New York City College of Technology
City University of New York
African American Studies Department
Course Code: AFR 2302
Course Title: Art and Architecture of Africa
Course Code: AFR 2302
Course Title: Art and Architecture of Africa
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:
Course Description:
This course is designed to be an historical study of the plastic arts and traditional architecture produced by the
indigenous African societies of ancient Egypt, Ethiopia and the countries of Central, and Southern Africa. The
traditional aesthetics, symbolism and characteristics of regional art forms will be analyzed. Slide lectures
/power point presentation, discussions and museum/gallery trips are included.
Recommended Readings:
Aldred, Cyril. Egyptian Art. Thames and Hudson, 1980.
Judith Perani and Fred T. Smith. The Visual Arts of Africa: Gender, Power and Life Cycles. Prentice Hall, 1998.
Bascom, Frank. African Art in Cultural Perspective, Norton & Co., 1973.
Bourdier, Jean-Paul. Drawn from African Dwellings, Indiana University Press, 1997.
Crouch, Dora and Johnson, June. Traditions in Architecture: Africa, American, Asia and Oceania. Oxford
University Press, 2000.
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Elleh, Nnamdi, African Architecture: Evolution and Transformation
Gillon, Werner. African Art: A Short History, Pelican Books
Segy, Legislas. African Sculpture Speaks, DaCapo Press, 4th Edition, 1975.
Vansina, Jan. Art History In Africa, Longman,
Willett, Frank. African Art, Thames and Hudson,
GRADING PROCEDURE:
On-Line Assignments/Blogs
40%
Mid-term Examination
20%
Final Examination
20%
Museum Research Report*
20%
ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE FOUND ON-LINE VIA THE BLACKBOARD SITE
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COURSE CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning Outcomes
Assessment Methods
Understand and use of correct terms in
Museum field trip report, Mid-term and
describing and identifying art or art objects Finals.
in the study of Art and Architecture of
Africa
Responses to Powerpoint presentations
and assigned readings through the weekly
Blackboard discussion board
Be able to identify the elements of style of
each artifact studied.
Learning Outcomes
Responses to Powerpoint presentations
and assigned readings through the weekly
Blackboard discussion board
Assessment Methods
Develop a sense of aesthetics and an
historical appreciation of art and world
cultures.
Blackboard discussion board responses
Develop a foundation for continuing
interest in art and art history.
Blackboard discussion board responses
Blackboard discussion board responses
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Blackboard discussion board responses
Develop a better understanding of the
contribution of all forms of art to
human culture.
Blackboard discussion board responses
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1:
SAN ART and ROCK PETROGYLPHS from SOUTHERN AFRICA
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Go to the YouTube link on blackboard and review the documentary on: San Bushman, Rock Art
of South Africa. In your review, write a summary of the documentary.
WEEK 2:
EGYPTIAN ART and architecture
TOPICS: Pre-dynastic and Dynastic Styles
The archaic Egyptian art 5,000 B. C. to 2, 000 B.C.
The Battlefield palette from Abydos
The Pallette of King Narmer from Heirakonpolis
Animal Symbols from Abydos and Saqqara
The Step Pyramid at Saqqara
Art of the Kings, 1st- 10th dynasties
Art of the Deities
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
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Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review video on the series, “Egypt in African antiquity”.
WEEK 3:
NUBIAN ART and architecture
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review video on Nubian art history. Quiz #1: Students have to
identify 10 pictures on the art styles from Egypt and Nubia.
WEEK 4:
ETHIOPIAN ART and architecture
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review video on Ethiopian religious art and architecture.
WEEK 5:
SHONA ART and architecture
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students are to go to YouTube and review the video series on Shona art techniques and artists.
Students will download review sheet for midterm exam next week.
WEEK 6:
EKOI and GRASSLAND STYLE ART, and architecture from the CAMEROON
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art
in each powerpoint presentation.
Assignment: Students will review the art and history of the Grassland Kingdoms, the Afo-A-Kom and Ekoi skin
covered masks
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Quiz #2: There will be a 10 point quiz on pictures to identify specific Grassland and Ekoi masks.
WEEK 7:
MID-TERM ON-LINE
Students will be given an on-line Mid-term. It will be administered over a 3 day period.
The midterm exam will test student’s ability to identify 15 pictures based on their elements of style. Students
must identify vocabulary and terminology based on their readings. Finally write two 250 word essays on topics
covered in weeks one through six.
Your midterm answers must be submitted through Safe Assign.
WEEK 8:
TSHOKWE (CHOKWE) ART and BAKWELE ART
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students will review the art of the Chokwe and the BaKwele.
Students are to go to YouTube and review video on Chokwe and Kwele masks.
WEEK 9:
FANG( PANGWE) and BaKOTA ART
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Quiz #3: Identify similarities and gender characteristics between 10 Fang and Kota reliquaries.
WEEK 10:
PUNU and BAKONGO ART and architecture
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students will view YouTube videos on the art of the Punu and Bakongo peoples.
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WEEK 11:
BALUBA and BAKUBA ART and architecture
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students will view YouTube documentary on the art Baluba nd the Bakuba peoples
WEEK 12:
BAPENDE and BASONGE ART and architecture
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students will write a comparison between BaLuba and BaSongye Kifwebe masks.
WEEK 13:
MANGBETU AND MAKONDE ART and architecture
SEE: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Record notes on the major pieces of art in each powerpoint
presentation.
Assignment: Students will view YouTube videos on the art Mangbete and Makonde peoples
Last Week to Submit Museum Report
WEEK 14
Review for Final Exam
Review all powerpoint presentations from week 1 through 13
Download review sheets and review art from weeks 1 through 13.
WEEK 15
FINAL EXAM
THE FINAL EXAM WILL TAKE PLACE ON LINE
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Students will be given an on-line final exam. It will be administered over a 3 day period.
The final exam will test student’s ability to identify fifteen pictures based on their elements of style. Students
must identify vocabulary and terminology based on their readings. Finally write two 250 word essays on topics
covered in weeks one through six.
Final exam answers must be submitted through Safe Assign.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY STATEMENT
Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other
intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing
sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for
providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and
responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty
is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable
by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on
Academic Integrity may be found in the catalog.
COLLEGE POLICY ON ABSENCE/LATENESS
A student may be absent without penalty for 10% of the number of scheduled class meetings during the
semester as follows:
Class Meets
Allowable Absence
1 time/week
2 classes
2 times/week 3 classes
3 times/week 4 classes
**Each department and program may specify in writing a different attendance policy for courses with
laboratory, clinical or field work. If the department does not have a written attendance policy concerning
courses with laboratory, clinical or field work, the College policy shall govern.
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