Cloth, Dress and Art Patronage in Africa (Dress, Body, Culture) [Hardcover]

Judith Perani (Author), Norma H. Wolff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999 | ISBN-10: 1859732909 | ISBN-13: 978-1859732908

Drawing examples from a wide range of African cultures, this ground-breaking book expands the continuing discourse on the aesthetic and cultural significance of cloth, body and dress in Africa and moves beyond contextual analysis to consider the broader application of cloth and dress to art forms in other media. In blending the concerns of Art History and Anthropology, the authors focus on the art patronage systems that stimulate production, consumption, commodification and cultural meaning, and emphasize the overriding importance of cloth to aesthetic and cultural expression in African societies. Through this approach they reveal complex processes that involve a series of actors, including textile artists, commissioning-patrons and consumer-patrons, all of whom shape cloth and dress traditions. These individuals not only influence production, but are a key to understanding the cultural meaning of cloth and dress and, by extension, the body in Africa.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rich details from the West African literature and the authors' own research in contemporary Nigeria illustrate the many ways that cloth mediates social circumstance." --Choice

From the Publisher

Finalist in the Arnold Rubin Award for Outstanding Publication

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Berg Publishers (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859732909
• ISBN-13: 978-1859732908
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,070,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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