African Art

1. How are stories and legends passed down in most African cultures apart from the artifacts produced?
2. What is the function of most African "art"
3. Why would the term "art" seem strange to some Africans regarding their works?
4. How were African masks and wooden figures "used" in the African culture, apart from religious ritual?
5. What happens to the meaning of an African work of art when it is placed in a museum?
6. How did African works influence the development of Western art? Which artist in particular was most affected initially?
7. When was the western world first exposed to African art?
8. What did the westerners admire about African art around 1900?
9. What was the western view of Africa before 1900?
10. Why was Africa referred to as the "Dark Continent"?
11. What was the significance of the 1985 Museum of Modern Art Exhibition of African art?
12. What things must be considered carefully when viewing African art, especially pieces housed in Western museums?
13. What part does creativity and imagination play in the creation of African art?
14. What does African art have in common with the Arts and Crafts Movement in 19th century England?
15. What do African sculptures typically represent?
16. How has tourism affected the African sense of tradition?
17. How do Africans and Europeans differ in their view of the age of art and artifacts?
18. Why are the useful lives of some African works so short?
19. What happens to the archeological record of ancient Africa when artifacts are looted and sold on the black market?
20. Give examples of some 20th century Western works of art that have a high African influence.