All Flashcards
Compare the use of materials in Mesoamerican and Central Andean art.
Mesoamerican art often features jadeite and quetzal feathers, while Central Andean art emphasizes camelid fiber and cotton, reflecting the different environments and available resources.
Compare the role of environment in Mesoamerican and Central Andean art.
Mesoamerica's environment influenced the use of stone for monumental architecture, while the challenging landscapes of the Andes shaped textile art and landscape modifications like the Nazca Lines.
Compare the artistic focus of the Maya and the Aztec.
The Maya focused on intricate writing, calendar systems, and complex religious narratives, while the Aztec emphasized monumental sculpture and the glorification of their empire and military prowess.
Compare the social function of art in Native North America and Mesoamerica.
In Native North America, art reinforces community cohesion and harmony with nature, while in Mesoamerica, art often served to legitimize rulers and commemorate important events.
Compare the artistic traditions of the Inca and the Aztec.
The Inca are known for their intricate stonework and road systems, reflecting their centralized empire, while the Aztec are famous for their monumental sculptures and city planning, showcasing their military and political power.
Define 'Mesoamerica'.
A region and cultural area in the Americas, extending roughly from central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and northern Nicaragua, and within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries.
What are geoglyphs?
Large designs or motifs produced on the ground (generally longer than 4 meters) and typically formed by clastic rocks or similarly durable elements of the natural landscape, such as the Nazca Lines.
Define 'Shamanism'.
A practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to perceive and interact with a spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world.
What is a 'Potlatch'?
A ceremonial feast among some Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest, marked by the host's lavish distribution of gifts or sometimes destruction of property to demonstrate wealth and generosity.
Define 'reciprocity' in the context of Andean art.
Emphasis on balance and mutual exchange between humans and the natural world, reflected in artistic themes and practices.
What are 'totem poles'?
Monumental sculptures carved from large trees, typically cedar, by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, featuring crests of animals, humans, and supernatural beings.
How do Mesoamerican pyramids relate to earlier artistic traditions?
They build upon earlier traditions of mound building and reflect a growing sophistication in astronomical knowledge and social organization.
How do Andean textiles relate to earlier artistic traditions?
They continue earlier traditions of weaving and reflect the importance of reciprocity and cyclicality in Andean cultures.
How does the Olmec colossal head relate to the artistic tradition of ruler portraiture?
The Olmec colossal head represents the beginning of a tradition of depicting rulers in monumental form to assert power and authority.
How do Native North American totem poles relate to the artistic tradition of storytelling?
Totem poles are a continuation of the oral tradition, visually representing clan histories, myths, and important events.
How do Moche portrait vessels relate to the artistic tradition of ancestor veneration?
Moche portrait vessels may have served as a form of ancestor veneration, preserving the likeness of important individuals and connecting the living with the deceased.