Understanding We do not use Primitive to relate to ancient artifacts or native peoples

  

                                        Visual Art and Anthropology 

            Visual Art and Anthropology is an informative documentary written and produced by Scott McLeary professor at Fairfield University. This documentary gives the viewer insight into how the western art world labeled indigenous peoples’ artworks and titled them primitive. Also shown in this film are stairsteps in the progression of western art documentaries and how westerners perceive the materials being documented.

            In a lecture-style taping Professor McLeary explains in front of a camera how art is judged in the western world. What is art? This is a time-old question without a true answer. McLeary speaks in-depth about western views and thoughts on non-Western art. Non-western art was said to be primitive. Now the western culture has changed its view and no longer calls native arts primitive. Professor McLeary explains that non-western art is much like Picasso or Duchamp’s work so the work is very advanced. One has to be in agreement with this by looking at art from the ancient Aztecs or the Ciwara people of West Africa. It is a disgrace to have ever called these works primitive. We as westerners no longer call indigenous peoples’ artwork primitive this changed around the 20^th century when anthropologists and archeologists steaked new territory. These scientists embraced the understanding and cultural awareness of native peoples and did not reference an imperial materialistic society. Scientists found the works as treasure troves of symbolism and cultural data.

            Westerners are now categorizing works as geological artworks. Making improvements in western culture and societies takes time. When westerners have made such grave assumptions and mistakes. The United States as a country wants to whitewash our indiscretions by removing all of our mistakes from history. Western society needs to stop trying to change our history and embrace the idea and the fact our country was built on mistakes. Why cannot we move forward and make a better future by reevaluating our mistakes? Let’s change the future and take action not revel in self-loathing. We are one of the freest countries on the planet. Look at the struggles of other countries with no clean water or cast societies and be grateful for all we have.  Take steps to repair not destroy our own country.

            The MOMA took steps to make a change and not clear away the issues of the past and is helping correct the view and verbiage of non-western art. At the MOMA they have thousand of artworks on display made by indigenous people and they are titled by geographical area. Calling art primitive is derogatory and the word related to art now is severely frowned upon. In viewing this video one learns this in the documentary.

             Professor McLeary moved into speaking about the lineage of art documentaries and how the first was produced.  Robert Flaherty produced Nanook of the North. In taping, it showed how the documentary was constructed and as a viewer, we saw clips of Inuit babies and what happened behind the scenes. It was staged and he stayed away from any of the modern conveniences of Intuit life. Flaherty wanted to give the proception that the Inuit had a very rudimentary way of life and no modern convinces. This was absolutely a false perception. Western perceptions were cast on the Inuit’s way of life and how Flaherty wanted triable life to be viewed.  Later another documentary came along titled Axe Fight by Shagnon and Ash. In this documentary, the camera is set still. The raw footage was altered and was given a western spin.

 This is shown to be a big issue of how westerners project their culture and views onto non-Western peoples. Viewing the video, it is still happening today that the camera is very deceptive and it just depends on who is taping and who edits what is actually being shown.  

            Visual Art and Anthropology was an enlightening Documentary. This film has a lot of good information for everyone, not just artists. I would defiantly encourage everyone to watch this film. Being a westerner, we have to be able to see and understand the mistakes of our predecessors and films like this bring our mistakes to light so we as westerners don’t make them again.