University Seminar in the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Founded by Douglas Fraser in 1970, this seminar addresses major issues in the fields of African, Oceanic, Native American, and pre-Hispanic Latin American arts. The seminar provides an opportunity for members to analyze, evaluate, and discuss new and continuing research, as well as various trends in scholarship. Because the membership is comprised of art historians, curators, archeologists, anthropologist, and other field specialists, seminar meetings frequently involve indepth discussions of theoretical and methodological issues.

All events take place in Schermerhorn Hall, room 930.

Fall 2011–Spring 2012

Thursday, October 6, 7-9 p.m.
Anna Blume
"Ciphers and the end of Maya Number Writing"
Sixteenth Century Europeans widely adopted the base-10 place-value system from India via Islam, while they simultaneously and systematically sought to destroy all written record of the Maya base-20 place-value system. This talk will consider the fluidity of number and both kinds of impulses, that of embracing and effacing.

Thursday, November 3, 7-9 p.m.
Susan Gagliardi
Power associations including those known as komo, kono, and hunters' associations are the great patrons for the arts in communities across western Burkina Faso and western West Africa. Expert power association leaders manipulate tangible materials and intangible energies to address concerns and achieve goals of their clients and themselves. Through their work they construct three-dimensional assemblages from flora, fauna, minerals, and other materials. They also stage dynamic performances. Multilayered and ambiguous assemblages these specialists create and use heighten awareness of the exceptional power and profound knowledge that power associations wield. In this presentation, I will examine how power association leaders negotiate what audiences can and cannot see in their arts. I will demonstrate that power association leaders deliberately manage tension between seen and unseen dimensions of arts they sponsor to engage their audiences and promote their skill.

Thursday, December 1, 7-9 p.m.
Richard Burger
Manchay culture originated around the central coast of modern day Peru during the Initial Period (1800–900 BCE) of Andean civilization and pre-dates the development of Chavin visual culture from the Early Horizon Period (900 BCE–200 CE).

Thursday, February 2, 7-9 p.m. (Note: Professor Taussig's lecture will be held in 612 Schermerhorn)
Michael Taussig

Thursday, March 1, 7-9 p.m.
Frank Salomon

Thursday, April 12, 7-9 p.m.
Kristine Juncker