I was very interested by our readings about African art and I believe I am going to use their ancient culture for my extra credit so I chose both the videos about African art to write my blog. The first video I watched was African Art: Legacy of Oppression. I was at first amazed by the huge amount of African artifacts in the Belgium museum until I realized how they were acquired. I didn't even know the devastation incurred by the Africans at the hands of the Belgium people. Congo , in central Africa, was the biggest massacre during the holocaust...10 million people killed....and I never heard a word about it. King Leopold wanted the area for himself to make a profit from the rubber that grew wild there and used it's inhabitants as slaves to get it. He also admired their art and took it from them and brought it back to Belgium to be displayed during a fair...along with live Africans whom he displayed like oddities or animals. Our readings touched on a lot of facts I learned in the video. The Africans had many different forms of art...the museum alone houses 250,000 pieces from 250 cultures. One such form of art is called "Magical Art" and it was used to show respect towards mothers or chiefs. It was also used to show revenge or to invoke fear. The most common "Magical Art" were masks, as our book described very well. Africans would wear these to tell stories or explain maladies of the wearer, or invoke fear to those who saw them. Most of the artwork was very abstract, telling the viewer what needed to be said with very little or in an obscure manner.I was saddened by this video to learn the hardships these people endured but also learned alot about the meanings behind their artwork.
The second video I watched was African Art: It's cultural Meaning. It, like our book, described the tradions behind African art and how they were used in ceremonies or rituals or everyday life. All African art has a meaning or purpose behind it. Whether it is a sculpture or haircomb or mask it was made to represent something...either a king or ancestor or spirit. The Africans weren't just making representations of these but actually bringing the dead back amongst the living. The only art that actually resembled the subjects were those made of kings. All others were abstract and shouldn't represent an actual living thing. This is done in a conceptual way...what the artist sees rather than what is really there. This type of art influenced Western abstract artists like Picasso. I learned from the video more of the techniques required when the Africans make their artwork...traditions must be followed. It is okay to deviate or embellish the piece but the piece must be created traditionally first to keep the traditions of that culture alive. A great artist is one who can make the piece traditionally but better than other artists. Masks are worn for many reasons and are but one part of the ritual. Music, costumes and dance are also part. When a person dons a mask they are giving up thier individuality and becoming one with the spirit they are trying to get in touch with. The traditional art of Africa is still being created, however, in some areas it is being produced for the International market for profit rather than rituals but this is keeping the skills and traditions of the African past alive.
The third video I watched was Buddhism: Heaven on Earth. There was alot of information in this video that was also in our readings, such as how Buddhism was born after the prince Siddhartha Guatama saw the real world with all it's suffering and questioned 'is that all there is" and seeked to find an answer. That answer was that if we continue to desire things we will never be enlightened and awake and will continue in the cycles of life and death until we are enlightened. The video talked a bit more about this by explaining Buddha's ideals ...how he didn't want to be seen as a god but simply a messenger of his belief. He knew that "some will understand" what he was saying...and he was right. The architecture of the Buddhists tells a story and has a meaning at every level. The lotus flower is the symbol of Buddhism and is used to decorate the temples or even as the shape of the temples. The carvings around the Buddhists temples do not show Buddha but symbols of him for he is no longer here. The architecture is simple yet extravagent. The largest Buddhist temple is Borobudur in Java, Indonesia. It took over 100 years to build and was a pilgirmage of Buddhists for only 60 years before it was covered by a volcanic eruption. It has since been uncovered and restored and is still a mecca for Buddhists pilgrims. Another aspect of Buddhism I learned from the video is that Buddhism is embraced everywhere but India where it originated. And the teachings of Buddha-there should not be a personal god or rituals or prayers or questions-are all now embraced in Buddhism. However the true meaning still exists...you must find your own path to enlightenment, now Buddhists just have mentors and helpers to find it.
Because the video about Buddhism mentioned that Hinduism replaced, for the most part, Buddhism in India I wanted to learn more about it. Although quite different the two have many similarities. As mentioned in our book hindus also believe in the cycles of life. Both also believe in treating everything kindly. However Hinduism belief is that your freedom will be granted by a god only after your devotion. Hinduism has many gods for different purposes. The video explained this further by explaining the gods that are primarily worshiped. Also the place of worship is important because they represent different gods, such as the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. This river is in the oldest inhabited city in the world and is thought to be the Mother Ganges, the female part of the god Shiva. A temple in Khajuraho, India is home to a temple for Shiva, giver of life. Hindus flock there to receive the life-giving forces of the lingan, a phallic symbol representing Shiva. All the gods in Hinduism lead to one thing, Brahma, who can grant you eternal life through reincarnation. This video taught me alot about the two "religions" of India, born of the same idea but worlds apart.
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