Section 18.2: Module 7 Non-Western Art Mini-Lecture

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I have been thinking over the last few years about the conflicts in so many of the regions in the world. Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Darfur; and now Syria, are just a few of the places where we have little understanding of their culture, and people. I find myself thinking that these people in countries with funny names like Darfur are different than us.

Somehow by making them different in my mind, I don’t have to feel their suffering quite so intensely.

Of course, I really want to feel the plight of these people, and see them as a member of our extended human family. I thought that maybe I could learn more about their lives, and their countries. And me being an artist, maybe I could study their art, making a connection that might tie us together in some slight way.

I propose that we all do a little research on non-western art.

As an example :

I found an unbelievable website devoted to the Indian Ocean Cultures, cataclysmic wave that hit there. Maybe we could add to these websites, and build a library of sites that have to do with arts in these far off lands.

The links below are a start, the countries of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Indian Island culture are three of the most impacted lands.

General Introduction to Indian Ocean Culture, The Art of Polynesia :

Articles https://www.khanacademy.org/humaniti...ania/polynesia

The Art of Melanesia https://www.khanacademy.org/humaniti...ania/melanesia

The world of Micronesia https://www.khanacademy.org/humaniti...nia/micronesia

The Arts of Asia https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia

Japanese Art https://www.khanacademy.org/humaniti...asia/art-japan

Art of Southeast Asia https://www.khanacademy.org/humaniti...southeast-asia

Art of the Americas before WWI https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-americas

Peruvian Textile and Crafts, The Paracas Textile

https://www.khanacademy.org/humaniti...aracas-textile

Native American Art https://www.khanacademy.org/humaniti...-north-america