Inscribing Meaning

by Mullen Kreamer, Christine; Nooter Roberts, Mary; Harney, Elizabeth; Purpura, Allyson

• ISBN13: 9788874393770
• ISBN10: 8874393776
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-10-01
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Summary

Exploring the multiple messages and aesthetic intent of works that creatively incorporate script, both for its literal content as well as the beauty of its form, the book includes 90 exceptional works of art dating from ancient to contemporary times. Inscribing Meaning celebrates the ingenuity and creativity of African artists from around the continent who bring script and graphic forms of communication into a wide range of artworks. Readers will learn about Africa's long history of written languages and literacy, and the spectacular works of art will illustrate a range of indigenous African writing systems that have received little attention outside of Africa as both visually compelling and historically significant forms of art. These include everyday and ritual objects, religious painting and manuscripts, protective talismans, commemorative cloth, public and popular arts, and contemporary painting, sculpture, prints, installation art, photography and video. The volume aims to challenge popular misperceptions that do not recognise Africa's contributions to the global history of writing, and to foster dialogue with and expand the readers' ideas about what it means to be knowledgeable, educated, and literate. This book will be particularly valuable to scholars and students of art history, history, fine arts, African and African American studies, linguistics and anthropology.

Table of Contents

Map of Africa	p. 11
Inscribing Meaning: Ways of Knowing	p. 13
African Writing, Text and the Arts: Concepts and Definitions	p. 28
Recording, Communicating and Making Visible: A History of Writing and Systems of Graphic Symbolism in Africa	p. 37
Inscribing Identity: The Body	p. 55
Cloth as Amulet	p. 70
A Conversation with Ike Ude	p. 83
Sacred Scripts	p. 89
Art and Writing in Ancient Egyptian Culture	p. 107
Drinking the Word of God	p. 117
Visual Dimensions of Literature	p. 124
Inscribing Power/Writing Politics	p. 127
Nsibidi: Old and New Scripts	p. 146
Language Works	p. 154
Circumscribing Space	p. 159
Can't Cover the Moon with Your Hand: Uli Artists, Artistic Identity and Stuff	p. 176
Flying Over Dikenga: The Circle of New Life	p. 186
Ecstasy is on the Wire: African and Afro-Atlantic Writing Systems - A Conversation with Robert Farris Thompson	p. 195
Word Play: Text and Image in Contemporary African Art	p. 201
Re-Writes	p. 227
Songs of Ancient Moons: Victor Ekpuk on His Art	p. 230
Words: From Spoken to Seen	p. 237
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.