Sarah Estrela Beck

This introductory course surveys the arts of Africa from prehistoric times to today. Focusing on the region south of the Saharan desert, the course will cover a range of media and practices, including painting, architecture, textile, ceramics, metalwork, and body art from across various cultures on the continent. We will consider major movements in the development of African civilizations, the spread of Islam, colonialism and westernization from the perspective of African artistic initiatives and responses. The course will consider ancient African kingdoms and empires, early contacts with Europeans in the fifteenth century, and problems related to African contemporary art and African artistic identities within a globalized art world.