The Myth of Primitivism

This work is a controversial critique of art theory, practice and politics, and a major enquiry into the history of primitivism and its implications for contemporary culture.

This book explores the fusion of myth, history and geography which leads to ideas of primitivism, and looks at their construction, interpretation and consumption in Western culture. Contextualized by Susan Hiller's introductions to each section, discussions range from the origins of cultural colonialism to eurocentric ideas of primitive societies, including the use of primitive culture in constructing national identities, and the appropriation of primitivist imagery in modernist art. The result is a controversial critique of art theory, practice and politics, and a major enquiry into the history of primitivism and its implications for contemporary culture.

List of illustrations, Editor's foreword, Acknowledgements, PART I, Editor's introduction, 1. Some general observations on the problem of cultural colonialism, 2. Outsiders or insiders?, 3. Primitive art and the necessity of primitivism to art, 4. Expeditions: on race and nation Black Audio/Film Collective, PART II, Editor's introduction, 5. Emil Nolde's 'ethnographic' still lifes: primitivism, tradition, and modernity, 6. Unofficial versions, 7. The resurgence of the night-mind: primitivist revivals in recent art, 8. From primitivism to ethnic arts, PART III, Editor's introduction, 9. Ethnography and the formation of national and cultural identities, 10. Art and meaning, 11. Dark continents explored by women, 12. Leonardo's 'Last Supper' in Fiji, PART IV, Editor's introduction, 13. The search for virginity, 14. Unsettled accounts of Indians and others, 15. Locality fails, 16. Aboriginal representation and kitsch, 17. Born from sharp rocks, Notes on contributors, Index