The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture [Hardcover]

Sylvia Kleinert (Editor), Margo Neale (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0195506499 | ISBN-13: 978-0195506495

This unique publication provides a wide-ranging reference to indigenous Australian art, covering documented archaeological traditions, art styles of the early contact period and the nineteenth century, and the development of the contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art practices.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kleinert (a postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Cross-Cultural Research, Australian National Univ.) and Neale (head of the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia, National Museum of Australia) have assembled an excellent guide to Australia's Aboriginal arts and culture. They divide their work into two parts. Part 1 acts as a small encyclopedia, arranged topically and providing a variety of overview essays. Its 23 sections, covering a vast range of subjects and geographical areas, each consist of numerous short essays (some of which are reprinted speeches and interviews) touching upon the section's broad topic. The topics include cross-cultural exchanges, gender, religion, literature, music, architecture, and performance. Part 2 acts as a subject dictionary, arranged alphabetically and defining terms, organizations, and people. The book is well illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs; secondary bibliographies at the end of most of the essays cite very current resources, an invaluable addition to an already worthwhile reference. Cross references are found throughout, and regional maps are located at the end of the volume. Unfortunately, the index to Part 1 is found directly following that part, not where readers will expect to find it. And because many of the essayists are artists, architects, and other creators, some of the essays are more personal (and perhaps less objective) than desirable for a reference book. But these are minor points. This useful and unique resource is highly recommended for all academic and large public libraries with an interest in the arts or anthropology. Cynthia Johnson, Barnard Coll. Lib., New York
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

`the careful arrangement and linkage of information does what a Companion should; it gives the reader a sense of exploring a vibrant Aboriginal landscape in company with a series of highly articulate guides.' TLS 04/01/2002

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 816 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195506499
• ISBN-13: 978-0195506495
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,411,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture, June 14, 2001

By 

P. Alderson (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture (Hardcover)

This book was recently reviewed on the Sunday Arts program on ABC television in Australia. The book presents an authoratitive overview of the origins and development of Aboriginal Art and Culture in Australia.

It presents information in an easy to read format with enough detail to satisify most readers. It even includes sections on contemporary Aboriginal artists including Lin Onus. There are many colour illustrations of artwork to illustrate the narrative text.

A must have book for those interested in the history and contemporary state of Aboriginal Art and Culture in Australia.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview, August 23, 2001

By 

Lesley West (St James, Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture (Hardcover)

Australian Aboriginal art is gaining international recognition, and rightly so. It is an art form driven by the culture of the artsists, and this book covers the traditional works of desert Australia, and also touches on more the more contemporary works of urban dwellers. These works are vibrant and alive, and the illustrations do justice to the richness of the work. The accompanying text is detailed and authoritative.

If you are interested in the art works of other cultures, or even art in its broadest sense, you will find many of the works presented in this volume to be quite different, even provocative. Others are as spectacular as any landscape known to the Western world.

This is an excellent introduction to a complex topic, and a worthy addition to any library.