ARTH 339 - Indigenous Concepts in Colonial Spaces

Credits: 3
The indigenous cultures of the Americas - North, South, Central and the Caribbean - created many aesthetic and complex objects including sculptural works made from materials such as wood and stone; painted manuscripts that recorded myths, tribute, historical and other narratives; and works in special materials such as feathers and textiles. The cultures that were met by Cortes and Pizzaro in the 16th - century were sophisticated and had intricate social and religious ideologies. This course will introduce you to some of these indigenous cultures and their visual material but will also examine the cultural and visual continuities and changes after the arrival of Europeans. While for much of the social and academic discourse these cultures either ‘disappeared’ or were fully assimilated - the reality of this clash of so called New and Old Worlds presents us with multifaceted and visually engaging materials that also illustrate the complexities of the period.
Cross-listed with: LAS 339