I wish this doc wasn’t so focused on African art’s effect on Europe. We want to learn the history and technique of African art and that’s what this should’ve been about.
One o f the many purposes of Art is to bridge cultures! Skepticism toward institutions, metanarratives, and absolute truths can lead to a cynicism that undermines efforts to propose solutions. How about you find another documentary that solely focuses on " history and technique of African art"!?
A sophisticated video on African art. It is important to understand the context and purpose of the objects. At the same time, however, one can appreciate the art's universal appeal. We should try to appreciate art from the perspective of the culture that created it while inevitably viewing it from our own prism if it is not the same. This continual shift in perspective and the tension it produces actually makes the art more interesting, complex and provocative of emotions and thinking.
Thanks so much for this provocative documentary. I've been showing this in my Art History survey classes to open up discussions on the role of Western museums in perpetuating racial stereotypes, and how, at the same time (as one scholar interviewed here states) "The face of Modern Art is a Black face."
35:00 all true, the same happen in latín america, im mexican and we have lots of masked dances just like african countries and Ive seen many White people come here and be obsessive if a Mask its old or danced etc.. i just dont get that. We use them here as a ritual objects, a thing that have a real use further than be a decoration for a livigroom, they have a meaning a function but Also they have a limited use. Very interesting how our cultures and way of thinking are very similar, maybe our Blood connection with africans 😉
At around 13:20mins. when he talks about the TROCADERO museum it almost sounds as if he's attricbuting the quote to VAN GOGH when in fact it is more accurately attributable to PICASSO
African culture and all other branches of it they have very rich lives where their daily life activities are works of wonder. Our western society does not give space for such a rich daily life your only choice is to compartmentalize your life and dare I say make it a career not a life.
It is because you don't want to learn from the people who practice Islam. All Africans were also portrayed to be living on trees and slums, ravaged by wars and poverty.
When Picasso was challenged about how African Art had influenced him He said he’d never heard of it😂clearly the source of cubism Artists copy . Geniuses steal and lie
I don't think anybody made anyone else "respect" African art. Because that in itself suggests that the art begs to be respected. My view as a Nigerian is that African art has stood and stands for itself - as with art anywhere else - without favor from anyone save for the artists, function, and community to which the particular art belongs. A question/comment of worthiness of a people's art is in my opinion an inherently flawed perspective.
