Question 2: The Function of Art Objects

Some of the art objects created by the cultures surveyed this week, whether African masks, Japanese tea bowls, or Micronesian navigational charts, served functional roles in their society. Locate three such objects, one each from the following: Asia, Africa, or the Pacific Cultures.

First, completely identify each object you would like to discuss by listing its name, date, and location.In a minimum of 2 well-developed paragraphs discuss:

1. What was the function of each object at the time of its creation?
2. What historical events or social or cultural influences affected the creation of each work?
3. How do the visual characteristics of each object contribute to or enhance our understanding of its meaning?

Be sure to explain your ideas clearly and support them by discussing specific details about each work.