Bibliograph

The making of Bamana sculpture, creativity and gender, Sarah C. Brett-Smith

Type

Label

The making of Bamana sculpture, creativity and gender, Sarah C. Brett-Smith

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 338-341) and index

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The making of Bamana sculpture

Medium

electronic resource

Nature of contents

bibliographydictionaries

Oclc number

1052561979

Responsibility statement

Sarah C. Brett-Smith

Series statement

Open Access e-BooksACLS Humanities E-BookRES monographs in anthropology and aesthetics

Sub title

creativity and gender

Summary

The Making of Bamana Sculpture describes both the techniques and the rituals used by Bamana blacksmiths in Mali, West Africa, when they carve sacred sculpture. Chronicling the process of decision-making that results in a commission, it provides a detailed account of the carving process and also analyses the meaning of this process. Sarah Brett-Smith demonstrates that Bamana sculptors compare the process of producing a ritual object both to sexual intercourse and to childbirth. Her study details how Bamana sculptors become 'great' artists, how this process requires a shift from a 'male' to a 'female' gender identity, and why the Bamana believe that the ambitious artist must make tragic sacrifices to win renown.--, Provided by Publisher

Contributor