Effect of Geography on Arts
langgam
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Geography conditions art in various ways. Included under this
considerations are:
1. topography (whether the are is flat or mountainous, whether it is
inland or near the sea or ocean, whether it is open space or heavily
forested, etc);
2. climate and weather (whether it is wet or dry, warm or cold, typhoon
area, earthquake area, etc.);
3. natural resources (whether it is rich in marble, granite, limestone,
gold, copper, and various woods)
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Actually, this is a research topic of mine and I am really lost in
finding sources regarding this. I hope anyone can help in finding an
online source. Anything would be appreciated, even your comments or
observations. I'll also appreciate actual examples I can dwell into
(e.g. Venice's being a port and maritime city is a significant factor
in their arts, ie. artists there are liberated from the essential
geometric structures to which the landsman clings). Thanks!
Erik A. Mattila
I've come across comments here and there in various texts, but not any
monographs on the top you describe. That makes it a pretty powerful
research topic. Like dissertation material, which always favors
understudied themes.
Years ago I saw a documentary film about a band of Afar tribesmen who
live on the salt flats of the Danakil depression in Eretria. In fact
they managed the supply end of the great North African salt caravans.
The caravans would bring them the goods they needed to survive, in
exchange for the salt blocks that they extracted from the ancient sea
bed on which they lived. They were the blackest human beings I ever
saw. And their environment for a few thousand years was this huge
expanse of bright white flatness, with distant peaks of the mountains on
the horizon. When I saw this film, I wondered about their art.
I think you're going to have to do some original research. You need
access to a good academic library, I should think. You'll probably find
the best material in anthropology, but do search through the "Art Index"
catalog in a library reference book section.
langgam
full-pledged dissertation, just a plain research topic.
Anyway, much of the info I found regarding paintings were actually from
this group's previous topics (in fact, I came across this group while
searching for materials). However, I talking about art in a broader
sense. That includes the "other" forms of art like architecture,
sculpture, music, literature, pottery, etc.
I don't have much problems with architecture as there are some regions
where the type of buildings, mostly houses, are designed according to
climates (e.g. in cold regions), frequency of earthquakes (e.g. Japan),
etc. Ditto with clothings which is obviously dictated by climate. My
main concern is more about paintings, sculptures, pottery, and the
rest.
Any observations or comments will be appreciated. Thanks!
HooDoo U.
lan...@gmail.com says...
>However, I talking about art in a broader
>sense. That includes the "other" forms of art like architecture,
>sculpture, music, literature, pottery, etc.
You don't mention where you are located?
In the USA it's a given that art is regionally
influenced. For example, people living in marine
climates tend to do marine art, southwesterners
do southwestern art, mountain dwellers do mountain
art, etc. Even such things as "crop circles" are
dependent on large farm acreage for execution.
This regionalism can be seen in the art of ancient
tribes in the USA, where Northwest Indian art is
significantly different than Southwest Indian art,
and both differ from Eastern Indian arts.
I believe there is coverage of this regional difference
in USA publications. And volumes have been written
on the differences between "eastern" and "western"
art on a global scale, as well as differences in
aboriginal art of the African and South American
and Australian continents.
Differences in art across cultures "had been" something
taken for granted, IMO. I think that with the shrinking
of the globe in the past 100 or so years, the arts
are becoming more homogenous globally and therefore
you can now find the Chinese creating "western art,"
the Japanese wearing Levis and NY Yankee ball caps,
and kids in South Africa wearing Gucci loafers. But
in the area of the country where I live, Southwestern
or Cowboy art still rules!
Mr Clarke
It appears as though you are being asked to use your imagination first
(about the different geographic areas you choose to pick) then provide
solid evidence that what you imagined actually did take place!
"Seek and ye shall find", kinda topic?
For example, I imagine most council estates in Tyneside still use the
infamous Purple Lady as the centre of attraction above the mantle piece;
Now, if I do a quick Google... NO, it`s not the Purple Lady but the most
recent £3000 Plasma Flat Screen with SKY!
Not only that, but everyone in similar living conditions across the whole
Globe are throwing away their Purple Ladies - for SKY TV!
(Remember that was only a rough example) Don`t try this at college kids.
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Ashley Clarke
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"langgam" <lan...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1123671161.1...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
chris
the effect the difference between that of southern France, and Paris,
had on the Post-Impressionist painters from van Gogh to Matisse. A
number of them - especially van Gogh - wrote extensively about it, so
there should be plenty of documentation.
But I would hazard that the most criticial issue would be the
difficulty that geographical conditions imposed on communication; both
the centers of the Southern Renaissance (Northern Italy) and the
Northern Renaissance (Holland) had good systems of internal
communication and widespread trade; OTOH Germany remained more
isolated, and hence developed a more individualist approach. Or an
extreme example would be the effect that Asian art had on the West,
once technology got to the point where it could overcome the
geographical barriers.
You might also find the book "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations" of
value, (IIRC, it's been a while since I read it) it has an extensive
discussion of the effect of physical geography on the growth of
European society. Schama's "Embarrassment of Riches" also discusses
this in terms of the development of Holland leading up to the Dutch
Golden Age, with a large emphasis on art. And as a bit of trivia, his
book "Rembrandt's Eyes" mentions one of the factors promoting Dutch art
was the incessant damp, which mildewed walls, hence providing a rasion
d'etre for art to hang as a covering. Not unlike the earlier tapestry
industry, driven in part by the cold northern climate, and the need to
insulate stone walls and reduce draughts.
Anywy, sounds like a huge (and rather interesting) topic...
Chris
Erik A. Mattila
I attended a seminar on geography/cartography offered in the art history
department while in grad school. It was very interesting. I did a
presentation on a paper about Napoleon's maps of Egypt early on in the
sessions. I don't know how many would agree that cartography is an art
form (as I do) but it was awfully fascinating to critically consider
what gets put on a map and what doesn't, and why. A careful
consideration of this will betray the interests of the cartographer -
whether they are contractual or personal interests. Napoleon's of
course reflected military bias. Wells, railroads, roads, ports,
potential battleground terrains etc. Not at all like a tourist map,
with all the archaeological goo-gahs. Not at all like an agricultural
map, which focuses on where water can be moved etc.
But I thought of another example that might qualify. I read a story
about contemporary African artists (central Africa) who were making
really very nice sculpture out of the defunct weapons that turned up
regularly in the local dumps. It's political, of course, but it has a
geographic dimension as well. Unfortunately, I don't have a link - it
was two or three years ago that I stumbled across the web page.
HooDoo U.
>But I thought of another example that might qualify. I read a story
>about contemporary African artists (central Africa)
Coindidentally...
http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/features/mccormick/mccormick8-12-05.asp
The article is accompanied by photos and begins with
this line:
"Geography is both irrelevant and undeniably important
when it comes to culture."