Comparing Cultures

This week in class we talked about the importance of comparison.  We compared several different objects in class and tried to find the similarities and differences in each.  This week my blog is focusing on trying to find more comparisons and the importance of each object and what their functions are as a piece of art.  Some objects that I found interesting during my readings were the Standing Figure of the Mossi and the Pair of Figures of the Baule.  The reason I chose to compare these two objects was because of their simplicity and their similarities to each other, yet they are from completely different cultures.

Standing Figure

            The first image I chose was the Standing Figure.  The Mossi people of Burkina Faso make this piece of artwork.  Mossi arts are broke down into two types of art; one is owned and used ritually by nakomse rulers while the other are smaller representations of females that are owned by women or children.  The Standing Figure is a full figure that is meant to represent the secular political power of chiefs.  They are carved progressively in a simplified naturalistic way.  They are always carved in active poses.  This piece of art has bent legs, arms, and has dramatic hand gestures to represent the movements of dance.  Our textbook explains that the peoples of the Mossi believe that their ancestors are believed to reward proper behavior with human and agricultural fertility and productivity, or, alternatively, to punish transgressors with disease or misfortune.  The ownership of these figures affirms a king’s right to rule.  Some other characteristics of this image is the cylindrical body, prominent breasts (representing motherhood).

Pair Figures

The other image I chose was the Pair of Figures made by the Baule peoples.  These images are very similar, although one is male and one is female.  The faces of these two objects are very similar, almost to the point of not being able to tell which is which.  At one time these objects use was unknown, but with careful studying of the face some believe they have represented nature spirits or diviner’s spirits from the sacrificial libations.  Other beliefs of these objects are that they have some contact with the Other World.  The Baule peoples maintain contact with these spirits on a daily basis.  The Earth spirits are called the asie usu.  The asie usu can be associated with numerous things such as; sky or earth, water, sickness, infertility, crop failure and other misfortunes.  The Baule believe that all adults have a mate of the opposite sex living in the Other World and that his or her activities and thoughts affect the person of this world.  The diviner can be thought to be a “person of wood” and must be honored.  The image is consecrated through sacrifice and prayer and the owner must offer the image food and follow procedures to keep it happy.

The similarities between these two objects are that they are both carved for a specific meaning; although the meanings of the carvings are completely different they both serve a purpose.  The Standing Figure is made to assure rulers right to rule or for women and children to show how the body is supposed to be perceived during motherhood.  They are both carved simply, however giving detail or emphasis on the body parts that they are trying to send a message through.  The standing image has emphasis on the legs, breasts, and arms, while the pair of figures gives detail throughout the whole piece depending on what the spouse needs help with in their currant marriage or in their life such as fertility issues.

While comparing these two objects I noticed that they both seem to look similar and unless you learned about the different peoples that think highly of these objects they might be hard to distinguish the differences.  However, it made me wonder whose object has more of a realistic theme behind it to outsiders looking in on their culture.  To me, someone who has just learned a pinch about each of these cultures I think I would seem the purpose behind the Standing Figure more, only because of the reasoning to show women and children more about motherhood.  On the other side of the spectrum, I also think that if I was to be more engaged in the Baule cultures and learned more about their backgrounds and spiritual beliefs I could also see myself saying that their object seems more meaningful and significant.  This all goes to show the differences we all have in every culture.  One example we talked about in class a couple weeks ago was the beliefs that we, as Americans have in Halloween and the beliefs that Hispanics have in El dia de los muertos.  I realize this is a stretch for an example from the Mossi and the Baule’s objects, but it just goes to show that we all have different beliefs and interpretations.