The Commonality of Humans through Art: How Art Connects Mankind through the Ages
The Commonality of Humans through Art: How Art Connects Mankind through the Ages explores how art has linked different cultures over the past 30,000 years. Organized thematically rather than chronologically or geographically, it traces how all humans are connected from birth to death.
Ten leading scholars offer essays on how the language of art has been used by cultures to explain human behavior. The book begins with a discussion of the brain and art, aesthetics and human cultures, and creation myths. With these important subjects as a foundation, it moves into explorations of lived experiences: moth-erhood and the family, the world around us, conflict and warfare, portraying ourselves and others, sickness and healing, religion and rituals, and death. Each chapter is illustrated by outstanding artworks showing the commonality between cultures as they expressed their lives to their own people and those who followed them.
The essays are written to the lay reader so the book can be a beautiful showcase on a coffee-table, an important art reference book in a library, or an introductory textbook in archaeology, cultural anthropology, and art history classes.
Created and edited by Stuart Handler
October 2024
Hardback, 279 x 216 mm
576 pp., approx. 400 colour illus.
ISBN: 978-1-913645-65-6
About the Contributors
Dahlia W. Zaidel is adjunct professor of behavioral neuroscience, department of psychology, and member of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
Wilfried van Damme is an art historian, anthropologist and author of many scholarly articles on aesthetics from an intercultural and interdisciplinary perspective
Barbara C. Sproul is former chair of the department of religion at Hunter College, CUNY, and author of Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World
Herbert M. Cole is professor emeritus of art history at the University ol California, Santa Barbara, and author of Maternity: Mothers and Children in the Arts of Africa
Lark E. Mason is an expert on Chinese art and antiquities, and formerly a senior vice-president at Sotheby’s in charge of the Chinese Works of Art Department
David H. Dye is professor of archaeology and faculty advisor at the University of Memphis and author of War Paths, Peace Paths
John F. Scott is professor emeritus of art history at the University of Florida and author of Latin American Art: Ancient to Modern
Todd J. Pesek, MD is a physician practicing preventive, integrative, holistic healthcare and founding director of the Center for Healing Across Cultures
Alex W. Barker is director of the Arkansas Archaeological Survey, University of Arkansas System and former president of the American Anthropological Association
Robert B. Pickering is professor emer-itus of anthropology and founding director of the Museum Science & Management program at the University of Tulsa