17 Americas and Oceania

Overview of Art in Native Americas and Oceania

• Focus on ancient Americas, including Mexico, Central America, Andean Region, and North America.

• Brief mention of Oceania (Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia).

• Predominantly polytheistic cultures with frequent depictions of gods and offerings in art.

Mexico & Central America

• Civilizations Covered: Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Aztec, Maya.

• Significant historical impact and cultural reach across regions.

• Art influenced by trade, politics, technology, and religion.

Olmec Art

• Colossal Head: La Venta, Mexico; carved from basalt (900–400 BCE).

  • Represents rulers with unique features, each approximately 9' 4" high.

  • Difficulty and cost of creation indicate high status.

  • Transported up to 60 miles using rafts and log rollers.

Teotihuacan

• Urban Center: Largest settlement in pre-Columbian Americas (50–250 CE).

  • Features pyramids (Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of the Sun).

  • Human sacrifice central to rituals and social order.

• Murals: Depict deities; predominantly red colors used.

  • Central figures: Great Goddess and Storm God, key to understanding Teotihuacan's culture.

Maya Contributions

• Stele D at Copán: Ruler 13 (736 CE).

  • Significant for divine kingship symbolism.

  • Hieroglyphs depict rulers and events like ascension.

• Ball Game: Important ritual with ties to mythology.

• Weapons and Sacrifices: Sacrifices served religious and political purposes.

Aztec Art

• Great Temple (Tenochtitlán): Center of Aztec religion and human sacrifices for deities.

  • Built for gods Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc.

• Coyolxauhqui Monolith: Represents the goddess linked to Aztec mythology.

Andean Region of South America

• Cultural Interactions: Indigenous civilizations influenced one another.

• Notable Sites: Tiwanaku (300–1000 AD); significant architectural and ceremonial complexity.

• Artistic Techniques: Metalworking and monumental architecture predating Mesoamerican accomplishments.

  • Example: Embroidered funereal mantle from Paracas showing intricate designs.

North American Art

• Historical Context: Artifacts span back 12,000 years but mostly from the last 2000 years.

• Cultural Variability: Different lifestyles from migratory hunter-gatherers to agricultural settlers.

• Significant Artworks: Adena pipes and effigy mounds (Serpent Mound).

Oceanic Art

• Easter Island Moai Statues: Monumental figures commemorating ancestors (1200–1500 CE).

  • Featured large heads, significant to cultural and religious practices.

• Hawaiian Feather Cloaks: Richly decorated garments reflecting power and status (1824–1843).

• Tattooing Traditions: Spiritual and cultural significance among Polynesian warriors.

Summary of Key Themes

• Art as a reflection of social, political, and religious structures in indigenous cultures.

• Interactions between cultures leading to rich artistic contributions in different regions.