AP Art History Pacific Study Guide

How were these purposes (of Polynesian art were shared w/ the Maori peoples of NZ) illustrated in the meeting house shown on fig. 36-21?

- In the form and decoration - carvings - Images on wall represent ancestors - central roofing - spine - large boards - arms

Briefly describe the style of the prow decoration depicted on fig. 36-10.

- May represent facing sea swallows or perhaps stylized human figure - Symmetrically balanced - Material: painted wood, birds

Describe the male and female powers symbolized on the Iatmul ceremonial house (fig 36-4).

- Men's house is the center of Iatmul life - Its distinctive saddle-shaped roof symbolizes the protective mantle of ancestors - Carved decoration includes female ancestors in the birthing position

Describe the "x-ray" style of bark painting shown on fig. 36-2.

- Shows both the figure's internal organs and its external appearance; ancestral being whose spirit pervades (fills) the present - may be kept to a specific family line - functions unknown - nomadic, so small works

How does the representation (Dilukai figures) relate to the role of women in Oceania?

- ability of an image to control a group, roles are more nuanced than what's naturally depicted - protective - village almost like her child

What role did art play in the Hevehe cycle practiced by the Elema?

- dramatic appearance of hevehe masks from Elena men's house - ceremonial process involving these masks (including destruction to allow sea spirits to allow sea spirits to return to mythical domain). - masks represent female sea spirits - production and presentation of masks

List three of the meanings associated with Dilukai figures like the one shown on fig. 36-12?

- fertility - protected the men's house - sun's gifts to earth - protection - moralistic reminder of women's power

List three factors which played a significant role in Asmat art and society.

- flora and fauna (competition for different resources) - spiritual energy - warfare and headhunting

List three motifs that appear on the prows of Trobriande boats (fig. 36-9) and note what they symbolized.

- human (sea spirits) - bird (ancestors) - serpent (totemic animals)

What is a Malanggan and what did it symbolize?

- mask made of wood, vegetable fiber, pigment, and shell - sea-snail shells for eyes - colors of black, white, yellow and red (people of New Ireland associate w/ warfare, magic, spells, and violence)

Briefly describe the moai of Easter Island.

- monoliths as much as 50 ft tall, believed to portray ancestral chiefs - stand on platforms marking burials or sites for religious ceremonies

List three characteristics of Polynesian art as seen in the image of Kuka'ilimoku (fig. 36-19).

- muscular body flexed to attack - wide mouth with bored teeth - large head - all conveys aggression and defiance

What was the purpose of the tattoos that were so popular in Polynesia?

- represent cultural and personal identity - beyond personal beautification, status, identification purposes (clan, defeated warriors, slaves), significant events on occasion (pain gone through when grieving for the deceased) - protective, spiritual armor

What was the purpose of the poles (fig. 36-3)?

- served as a pledge to avenge a relative's death - a man would set up a bisj pole when he could command the support of enough men to undertake a headhunting raid

Paleolithic Art dates

30,000 BCE - 8000 BCE (Old Stone Age) (Need to know: 25,000 BCE)

What are the oldest dates assigned to human populations in Australia?

30,000-50,000 years ago

Oldest dates assigned to human populations in New Guinea?

40,000 years ago

Neolithic Art dates

8,000 BCE - 3,000 BCE (New Stone Age) (Need to Know: 5,000 BCE)

Definition of 'ahu'ula?

A Hawaiian feather cloak.

Definition of monolith?

A large, single block or piece of stone used in megalithic structures. Also, a colossal statue carved from a single piece of stone.

Definition of tatu (tattoo)/moko?

A permanent design on the skin produced using indelible dyes. The term derives from the Tahitian, Samoan, and Tongan word tatau or tatu.

Definition of pukao?

A small red scoria cylinder serving as a topknot or hat on Easter Island moai.

What purposes of Polynesian art were shared with the Maori peoples of New Zealand?

Ancestors and lineage

What is the focus of many of the myths of aboriginal Australians?

Ancestral spirits

What is the focus of many of the myths of aboriginal Australians?

Ancestral spirits called Dreamings whom artists represented in an x-ray style showing the internal organs

Definition of tapa?

Barkcloth made particularly in Polynesia. Tapa is often dyed, painted, stenciled, and sometimes perfumed.

What role did art objects play in upholding Polynesian social structure?

Because of this social hierarchy, historically most Polynesian art belonged to persons of noble or high religious background and served to reinforce their power and prestige; invested w/ mana or spiritual power

Discuss the variety of styles found in Oceania by comparing the bisj poles from New Guinae (fig. 36-3), the maoi from Easter Island (fig. 31-13), the Dilukai from Belau (fig. 31-8), the Kukailimodu from Hawaii (fig. 36-19), the canoe prow from the Trobriands (fig. 36-10), and the Australian Ancestor Figure (fig. 36-2).

Bisj poles - act of revenge, pay homage to ancestors; ritual wood carving; tall, narrow ancestor pole depicting ancestor spirits standing upon one another; cycle of life, death, and warfare Maoi - monoliths as much as 50 feet tall, believed to portray ancestral chiefs; stand on platforms marking burials or sites for religious ceremonies Dilukai from Belau - wooden figures of young women carved over the doorways of chiefs' houses; represents fertility, protection, sun's gifts to earth Kukailimodu from Hawaii - carved from a single piece of breadfruit wood; aggressive depiction w/ open-mouthed grimace, slightly flexed arms and legs; aggressive mouth demonstrated the gos' power and his taut stance showed his strength and readiness for action; represents a powerful god - "the snatcher of the land"; in Hawaii religion, Ku is one of the four great gods; war god also known as "the island eater"; captivates and holds attention Canoe prow from the Trobriands - wooden canoe prow carved w/ small human figure placed centrally at the top of the prow, between two asymmetric spirals; aesthetic purposes + intended to intimidate and mesmerize potential trading partners; totemic animals Australian Ancestor Figure - made and used as a trade object for visitors stopping at Easter Island; male figure w/ a friendly and peaceful look

Discuss the symbolism of life and death seen in the bisj poles (fig. 36-3) and the Iatmul ceremonial house (fig.36-4). While there is a common human concern behind these images, the representations are quite different. In what way does the style of each intensify the message?

Bisj poles: poles used for funeral feasts that commemorated the deceased and reminded the living to avenge their deaths; in Asmat belief, death created an imbalance in society, which the living had to correct by taking an enemy head Iatmul: female ancestors in birthing position - life, new beginnings; also honor their dead ancestors through portable art and saddle-shaped roof; slit gongs that serve as voices of ancestral spirits

Why do we know so little of the meaning of Rarotongan deities like the one represented on fig. 36-18?

Christians converted the islanders and destroyed their "idols" as part of conversion process in 19th century; iconoclasm

What was tapa used for?

Clothing, bedding, exchange, wrap deceased bodies of high-ranking chiefs

Definition of malangan?

Festivals held in honor of the deceased in New Ireland (Papua New Guinea). Also, the carvings and objects produced for these festivals.

What is the function of the "storyboards" depicted on the mens' ceremonial house in Belau (fig. 36-11)?

Illustrate important historical events and myths related to the clan that built the bai

Definition of tatanua masks?

In New Ireland (Papua New Guinea), the spirits of the dead.

Definition of mana (strength)?

In Polynesia, spiritual power

Definition of moai?

Large, blocky figural stone sculptures found on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in Polynesia.

Name the three cultural areas of Oceania

Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia

Men v women in types of materials worked with?

Men - hard materials; women - soft materials

What stylistic tendencies differentiate the art of Micronesia from that of Melanesia?

More socially stratified

Who might enter the Iatmul ceremonial house?

Only Iatmul men - not women and uninitiated boys (men's house reinforces kinship links by serving as locale for initiation of local youths to advance in rank, men's discussions of community issues, and ceremonies linked to Iatmul's ancestors)

What stylistic tendencies of Polynesian art are represented by tattoo patterns?

Predominantly geometric and affinities with other forms of Polynesia art are evident; related to art of their society

What is the essential focus of life and art for Micronesian peoples?

Seafaring activities (fishing, trading, and long-distance travel in large oceangoing vessels)

Of what materials is the Tatanua mask made?

Soft wood, vegetable fiber, and rattan

What is barkcloth commonly called?

Tapa

How was information transferred between generations?

Verbally

Who traditionally created the bark cloth that was so popular in Polynesia?

Women

What art form is associated by the Abelam with the yams?

Yam mask (woven fiber, organic pigments)

Definition of deity?

a god or goddess