What does Moorhead's artistic portrayal of Wheatley highlight?

Her intellectual aspirations and literacy. Signup and view all the answers

What artistic elements are included in Moorhead's portrait of Wheatley?

A book, a pen, and her contemplative pose. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of social status does Wheatley's attire in the portrait reflect?

She is portrayed in attire of free working-class women. Signup and view all the answers

Which description best characterizes the tone of Wheatley's poem excerpt?

Reflective and solemn. Signup and view all the answers

What significance does the Boston Newsletter announcement hold for Moorhead?

It describes him as an 'extraordinary genius' in art. Signup and view all the answers

What does Wheatley's use of 'living characters' in her poem suggest?

A focus on vivid, expressive imagery in poetry. Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'solemn gloom of night' indicate in Wheatley's poem?

An emphasis on the loss of visibility and inspiration. Signup and view all the answers

Which element of American architecture is derived from African cultural heritage?

Hipped roofs Signup and view all the answers

What is the akonting primarily used as?

A stringed instrument Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes blackface minstrels?

Entertainers who wore black stage makeup and exaggerated stereotypes Signup and view all the answers

What is chinking or bousillage used for in log cabins?

To fill cracks, holes or spaces between logs Signup and view all the answers

Which artist is known for the portrait of Phillis Wheatley?

Scipio Moorhead Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the akonting and banjo from the ngoni and xalam?

They are vernacular instruments. Signup and view all the answers

In which region did the first recorded use of the banjo occur?

Caribbean islands in the 1650s. Signup and view all the answers

What was the original name of the banjo as referred to in Haiti and Martinique?

Banza Signup and view all the answers

When was the banjo first recorded as being used in the United States?

1749 Signup and view all the answers

What material was NOT mentioned as part of a Suriname banjo's construction?

Plastic Signup and view all the answers

Which group primarily played the ngoni and xalam?

Traditional African griots. Signup and view all the answers

What significant cultural impact did the transport of the banjo have when Caribbean slaves moved to North America?

It contributed to the development of African-American music. Signup and view all the answers

Why were the akonting and banjo significant in the context of music history?

They are examples of vernacular instruments. Signup and view all the answers

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.