Anthropology of Art

The anthropology of art studies and analyses the wide range of material objects produced by people around the world. These are considered not merely as aesthetic objects but are understood to play a wider role in people's lives, for instance in their beliefs and rituals. The materials studied include sculpture, masks, paintings, textiles, baskets, pots, weapons, and the human body itself. Anthropologists are interested in the symbolic meanings encoded in such objects, as well as in the materials and techniques used to produce them.

The anthropology of art overlaps with art history, aesthetics, material culture studies, and visual anthropology. However, the anthropological approach to art is distinguished by its focus on the social processes involved in making objects. So, whereas art historians might be interested in the work and lives of named individuals, anthropologists of art are more concerned with the role and status of the artist in the wider community. Another central concern of this branch of the discipline has been to analyse the form and function of objects and to explore the relations between these and aspects of the wider society.

Since the 1960s in particular, anthropologists have produced increasingly sophisticated analyses of visual materials. More recently, closer attention has been paid to the different ideas of aesthetic value in different societies. Increasing attention has also been paid to the ways in which material objects made in one sphere come to have value in another. For example, there have been a number of recent studies of the tourist and art markets as well as of the role of museums.

Text written by Dr. Jeremy Coote (reproduced with author’s permission)

Postgraduate Programmes in the UK

** Currently, there are no postgraduate programmes specifically for Anthropology of Art. However universities such as University of East Anglia provide postgraduate degrees in World Art.**

University of East Anglia

Recommended Resources

General

http://ssl.brookes.ac.uk/anthro-art/index.html - Oxford Brookes University’s website on Anthropology of Art.

http://www.perey-anthropology.net/index.html - Dr. Arnold Perey’s site on Aesthetic Realism and Anthropology.

http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/online_exhibits/body_modification/bodmodintro.shtml - Penn University Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology’s website on body art and modification.

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/bodyart/thumbnails.html - American Museum of Natural History’s exhibition on body art and identity.

Professional Organisations, Groups & Associations

Arts Council England –is the national development agency for the Arts in England.

Arts and Humanities Research Council – supports world class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity.

International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies- IFACCA us a global network of arts councils and ministries of culture.

Books

The Anthropology of Art 2nd Edition
Layton, Robert (Cambridge University Press, 2009)

Contemporary Art and Anthropology
Schneider, Ard and Wright, Christopher (eds)
(Berg, 2006)

Articles/Online Journals

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/11/1113_021113_Skin.html - a national geographic article on skin as art and anthropology.

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=164353&sectioncode=26 – an article in the Times Higher Education by anthropologist Nicholas Thomas on body art and modification.

http://publishing.eur.nl/ir/repub/asset/779/TOWSE%20EBOOK_pages0027-0031.pdf – an article on Anthropology of Art by Stuart Plattner.

Films

The Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) has one of the largest ethnographic film libraries in Europe. Films are available for hire, sale or loan, for educational and academic purposes. Click here for a list of films the RAI distributes on Anthropology of Art.

Disclaimer: The above information is provided for information and guidance only. It should not be interpreted as endorsement or otherwise by the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) for any external institution listed.  Furthermore, the RAI accepts no responsibility for material created by external parties or the content of external websites.