Primitive ArtA pioneer of modern anthropology, Franz Boas introduced the concept of cultural relativism, arguing that all human groups have evolved equally but in different ways that resulted from historic conditions rather than genetic factors. This profoundly influential 1927 study analyzes in clear and simple language the fundamental traits of primitive art, examining the symbolism and style of objects and of literature, music, and dance. Boas draws primarily upon his extensive fieldwork among the Indians of the American Northwest Coast, in addition to referencing artifacts and customs from throughout the Americas, Africa, and the South Pacific. More than 323 photographs, drawings, and diagrams of totem poles, baskets, masks, and other decorated items illustrate this much-studied and ever-vital work. |
Contents
Preface | 1 |
Introduction | 9 |
The formal elements in art | 17 |
Copyright | |
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A. L. Kroeber appears Arapaho arrangement art styles artistic bands basket basketry beak bear beaver bird body British Columbia carving characteristic Chilkat Blanket Clark Wissler coast color corners Culhuacan cultural curved dance decorative art decorative field design representing dish dorsal fin ears embroidery emotional Eskimo esthetic example eye design face figure front G. T. Emmons geometrical Haida Haida A. M. N. H. hawk head Ibid illustrations James Teit Jesup North Pacific killer-whale Koryak Kulturforskning Kwakiutl legs lines lower border meaning mouth Museum nose object occur ornament painting pattern pectoral fins pouch primitive Pueblo raven rawhide rectangle repre representation rhythm Salt-Woman sculpin shark shown in fig side similar song specimens spiral spoon surface symbols symmetry tail technical technique tion Tlingit Tlingit A. M. N. H. totem pole triangles tribes Tsimshian upper whale wing yellow