Course detail

The Antropology of Art

FaVU-2AU-LAcad. year: 2020/2021

The course will analyze Western conceptions and understanding of "primal" art and art of other cultures. We will focus on the various interpretation approaches of these kinds of art, which leads to the crucial question: what IS art? The course also deals with visual theory, symbolic representations, the relationship of ritual to psychoalanylsis. Particular examples are taken from prehistorical and tribal art.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Mgr. Martina Galetová, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will get oriented in the manifestations of "primal" art and art of other cultures as the continuous source of inspiration.

Prerequisites

General cultural knowledge.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations .

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Exam

Course curriculum

1. A notion of art and introduction of the main topic of discussion: what is art?
2. Anthropology and art – context, approaches
3. Notions „primal“, pre-historic and „primitive“ art, tribal art, pre-literary societies art, art of „other cultures“, further as PA
4. Visual culture, notion of object
5. Types of PA, materials and technologies used for its production, levels of preservation
6. Methods of analysing PA – theory
7. Methods of analysing PA – praxis
8. History of interpreting PA
9. PA as a source of inspiration throughout the history of art
10. Origins of visual culture, related to discussion the topic „what is art?“
11. Symbolic systems, visual communication
12. PA and ritual, PA and psychoanalysis

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Students will get familiar with prehistoric and tribal art. The discussion should help at least partially answer the question, what IS art?

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Lectures are optional.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Jelínek J. (1977): Velký obrazový atlas pravěkého člověka. Praha, Artia. (CS)
Lévi-Strauss C. (1996): Myšlení přírodních národů. Praha. Dauphin. (CS)

Recommended reading

Anati E. (2003): Aux origines de l´art. Fayard. (FR)
Conkey Margaret W., Soffer Olga, Stratmann D., Jablonski N. G. (éd.): Beyont Art: Pleistocene Image and Symbol. University of California Press. (EN)
Coote J. and Shelton A. (ed) (1994): Anthropology, Art and Aesthetics. Cambridge. (EN)
Fraser D. (1962): Primitive Art. New York. (EN)
Layton R. (1991): The Anthropology of Art. Cambridge. (EN)
Lorblanchet M. (1999): La naissance de l’art. Editions Errance. (FR)
Marshack (1972): The Roots of Civilisation. McGraw-Hill Book Company. (EN)
Ucko P. J. and Rosenfeld A. (1967): Paleolithic Cave Art. London. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM Master's

    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

54 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Martina Galetová, Ph.D.