Video Review

African Art: Legacy of Oppression

This video discusses the nature of African art that existed before and during the slave trade. Abstraction and symbols are strongly used in this artwork and the hold meaning to the African people. Certain features are exaggerated to emphasis themes such as fertility and power.They also took time to create extraordinary pieces with ordinary everyday objects, such as combs and cups. Westerners came and brutalized these people, and this is also reflected in the artwork. Western culture was curious about the African people and their different culture. The artwork has survived and brought new light into the world of art. The video gives insight on the deep rooted meanings and messages communicated through the abstract African artwork. It also elaborates on the struggles that these people suffered which contributed to the works and how Western people obtained these pieces. I chose this video because I find African art primitive and confusing in meaning. It helped me to understand the thinking behind the pieces. It was very sad to see the painful pictures capturing the barbaric ways that Westerners treated African people and their lack of care or consideration for their feelings and lives.

African Art
Since the first video was more aimed at oppression, I wanted to hear about African art from a more positive perspective. I find their barbaric, strange rituals to be interesting, along with the art they make to express them. A lot of the art is about movement, color, animals, and other basic life processes and routines with human life. Egyptian ideas about life and art spread across Africa, providing influence on other countries. Many statues were made to represent important rulers that were divine as the gods, such as in Egyptian art. African art was not introduced to westerners until the 19th century and it was viewed as primitive and childlike. However, the use of abstraction from African art has influenced many artists, such as Picasso. The styles of artwork vary among regions or groups throughout Africa, as described in the book in more detail. Many of the art pieces served as functional items as well. Artists were respected members of society in Africa also. African art is intertwined with magic and religion, and believed to intervine in the actual course of life. Many pieces were believed to represent spirits and give humans power over natural events. I find the connection of spirits to be interesting as well.

Buddhism
I chose this video because I really do not know much about this culture. The book gives a basic understanding of the principles that sustain the religion. The video showed how Buddhists live their lives and the places of worship that they foster. The architectural phenomenon of the many shrines, including the largest, the Borobudur Temple, and the famous Great Stupa were explored. The ideas and general meanings behind many statues and creations by the Buddhist people are examined as well. This video gave me a better visual of the practices by Buddhists and the artwork that plays an important role in the religion. Its amazing how the Borobudur Temple was once covered by lava and was able to be excavated.


Hinduism
The video discusses the general concepts involved in Hindu faith, as does the textbook. They have many symbolic meanings tied to life and death and the idea of rebirth and moving on to heaven. This culture worships many gods, and the many gods have shrines with great architecture and artwork dedicated to them carved from boulders. Much of the sculpture within the architecture tell stories about their scriptures. The same kind of work existed among cave art as well. Some of the artwork on these temples is viewed as erotic, but is nature to these people. Natural ways are very respected to these people on their sought out route to Brahma. Some of this artwork is described in the book as well. The video gives more insight to the meanings of this artwork to Hindu people. I found the video to be very informative about the Hindu religion and it gave me a better idea of their objectives.  The Hindu people seem to be very spiritual, peaceful people by nature.