Anthropology 316TX - Image, Text, and Performance

There is little in our lives and the lives of others that is not imbued with creative spirit that is often, though not always, earmarked as Art, as being beautiful or poetic. Whether as ritual performance, gallery exhibit, concert, story time or bodily decorations, all cultures engage in the production of symbolic forms. This advanced seminar in the anthropology of art draws on recent developments in a range of art and aesthetic theories and takes a close look at meaning making creativity across cultures and a variety of expressive genres, past and present, pleasing or not.

This course is open to Juniors and Seniors.; Prereq: 4 credits in Anthropology.