Art, Innovation, and Politics in Eighteenth-Century Benin

Book Description
"The wealth of historiographic resources, the command of relevant literature, the ethnographic research and prudent use of oral traditions give this work a high degree of . . . intellectual excitement. . . . a landmark in the field." --Warren d'Azevedo Making use of archival and oral resources in this extensively researched book, Paula Girshick Ben-Amos questions to what extent art operates as political strategy. How do objects acquire political meaning? How does the use of art enhance and embody power and authority?


About the Author
Paula Girshick Ben-Amos is Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University. She is author of The Art of Benin and co-editor (with Arnold Rubin) of The Art of Power/The Power of Art: Essays in Benin Iconology.


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

In the mid-17th century, a crisis in royal succession threatened the stability of the ruling dynasty in Benin. Not until the 18th century were Benin's reigning monarchs secure from the challenges of powerful local chiefs. Surprisingly, this century of social and political turmoil coincides with a period of striking artistic innovation and achievement. Making use of archival and oral resources, Paula Girshick Ben-Amos reveals the extent to which art operates as political strategy. How do art objects acquire political meaning? How does the use of art enhance and embody power and authority? Ben-Amos demonstrates that it is possible to tease out the political meaning of material objects and thereby illuminate connections between art and politics. In the case of 18th-century Benin, art and imagery performed a strategic function as instruments of legitimization. A full appreciation of Benin's extraordinary artistic creation is made possible by this probing exploration of the social environment and historical circumstances that brought it into existence.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices