Criticism in Akan traditional visual art
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Date
1981-04-16
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Abstract
The purpose of this research is threefold: (a) To find out how Akans criticize their art works.
(1) To find out what Akans regard as qualitative criteria in their arts.
(a) To re-assess Akan art against the background of continuing cultural eclecticism.
The term art has a very wide meaning for the Akan, but for the purpose of this research it is limited to works of Sculpture, Pottery and Textiles. The Akan critic has a good knowledge of the art he criticizes and he is well conversant with the media as well the as mode of production. The Akan critic also knows the producer of the arts that he criticizes. He is able to identify the artist by his forms and style. Ho is knowledgeable about his training and the sources of his ideas. He is therefore able to bridge the gap, between the artistic intent and aesthetic achievement of the artist. The Akan critic is himself identifiable, by his knowledge of the art works, the artist, and by his store of critical vocabulary. The latter is an essential part of the critical process which, among the Akans begins with a judgment, followed by reasons, and. ends with a qualification of the reasons, Akan art of today is no more what it used to be. Changes continue to occur against the background of new societal trends, such as in economics, politics, religion, science and technology as well as culture.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts in African Art, 1981