symbolism
when something represents abstract ideas or concepts
how do artists use culture to express meaning?
metaphors and plays
metaphor
a form of though and language (or symbolizing) that asserts a meaningful link between two expressions from different semantic domains
play
let us make believe allows a metaphorical link to reality (vs. religion-let us believe….true reality)
art is conventionally understood as an
expression of human creative skill, usually in the form of painting, sculpture, music, or literature.
from an anthropological perspective, art is a product of
social relationships
aesthetic criteria
the underlying principles that make something appealing or beautiful
cultural framework
traditions, value systems, myths and symbols that are common in a given society
the seven dimensions through which we can examine art
- height
- width
- depth
- time
- power
- wealth
- aesthetics
seven demensions for defining art
- the basic elements of height, width, and depth are physical elements that can be measured
- Time (history) refers to an object’s individual history: where it came from, how interpretations have changed through time
- power indicates the inequality reflected by objects
- wealth reflects the fact that objects can be used to display wealth and social status
- aesthetics is the recognition that different individuals and groups find different patterns aesthetically pleasing
fine art
expensive, symbolic value, made for market, trained artist
folk art
common, functional, domestic, anonymous
ethno-esthetics
local cultural definition of artistic quality and proscriptions
small-scale society art forms
- highly portable
- embedded in all aspects of culture
complex societies art forms
- some people specialize in art
- often associated with the elite
According to the text, art should make a symbolic statement about what is being portrayed. In other words, art should communicate information by being
a) technically skilled
b) transformational
c) creative
d) representational
d
art should communicate information by being
representational
the power of art and play?
- role in the enculturation of children
- role in cementing social or political control
- art as a form of resistance
ethnomusicology
an area of study encompassing various approaches to the study of the many musics around the world that emphasize their cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dimensions or contexts instead of or in addition to its isolated sound component or any particular repertoire.
four major concepts of ethnomusicology
- ideas about music
- social structure of music
- characteristics of music
- material culture of music
ideas about music
- how cultures distinguish between music and nonmusic
- the functions music has for the society
- whether music is seen as beneficial or harmful to society
- what constitutes beautiful music
- on that occasions should music be played
social structure of music
- the social relationships between musicians
- how a socity distinguishes between musicians on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or education
characteristics of music
- how the style of music in different cultures varies (scale, melody, harmony, timing)
- the different musical genres that are found in a society (lullaby, sea chantey, hard rock, and so on)
- the nature of mucial texts (words)
- how music is composed
- how music is learned and transmitted
