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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.
