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New York City College of Technology

City University of New York

African American Studies Department

Course Code: AFR 2302 (OL90); Course Title: Art and Architecture of Africa; Semester: Fall and Spring

Instructor: George J. Orwel gorwel@citytech.cuny.edu Office hours: Asynchronous.

Course Description:

This course is designed to be an historical study of the plastic arts and traditional architecture produced by the indigenous African societies of ancient Egypt, Ethiopia, and the countries of Central, East and Southern Africa. Both contemporary and traditional and aesthetics, symbolism and characteristics of regional art forms will be analyzed. Images, videos, power point presentations, lectures, discussions and museum trips are included.

Recommended Readings:

Materials will be provided on Blackboard. They are from these books:

Bob Brier, et al. Ancient Egypt: Everyday Life in the Land of the Nile.

Peter Garlake: Early Art and Architecture of Africa

MFA Catalogue. The Arts of Ancient Nubia.

Dora Crouch et al. Traditions in Architecture.

Celia Winter-Irving. Stone Sculpture in Zimbabwe: Context, Content and Form

Secondary Reading

Aldred, Cyril. Egyptian Art. Thames and Hudson, 1980.

Judith Perani and Fred T. Smith. The Visual Arts of Africa: Gender, Power and Life Cycles. Prentice Hall, 1998.

Bourdier, Jean-Paul. Drawn from African Dwellings, Indiana University Press, 1997.

Crouch, Dora and Johnson, June. Traditions in Architecture: Africa, American, Asia and Oceania. Oxford University Press, 2000.

Elleh, Nnamdi, African Architecture: Evolution and Transformation

Gillon, Werner. African Art: A Short History, Pelican Books

Vansina, Jan. Art History In Africa, Longman,

Willett, Frank. African Art, Thames and Hudson,

GRADING PROCEDURE:

Weekly Assignments 25%

Research/Presentations 25%

Mid-Term Examination 25%

Final Examination 25%

Assignments are on BLACKBOARD’s Discussion Forum

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY STATEMENT

Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the catalog.

COLLEGE POLICY ON ABSENCE/LATENESS

It used to be that a student may be absent without penalty for 10% of the number of scheduled class meetings during the semester. However, due to COVID-19, the Art and Architecture of Africa class has been offered asynchronously since the spring of 2020 and the class will continue to be asynchronous during the spring of 2021.

COURSE CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should will develop a better understanding of the contribution of African art and architecture to human culture. They should understand and provide a comprehensive narrative of how art and architecture mediate the culture and history of the African people, particularly in the Nile Valley, East and Central Africa.

COURSE OUTLINE: WEEKLY SCHEDULE

WEEK 1:

SAN ART and ROCK PETROGYLPHS from SOUTHERN AFRICA

Traditional housing structures

SEE: Professor Henry Louis Gates’ documentary on Africa’s Great Civilizations and read notes on Blackboard

Assignment: Go to the YouTube link on blackboard and review the documentary on: San Bushman, Rock Art of South Africa. In your review, write a summary of the documentary.

WEEK 2:

Egyptian Art and Architecture

TOPICS: Pre-dynastic and Dynastic Styles

The archaic Egyptian art 5,000 B. C. to 2, 000 B.C.

The Pallette of King Narmer from Heirakonpolis

Animal Symbols from Abydos and Saqqara

The Step Pyramid at Saqqara

Art of the Kings,

Art of the Deities

Arts and Crafts: Sculpture and Painting

SEE: Gates’ documentary; Prof. Orwel’s video presentation; reading material on Blackboard; outside links

Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review video on the series, “Egypt in African antiquity”.

WEEK 3:

Nubian Art and architecture

Nubia with Neighbors; Queens and Religions; Tombs and reliefs

SEE: Gates’ documentary; Prof. Orwel’s video, and reading on Blackboard; outside links

Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review video on Nubian art history. Quiz #1: Students have to identify 10 pictures on the art styles from Egypt and Nubia.

WEEK 4:

Ethiopian art and architecture

Aksumite architecture and philosophy

Lalibela and Rock-cut churches and stela

Iconography: The Cross and the Black Madonna

Alexander Boghossian and Painting

SEE: Gates’ documentary; Prof. Orwel’s video and reading on Blackboard; outside links

Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review video on Ethiopian religious art and architecture.

WEEK 5:

SHONA ART and architecture-The Great Zimbabwe

The Great Zimbabwe structure

Shone sculpture in context

SEE: Gates’ documentary; Prof. Orwel’s YouTube video and reading on Blackboard; outside links

Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review the video series on Shona art techniques and artists.

Students will download review sheet for midterm exam next week.

WEEK 6:

Grassland: Kongo art and architecture

Bodyz Kingelez’s models: architectures as sculptures, La Sape culture

Prof. Orwel’s video presentation and reading on Blackboard; outside links

Assignment: Students will review videos the art and architecture at MoMA

Quiz: There will be an essay exam

WEEK 7:

MID-TERM ON-LINE

Students will be given an on-line Mid-term. The midterm exam will test student’s ability to identify 15 architectural and art pictures based on their elements of style. Students must identify vocabulary and terminology based on their readings. Finally write two 250 word essays on topics covered in weeks one through six. Your midterm answers must be submitted in the discussion forum.

WEEK 8:

East African Coastal Swahili Architecture and West African Hausa Architecture:

SEE: YouTube Video Presentations: The Met (Building on Architectural Traditions of the Sahel), CNN (Preserving the Beauty of Swahili Culture) and The Rohdes (Less Travelled)

TSHOKWE (CHOKWE) ART and BAKWELE ART

SEE: Prof. Orwel’s YouTube video and reading on Blackboard; outside links

WEEK 9:

Students’ Powerpoint Presentations

FANG( PANGWE) and BaKOTA ART

Assignment: Identity elements of style:

Students’ Powerpoint presentations

WEEK 10:

PUNU and BAKONGO ART and architecture

SEE: MACAH 3D Presentation

Assignment: Students will view YouTube videos on the art of the Punu and Bakongo peoples.

WEEK 11:

BALUBA and BAKUBA ART and architecture

Read notes on the major pieces of art

Assignment: Students will view YouTube documentary on the art Baluba nd the Bakuba peoples

WEEK 12:

Akan art and architecture

Golden Stool, Royal Compound

Assignment: Student Powerpoint Presentations

WEEK 13:

MANGBETU AND MAKONDE ART and architecture

Student Power-point Presentation

WEEK 14

Review for Final Exam

Review all presentations from week 1 through 13

Download review sheets and review art from weeks 1 through 13.

WEEK 15

FINAL EXAM

THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE A TAKE-HOME ESSAY ON BLACKBOARD

Students will be given a final exam on discussion forum, due after one-week. The essay will test student’s ability to identify the main themes and elements of style running throughout African art and architecture. It should also compare and contrast key issues in those themes and stylistic elements between contemporary and ancient or traditional art and architecture. Try to use some of vocabulary and terminology based on our readings. The essay of 4 to 5 pages, double spaced, must be posted/submitted in the discussion forum.