Museum patrons view the sculpture “Drifting Continents” by the Ghanaian artist El Anatsui. Made from discarded aluminum bottle caps and copper wire, the sculpture was included in Sotheby’s first auction of modern and contemporary African art. (Image courtesy of Eva Blue on flickr. License CC BY.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. M. Amah Edoh
MIT Course Number
21G.026 / 21G.326
As Taught In
Spring 2018
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course examines contemporary and historical cultural production on and from Africa across a range of registers, including literary, musical and visual arts, material culture, and science and technology. It employs key theoretical concepts from anthropology and social theory to analyze these forms and phenomena. It also uses case studies to consider how Africa articulates its place in, and relationship to, the world through creative practices. Discussion topics are largely drawn from Francophone and sub-Saharan Africa, but also from throughout the continent and the African diaspora.