Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

Veronica Smith
Augustana College
Western Eyes and African Art
A Question of Perception
Figure 1, unidentified African mask in the Augustana
College permanent collection.
Abstract
Originally, this research began as an inquiry into the origins of an unidentified African mask housed in the
Augustana College Art Collection. After many hours of fruitless labor, I came to the realization that my
own perceptions might be inhibiting my research. As a result, the focus of my research shifted to the issue
of cultural perception. This paper explores Western conceptions of African material culture through a
mostly qualitative study of syntax – the words that people use to describe an unknown African object and
the connotations of those words. Data was gathered through a series of surveys administered to students at
Augustana College. The survey asked students a variety of questions about images of the unidentified
African mask . The data gathered indicated that on the whole, Americans tended to describe an unknown
object with industrial terms, whereas if the object was known to be of African origin, much more organic
and anthropomorphic language was utilized. Furthermore, through a study abroad program, I was able to
travel to West Africa, where I was able to trace the origins of the mask. My experiences abroad enabled me
to push the limits of me perceptions even further, and I ultimately returned to the United States with a
stronger sense of my own culture as well as West African culture.
352