LECTURE 1 Sep 4, 2013
"What's the Point of the Arts and What Do the Arts Point to?"
Main Points:
-
Ellen Dissanayake refers to humans as "homo aestheticus," because art is intrinsic to what it means to be a human. All human cultures throughout time have arts traditions that originated in ritual and promotes "making special."
-
In traditional cultures, the shaman (or medicine man) was responsible for conducting community and healing rituals. These ceremonies were infused with the arts: music (drumming, rhythm), dance (gesture, bodily form), drama (enactment, voice), visual arts (costumes, paintings) and poetry (incantations, prayers).
-
Although in many contemporary societies the arts are separated from ritual, we can re-engage the arts to enhance our knowledge and understanding about the world, others and self.
Video Links:
[Note: The portion of the video pertaining to the elephant begins at 8:43.]
Is this elephant making art? Here's what students had to say:
* Yes, because the elephant was "painting," creating an "image," and "expressing herself."
* No, because the elephant "doesn't know what she's doing" and is "only trained."
Is this elephant making art? Here's what students had to say:
* Yes, because the elephant made a "recognizable image."
* No, because the elephant's image was not "natural," "authentic," or "intentional."
Photos:
Further Information:
Dissanayake, E. (1995). Homo aestheticus: Where art comes from and why. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.
Ellen Dissanayake: http://www.ellendissanayake.com/