ART focus quiz 19

Masks are MOST intended to a. transform the wearer b. bring worshippers closer to God c. entertain crowds d. depict a spirit naturally e. expose diverse personalities

A African masks are intended to "manifest metahuman and otherwise intangible spirit forces." They hide the wearer so he/she can be transformed into someone else. [74,2,3]

Professional African mask makers PRIMARILY draw inspiration from a. local examples b. global art trends c. natural objects d. geometric forms e. ancestral images

A African masks are typically carved from wood. The professionals who make them study and replicate local, traditional forms. [74,2,2]

Which of the following assertions did Herbert Cole NOT make regarding African masks? a. The masks have narrow subjects. b. The masks are too diverse. c. The masks' contexts are too complex. d. The masks' purposes are too complex. e. The masks are too numerous.

A In 1985, art historian Herbert Cole noted that a comprehensive treatment of masks had yet to be published. He claimed that the subjects were too vast, the masks too numerous and diverse, and their contexts and purposes too complex. [74,1,2; 74,2,0]

Which of the following groups of people were the first to perform masquerades? a. women b. men c. elder chiefs d. artists e. children

A Many myths describe African masquerading traditions. These myths suggest that women originally performed masquerade and knew the secrets of the mask, even though nowadays men usually perform masquerade. [75,1,0]

The earliest evidence of masking and masquerade activities came in the form of a. rock paintings b. oral tradition c. fossils d. cave paintings e. pieces collected by Westerners

A Masking and masquerade activities can be seen in the rock paintings of the Tassili-N-Ajjer and Hoggar, now in the middle of the Sahara Desert. African masking activity may have begun with animal skins and heads. [75,1,0]

Which of the following materials would an African mask NOT use? a. plastic b. pottery c. wood d. metal e. stone

A Masks and masquerades are an extensive, complex, and diverse part of African culture. They are most often carved from wood, but they can also be made of metal, stone, pottery, and fabric. [74,2,2]

Which of the following statements is NOT true of African masks and masquerades? a. Masquerade does not exist in contemporary Africa. b. African masks lose their cultural context in a museum. c. Masqueraders impersonate spirits to thank them. d. Masquerade performers use dramatic, eccentric behaviors. e. African masks have strong visual and aesthetic characteristics.

A Masquerade can be seen contemporary Africa, making it a resilient art form. African masks have strong visual and aesthetic characteristics, but they lose their cultural context in a museum setting, as the dramatic and eccentric actions of the masqueraders are also missing. [75,2,0; 75,2,1; 75,2,2]

Which of the following elements is LEAST important in relation to African masks? a. masquerade b. the wearer of the mask c. ritual activity d. the form of the mask e. the masking process

B African masquerade incorporates various elements, like masks, masking, and masquerade. While the form of the mask as well as its use in ritual activities are important, the wearer is less important, as he/she is believed to be transformed into a different being. [74,2,1]

Which of the following statements BEST explains how African masks, reliquaries, and nkondi are connected? a. They are all best viewed in a museum setting. b. They attempt to connect the living and the spiritual. c. They help the living to cope with the death of loved ones. d. They all hold the remains of the dead. e. They allow African people to embody spirits.

B Masquerade is performed for important events, but like the nkondi and reliquaries, it serves mainly to connect the world of the living with the world of the spirits. Museums do not present masks well, as their cultural context is lost with the lack of performance. [75,2,1]

Masking activity LIKELY began with a. costume performances b. rock paintings c. animal skins and heads d. tree trunks e. wooden carvings

C African masking activity may have begun by using animal skins and heads to become, deceive, and even appease the spirits of sought-after prey. The activity's true origins may not ever be known, though. [74,2,4; 75,1,0]

In 1985, art historian Herbert Cole noted that African masks have NOT been treated a. artistically b. fairly c. comprehensively d. practically e. correctly

C Masks and masquerades are an extensive, complex, and diverse part of African culture. In 1985, art historian Herbert Cole noted that a comprehensive treatment of masks had yet to be published. [74,1,2]

Of which material are African masks MOST often made? a. stone b. silver c. wood d. copper e. clay

C Masks and masquerades are an extensive, complex, and diverse part of African culture. They are most often carved from wood. [74,2,2]

Which of the following statements is NOT true of African masks? a. They can emphasize distorted forms. b. They can be simplified in form and detail. c. They can depict human or animal features. d. They create a naturalistic rendering of a spirit. e. They can feature exaggerated details.

D African masks often emphasize simplified, distorted, and exaggerated detail, as well as humanoid or animal features. They do not render a spirit naturalistically, but rather, intend to capture its character. [74,2,2]

All of mask's style EXCEPT the following details could indicate an African a. mouth shape b. color c. face shape d. scent e. general size

D Masks' details such as size, face, mouth, and eye shape, and color indicate their different styles, which are often linked to specific villages or ethnic groups. [74,2,2]

Masquerade performance does NOT involve a. an audience b. costumed characters c. dancers d. artists e. musicians

D Masquerade performance usually occurs for important events. Then performance includes costumed characters, dancers, and musicians. [75,2,0]

African masks would NOT be decorated with a. animal pelts b. teeth c. feathers d. shells e. pottery

E African masks can be made of wood, metal, stone, pottery, and fabric and can be decorated with animal pelts, teeth, feathers, and shells. Since they can be made of pottery, masks would not be decorated with it. [74,2,2]

Which of the following terms BEST describes literature on African masks? a. broad b. basic c. complex d. detailed e. incomplete

E Art historian Herbert Cole noted that no comprehensive study of African masks existed. Little documentation of the tradition survives. [74,1,2; 74,2,0]

Costumes associated with African masks MOST often a. are heavy b. are worn by women c. involve few decorations d. incorporate metal e. generate sound

E Costumes or costume elements, such as jewelry, amulets, and headpieces, are often used with masks. Cloth and raffia costumes typically have decorations that produce sound. [74,2,3]

The style of an African mask depends MOST heavily on the a. person who will be wearing it b. individual artist's vision c. material of which it is made d. purpose it is intended to have e. village in which it was made

E Masks and masquerades are an extensive, complex, and diverse part of African culture. Details such as size, shape, and color indicate their different styles, which are often linked to specific villages or ethnic groups. [74,2,2]

Which of the following items would a performer in a cloth or raffia costume NOT hold? a. rattle b. bow and arrow c. flywhisk d. sword e. feather

E Performers with African masks often wear costumes, such as ones made from cloth or raffia. These costumes typically have decorations that produce sound, and the performer often holds items like rattles, flywhisks, and weapons. [74,2,3]