Writing Assignment 4: Common Themes in the Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Choose one artwork we’ve studied from each continent section (Asia, Africa, and the Americas) that share a common theme (ideal bodies, the afterlife, ritual/religion, glorifying the ruler), and compare and contrast these works. You may notice that one artwork may include more than one of these themes. When introducing the works, mention the known title, culture, date, and medium, and use your terms from Modules 1 and 2 to describe how the content of the work is expressed visually.
This paper will be graded on content, not length. That being said, each writing assignment will be 300 words (this is about one page in Times New Roman, 12 pt, double spaced), and this minimum word count must be met to earn full points.
This is not a research paper, so you do not need to use any sources outside the course materials. This should be your own work, based on your own observations and your understanding of the material and vocabulary in the module.
Just make it formal and it does not need citations or works cited. I Will put a link from which we could get the information.
Answer
Common Themes in the Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas
By: Essayicons.com
Shiva as the Lord of the Dance, also known as “Nataraja,” is a sacred art of medieval India primarily in service of religion. The art is a symbolic synthesis of an essential feature of the Hinduism religion. The famous iconic art representing the diverse cultural heritage of India was created in Southern India by 9th and 10th-century artists during the Chola dynasty period. Nataraja is expressed with four hands indicating the cardinal directions. His hair is organized in a coil of matted locks and decorated with the crescent moon and the Ganges. His mattered locks are whirling while he is dancing, indicating the endless circle of birth and death. He also wears a chain of skulls over his head to represent conquest over death. He has three eyes, whereby the third eye symbolizes his insight, knowledge, and omniscience. The art represents the culture and religion of the Asian people of the Hindu religion during the Chola period. The priest in the eleventh century used to carry the art while chanting prayers and giving blessings to the Hindus devotees.
The Benin Plague, known as Equestrian Oba and Attendants, is a famous remarkable brass art in the African continent. It was common among the culture of the Benin people. The unique art dates back between the 1550-1680 centuries, and it represents an Oba (king) and his attendants from Benin Empire, present-day Nigeria. It depicts the culture and ruler of a powerful kingdom located in present-day Nigeria. We can tell the central figure is a king from his bearded coral regalia and his attendants holding shields above his head. The attendants hold shields over the oba’s heads to demonstrate protection from the sun or the enemies. The figures around the Oba range in size not because of their actual sizes but because of their positions in the court. It also indicates that the king would have traveled with a large cohort of attendants, diplomats, warriors, and servants. The art shows the history of the royal lineage of Benin’s king and their trade with the Portuguese in the late 15th century.