Primitive Art (20045)

Degree/study: Degree in Humanities

Year: 3^rd / 4^th

Term: 1^st

Number of ECTS credits: 5

Hours of student dedication:

Teaching language or languages: Spanish

Teaching Staff: Roser Bosch i Darné

1. Presentation of the subject

This course is not intended as an exhaustive study of Primitive Art from the point of view of Art History, impossible within a term, but as an explanation of the fundamental principles that apply to Primitive Art from a theoretical-artistic point of view. Given that Primitive Art is established as an Art History object in the 20^th century, the course starts with the colonialist process in the middle of the 20^th century -which introduced most objects in Europe- and the aestheticization of those objects, caused by their inclusion in museums and their valorisation by avant-garde artists. A fundamental issue previous to the specific study of Primitive Art is the questioning of the "Primitive Art" and "Primitivism" concepts. The intrinsic study of Primitive Art will focus on formal aspects, that is to say, its style and meaning aspects, such as its relation to the myth and the rite, through pieces of African, Native America and Australian art. Primitivism, that is, the West remaking of Primitive Art, will also be included. And, as an epilogue to this course, there will be a block about Contemporary Indigenous Art exemplified by Aboriginal Acrylic Paintings from Australia.

2. Competences to be attained

General competences

Specific competences

•1. Analysis and synthesis skills. •2. Skills in managing information from a variety of sources. •3. Skills in interrelating knowledge from a variety of disciplines. •4. Skills in interrelating concrete aspects to their theoretical foundations. •5. Ability to transmit, in written and in speech, the acquired knowledge. •6. Understanding of the interrelation between Literature, History, Art and Thought. Interpersonal Skills •1. Group working skills. •2. Ability to conciliate personal contributions and group development. •3. Analytical reasoning. Systemic skills •1. Self-learning. •2. Continuous learning skills.

•1. Being able to synthesize the conceptual elements from different disciplines such as Anthropology, History and Art History. •2. Analysing through formal means pieces of Primitive Art. Knowing the main principles applied to them. •3. Skills in analysing theoretical texts on Primitive Art. •4. Skills in relating theoretical texts to pieces of Primitive Art. •5. Skills in situating Primitive Art in its historical, social, political and cultural context, and to relate it to Western culture. •6. Skills in obtaining information from a variety of sources: cinematographic documentaries, literary witnesses, scientific texts.

3. Contentsº

Unit 1.

Elements for a definition of Primitive Art. Aesthetics and Anthropology. Primitive Art as a style in Art History: formal and conceptual issues.

Unit 2.

Formal language in Primitive Art. Fundamental aesthetic principles. Sculpture: objects. Masks, ancestors and gods' sculptures, everyday objects from Africa and Native America.

Unit 3.

The meaning of Primitive Art. Myth and rite concepts in the primitive society. Relations between Primitive Art and myth. Relations between Primitive Art and rite. The representation of the myth and the rite in painting and sculpture in Australia.

Unit 4.

Primitivism. The remaking of Primitive Art in Contemporary Art. Different periods of Primitivism in the 20^th century. Body aesthetics in Primitive Art and body art.

Unity 5

Contemporary Indigenous Art: example and problems. The case of Aboriginal Acrylic Painting from the Australian Desert.

*The full version with the sections 4. Assessment, 5. Bibliography and teaching resources, 6. Methodology, and 7. Planning of activities is available in the Spanish versi