Week Eight - Video Blog

I choose the two African videos because the project in this chapter is about masks and the other two were just randomly chosen.

African Art: Legacy of Oppression

Belgium’s Tervuren Museum contains the world’s largest collection of Central African Art, containing about 250,000 pieces.  The shocking expressions and body positions leads to abstract art.  Interesting masks were displayed, one half white for healthy and the other half black for sickness.  Masks were created to frighten enemies.  Also talked about the fact they had to bring back the right hand of victim for every bullet fired. 

African Art – Its Cultural meaning

The video showed expressing in dress, hair style, and forms of ornamentation, rituals and performance art.  Wood and straw were used to make sculptures.  Also included in the video it shows the symbolism, aesthetics and functionality of African art.  Explored African religious beliefs explored through rituals, a spiritual form of performance art and Funerary statuary.  African art includes bronze casting of Nigeria date from the 15^th century.  Masks are highly stylized and embellished.  Costumes are designed to be used by fire light. 

Buddhism

Buddhism began in India and spread to other lands.  Bodh Gaya is like Jerusalem.  Bodhi tree was used to mediate.  Tanha, is the gateway to the temple.  Buddhism split into 2 groups:  hinayana and mahanyana.   The Great Stupa has an umbrella on the top.  Buddha is the man who refused to be a god.  The walkway wines around the temple.  The three levels of the umbrella symbolize the three levels of heaven.  Chuang Yen Monastery is a complex of building dedicated to Buddhism.  Stress kindness to all. 

Hinduism

Hinduism is exotic and erotic.  Varanasi is the holiest city in India and the River Ganges is the symbol of life, death and rebirth.  Hindus can worship anywhere.    Cremation in Varanasi on the Ganges is assurance of direct access to heaven.  Shines in Mamallapuram are lavishly decorated and carved from single boulders.  You can’t take it with you, give up worldly items.   Believes we will all arrive at the same place.  Hindus’ cannot touch a dead body the outcast must. 
The videos about African art relate to chapter 18 and chapter 19 relates to Buddhism and Hinduism.

The videos were interesting to watch and see the detailed sculptures and the people associated with these cultures and religions.