"Ancestral Connections unlocks the inner meaning of Australian
Aboriginal bark painting. Drawing on more than ten years of
fieldwork among the Yolngu--an Aboriginal people of Northeast
Arnhem Land--and applying both anthropological and art historical
methods, Howard Morphy explores systematically the graphic
representation of traditional knowledge in Yolngu art. He also
charts the role that art has played in Aboriginal society both
present and past.
The rich symbolism of Yolngu art links the Yolngu directly with the
"Dreaming," the time of world-creation that continues as the
spiritual dimension of the present. Morphy shows how a complex
dialectic of "inside" and "outside" interpretations of painting
structures the system of knowledge in Yolngu society, and how
European interest in this art has caused certain changes in the
conditions of its production. The "inside" significance of the art,
however, has not changed; it retains its dual ability to represent
and to constitute relationships between things.
"Ancestral Connections is a major contribution to the anthropology
of art. A subtle commentary on the colonial encounter in northern
Australia, the book demonstrates how the Yolngu have used their
art--against all odds--as an instrument of cultural survival and as
a component of the economic and political transformation of their
society.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
