Cultural Syncretism

[cjlasky7]

Family went to the Museum of the American Indian yesterday to catch a fascinating exhibit ("Transformer"). It was Native American art expressed through/altered by modern technology. Many interesting pieces, but my favorite was a multi-generational portrait by artist Jon Corbett consisting of electronic beads constantly changing the portrait in a spiral pattern, one generation slowly morphing into the next.

It's always encouraging to me to see artists attempting a form of cultural syncretism, fusing the traditional and the modern into something new. We have to be careful not to obliterate the past as we forge into the future, but we can't get stuck in old forms and fail to adapt to an evolving world.

In a way, Black Panther is the most dramatic example of cultural syncretism at work today, fusing traditional African culture, African spirituality with the modern superhero movie. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it seems to have struck a chord.

Comments

[shadowkat]

Hmmm..I thought you were going to see the Tippi exhibit. (Manifesto?).

It's always encouraging to me to see artists attempting a form of cultural syncretism, fusing the traditional and the modern into something new. We have to be careful not to obliterate the past as we forge into the future, but we can't get stuck in old forms and fail to adapt to an evolving world.

In a way, Black Panther is the most dramatic example of cultural syncretism at work today, fusing traditional African culture, African spirituality with the modern superhero movie. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it seems to have struck a chord.

I don't think you are reading too much into it. I picked up on the same things. They did an interesting melding of new and old. Also, the "rival" kings that challenged T'Challah represented two different ways -- M'Baku represented the old ways, or traditional views, while Killmonger - represented the new ways or non-traditional modern approach.

T'Challah represented both...fusing traditional with modern into something new --and in the women, see Shuri and Ogye as examples of the new and old - with Nakaii in the middle fusing both.

[cjlasky7]

The illuminated tepee WAS part of that exhibit. It was the centerpiece of "Raven Brings the Light," a modern representation of an ancient legend.

For some people, their cultural traditions aren't relevant anymore, the old ways don't speak to them the way they live now. Cultural syncretism reconfigures these traditions for a new age, and can help reconnect these people with their heritage....