ARTH 220

Credit: 3 hours.

Africa’s arts and architectural forms are as diverse and dynamic as its peoples. In chronological and thematic order, this course examines the emergence of some of Africa’s earliest rock arts, architectural forms, textiles/cloths, and more recent artistic expressions. We focus on internal and external influences such as long-distance trade, ancient Christianity, Islam, and European colonialism shaped local aesthetic innovations and the built environment. We also highlight Africa’s influences on global modernist artistic and cultural expressions.