AH4227 Scotland and the Arts of Africa
Academic year
2025 to 2026 Semester 2
Curricular information may be subject to change
Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.
Key module information
SCOTCAT credits
30
SCQF level
SCQF level 10
Availability restrictions
Not automatically available to General Degree students
Planned timetable
tba
Module Staff
Dr Kate Cowcher
Module description
This course explores the complex relationship between Scotland and African continent as revealed through the collections of art objects, public sculptures and other archives found in Scottish towns and cities, as well as objects and cultural practices on the African continent. It will provide the opportunity to engage historic, modern and contemporary works of art from the continent on their own terms, whilst also engaging the ways in which they came to be in our local collections, and what their futures ought to be. The course will explore the ways in which African cultures were perceived and represented in Scotland, from the eighteenth century to the present. The course will consider histories of exploration, military encounter, missionary engagement, as well as the interactions in the era of independence and the contemporary artists' responses to Scotland's historic entanglements with the continent.
Relationship to other modules
Pre-requisites
BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS AH1001 OR PASS AH1003 ) AND PASS AH2001 AND PASS AH2002
Assessment pattern
Coursework = 100%
Re-assessment
Coursework = 100%
Learning and teaching methods and delivery
Weekly contact
1h lecturex11 weeks, 2h seminarx11 weeks, 2 tutor's office hour (x 12 weeks)
Scheduled learning hours
33
Guided independent study hours
280
Intended learning outcomes
- To understand the global historiography of the arts of Africa, and the benefits and challenges of approaching art from the continent from an Art Historical perspective. To understand the global historiography of the arts of Africa, and the benefits and challenges of approaching art from the continent from an Art Historical perspective.
- To learn about a range of artistic objects and practices on the African continent, and their contingent histories before and during the colonial era, including royal and political arts, divination and spiritual practice, masquerade and rites of passage, and healing arts. To learn about a range of artistic objects and practices on the African continent, and their contingent histories before and during the colonial era, including royal and political arts, divination and spiritual practice, masquerade and rites of passage, and healing arts.
- To learn specific indigenous terminology from Yoruba, Igbo, Mende, Kikuyu, Luba, Zulu and other cultures, and to apply these in discussion of specific art objects. To learn specific indigenous terminology from Yoruba, Igbo, Mende, Kikuyu, Luba, Zulu and other cultures, and to apply these in discussion of specific art objects.
- To learn about Scotland's manifold engagements with the African continent, from James Bruce's journey to Gondarine Ethiopia in the C18th through to contemporary art by artists of Scottish-African descent To learn about Scotland's manifold engagements with the African continent, from James Bruce's journey to Gondarine Ethiopia in the C18th through to contemporary art by artists of Scottish-African descent
- To study the history and status, and reflect upon the future of collections of African art objects in major Scottish cities, from Glasgow to Aberdeen. To study the history and status, and reflect upon the future of collections of African art objects in major Scottish cities, from Glasgow to Aberdeen.