Introduction to the Anthropology of Art

The lecture provides an introduction to the history, theory, and methodology within the anthropology of art. It starts out by discussing terminological issues and the difference between art-historical and art-anthropological approaches. After introducing earlier anthropological studies on art, the lecture focuses on key debates within this sub-discipline, including: differences between material culture and art, questions of agency, primitivism, aesthetics, and iconography, as well as art and technology. Following, newer art-anthropological research will be discussed in the context of art as a commodity, the collection and display of modern and contemporary art, art’s circulation in global art worlds, as well as the provenance and restitution politics of art.

• Art: Terminology, Disciplines, approaches

• What is an "anthropology" of the art? Which questions do anthropologists ask? What are the differences and similarities to art historical approaches?

• How is "art" defined, and how did anthropologists approach the term ("Primitive art", "ethnic art", "tribal art")

• Early anthropological studies on art, and their relevance for anthropology today (Boas, Firth, Lévi-Strauss)

• Art or material culture? (Errington, Coote & Shelton, Gell)

• Primitivism - (Kuper, Errington)

• Aesthetics and Iconography, (Panofsky, Mitchell, Bourdieu, Adorno, Coote & Shelton)

• Art, Technology, and Tools (Küchler, Mauss, Gell)

• Art and Agency (Gell, Latour, Morphy, Strathern, Mitchell, Sansi)

• Art Worlds (Becker, Greenberg, Danto, Dickie)

• Art in motion (Marcus & Myers, Myers, Steiner, Price)

• Art as a commodity and issues of authenticity (Appadurai, Steiner, Fillitz)

• Collecting & Displaying (Price, Errington, Clifford, Foster, Morphy, Myers)

• Global Art Worlds and Contemporary Art (Belting, Buddensieg, Fillitz, Bunzl)

• Decolonizing Museums (Geismar, Savoy)

Methods & Assessment
The course involves formal lectures with the use of audio and visual materials. Students are expected to write an exam at the end, which will consist of questions to which they have to provide short written answers. To pass the course, students have to reach at least 56% of all points.
Grades:
1: 100 % bis 91 %

2: 90 % bis 76 %

3:75 % bis 56 %

4: 55% and lower