ARTH 283 - Gender and Power in the Arts of Africa

FC ARHU CD

4 credits
Does the gender binary (policed as if it were a biological bedrock) hold globally? This course explores how dynamic African imageries of power disrupt binary distinctions between feminine and masculine. In the arts and visual cultures of Africa and its diasporas, the feminine is often core to the expression and performance of political power. Beginning in the 16th century, we will examine a wide range of case studies (including the Oyo, Benin, and Luba empires) and how they inform contemporary art practices across the Atlantic. Field trip(s) required. Recommended Preparation: one 100-level course in art history.