ART 105 The Spirit Visualized: Ritual Objects and Native American Cultures
The course will study the very rich and diverse cultures of the indigenous peoples of North America through an examination of their ritual objects. Through slide presentations, videos, readings, field trips and visits by Native American spiritual leaders and artists, we will discover the interdependence of the ritual object and dance, music, prayer songs, creation stories and healing ceremonies. Although the course will concentrate on traditional Native American Culture, the class will conclude with an examination of the work of selected contemporary Native American artists. In these sessions we will discuss how traditional visual images and ideas have been reworked by these artists to communicate contemporary political, economic and environmental issues.
