Introduction to African Arts

The course aims to present an introduction to the arts and visual culture of African peoples, encompassing traditional or classical African arts, as well as modern and contemporary African arts. It seeks to explore not only how the concept of African art is not unanimous and has shifted over time, but also how objects related to specific African communities have circulated and acquired new meanings outside the continent. Through theoretical and practical analysis, students will be encouraged to reflect on how the field of African art has been shaped by scholars, curators, artists, and public interaction, as well as its main turning points.

Instructor: J. Ribeiro de Silva Bevilacqua