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Overview

Outside reading: The Reception of African Art in the West.pdf (attached)

Before you watch the video, please read the content on the British Museum Website in its entirety:

Benin Bronzes at the British Museum

Please follow the link for a video on an ivory mask from Benin in the collection of the British Museum:

https://vimeo.com/henitalks/guscaselyhayfordbenin

Among the most significant works of African Art in European collections are the Benin Bronzes. According to the link on the British Museum website, describe what these materials are. What do they represent? How do they come to reside in British collections? Finally, describe the controversy over returning (or repatriating) these objects.

Turn your attention to the video featuring historian Gus Casely-Hayford. What is the story behind the ivory mask he discusses? Who is the subject represented there? How does the mask represent trading relations between European and the west coast of Africa in the early modern period?

Finally, turn your attention to the outside reading. What changes around the year 1900 or so in the way that African material is viewed in Western Europe? Why, before the 20th century, was African visual culture not viewed as "high art"?

What was the role of 20th century European artists in reconsidering African art? Carefully read Picasso's quote and the explanation for it below. What does Picasso find particularly appealing about African art? What are the limitations of Picasso's knowledge of African art?

Rubric

• Answer the questions in the prompt! Answer all of them! This is the most common
  cause of a reduced score.
• If asked to analyze an image, analyze it with specific details. If you are vague, unclear,
  or your work lacks specificity, you will be marked down. If you are sure that you have
  answered all of the questions in the Learning Log and you still have a reduced grade,
  this is most likely the cause.
• You should aim as much as possible to use appropriate terms from the textbook and
  lecture. Using incorrect terminology is a giveaway that you have not taken
  appropriate notes during lecture and your reading.
• Quote specifically and appropriately from the book or other relevant documents if
  asked. It is extremely important that you show evidence of an appropriate
  engagement with the textbook. Learning Logs that do not directly cite a relevant
  passage from the book will be graded down.
• Do not paste in information from the web or use outside sources. YOU SHOULD DO
  NO OUTSIDE RESEARCH--use only your book and lecture notes.
• Do not be overly general and/or vague: “Art has always been a part of human
  history...” “Art is known to be a powerful way to communicate...”
• Do not include lengthy background information on works of art, artists, or time
  periods unless absolutely necessary or directly relevant.
• Aim for clarity and organization in your writing just as you would in any piece of
  graded, formal or professional writing.
• Feel free to be bold and creative in your response, so long as you can back it up with
  visual evidence.