Katsina: Commodified and Appropriated Images of Hopi Supernaturals [Paperback]

Zena Pearlstone (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0930741838 | ISBN-13: 978-0930741839 | Publication Date: March 2002 | Edition: 2

This volume chronicles the commodification of the Hopi Katsinam (plural of Katsina or Kachina) over the last 150 years. Once known only to the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest, these carvings have been transformed into international symbols and are now found decorating designer scarves, T-shirts, coasters, and a host of other products. In the course of this heavily illustrated study, the authors confront the consequences of inter- and intracultural perception, definitions of sacred and secular, colonialist thought and postcolonial retort. Also included are short statements by thirteen contemporary artists actively carving Katsinam or representing them in their work.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This volume chronicles the commodification of the Hopi Katsina over the last fifteen years. Once known only to the pueblo peoples of the southwest, these carvings have been transformed into international symbols and are found decorating t-shirts, scarves, coasters, and a host of other products. In Katsina the authors confront the consequences of inter- and intracultural perception, definitions of sacred and secular, colonialism and post-colonial retort. Also included are short statements by thirteen contemporary artists actively carving Katsinam or representing them in their work.

About the Author

Zena Pearlstone is assistant professor of art history at California State University, Fullerton. Other contributors include Barbara A. Babcock, Marsha C. Bol, Leigh J. Kuwanwisiwma, Alph Secakuku, Victoria spencer, Peter M. Whiteley, and Barton Wright.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: University of California Los Angeles, Fowler; 2 edition (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930741838
• ISBN-13: 978-0930741839
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,422,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, January 9, 2011

By 

Mark Three "Bill" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Katsina: Commodified and Appropriated Images of Hopi Supernaturals (Paperback)

Not the typical book on Hopi Katsinas. Enlightening approach to the Hopi art and the commericial aspects. I also asked several prominent Hopi what they thought. While I thought they might be offended, their critique was positive. It opens the door to set you to think about the topic, at the same time it adds to the written story of Hopi Katsinas and the Hopi artisans. Well done.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book tracking Katsina images as they are changed by our society, August 13, 2007

By 

D. Garnett "gdatomic" (portland, or) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Katsina: Commodified and Appropriated Images of Hopi Supernaturals (Paperback)

Bought this book despite the reviewer who complained it had too many t-shirt images. Actually, that's exactly why I bought it. And I'm glad.

If you want images that savor the power of katsina's, there are many other books (many, many). And, they're quite good. But, this excellent book tracks the movement of these spiritual ideas and images used to organize and guide Hopi society into the mainstreaming of Southwest culture.

Given American tackiness, sometimes the results are pretty tacky. But that's the point of this book and it's a very interesting look and read.

I highly recommend this book if you want to see how these symbols have evolved. (And, in case evolving them seems "wrong", let's remember that the Hopi were already evolving them before they hit the mainstream because symbols always evolve when cultures mix.)

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Much Information, September 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Katsina: Commodified and Appropriated Images of Hopi Supernaturals (Paperback)

Looking for a book which contains images of some of today's best katsina dolls? They're here. How about a book on T-shirts, cheap posters and napkin holders? Toss in plastic cups, billboards and tin buttons and you begin to see the intent of this book. Editor Pearlstone has gathered the best and the worst images of katsinam over the years. Wherever and whenever a katsina image has been used, examples are included. Fine carvings and jewelry are represented. A number of Hopi and non-Hopi artists are profiled. To me, the inclusion of so much dime store junk detracted from what is otherwise an extremely well researched volume. This, however, is the editor's intent ... to commodify EVERY example of the katsina in past and present society. One of her objectives was to illustrate how non-Native society has continued to use the katsina image in so many (inappropriate) ways. A book for every collectors' library? I wouldn't recommend this one.