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cover of episode West Mexican Figurines with Art Historian Beth Wilson Norwood

West Mexican Figurines with Art Historian Beth Wilson Norwood

2024/3/13
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Mesoamerican Studies On-Air

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Beth Wilson Norwood: 本人对西墨西哥陶器艺术的研究始于2008年,最初的研究集中在身份认同和视觉交流上,特别是通过身体艺术和装饰来传达社会身份。后来的研究则受到Elizabeth Boone的启发,开始关注这些陶器中重复出现的主题和叙事,试图解读它们所表达的文化内涵和历史信息。通过对大量陶器(超过34000件)的观察,我发现了一些重复出现的主题,例如球场场景、仪式圈场景、建筑场景、爬杆场景和丧葬场景。在球场模型中,我注意到一些反复出现的角色,例如驼背的老人,以及这些角色在独立陶器中也出现。此外,我还注意到陶器的大小、类型和出土地点等因素,这些因素可能暗示了陶器的不同用途。在研究过程中,我发现西墨西哥陶器中重复出现的主题比之前认为的要少得多,这与之前的研究结论有所不同。目前,我已经确定了六七个主题,并正在进一步研究。我的研究也受到莫切陶器的启发,因为莫切陶器中也存在类似的叙事模式。总的来说,我的研究旨在通过对西墨西哥陶器的深入研究,揭示其背后的文化内涵和历史信息,并纠正一些长期以来对西墨西哥文化的误解,例如认为其文化发展水平低等。 Catherine Knuckles & Tony DeLuca: 两位主持人就Beth的研究方向、研究方法、研究过程中遇到的挑战(例如赝品问题)以及西墨西哥艺术的独特性等方面与Beth进行了深入的探讨。他们还就西墨西哥艺术与南美洲艺术之间的联系、西墨西哥艺术中一些独特的视觉元素(例如鲨鱼形象)以及西墨西哥艺术研究中的一些误解等问题与Beth进行了交流。

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Why did Beth Wilson Norwood become interested in West Mexican figurines?

Beth Wilson Norwood became interested in West Mexican figurines when her professor at the University of Central Arkansas directed her to a collection of ceramics stored in boxes in a library closet. She was immediately hooked by the fascinating figurines and objects, and her interest grew as she read more about the lack of scholarship in the area.

Why is West Mexican art considered unique compared to other Mesoamerican art?

West Mexican art is unique because it features a wide variety of scenes and themes, often depicted in multi-figure tableaus and figurines. Unlike other Mesoamerican art, which is often more public and monumental, West Mexican art seems to have been intended for more private or ritual contexts, making it more challenging to decode.

What are the main visual styles and categories of West Mexican art?

West Mexican art primarily uses ceramics as the favored medium, with 17 different visual styles. The main categories include multi-figure tableaus (often described as models), figurines (smaller, solid figures), and larger hollow ceramic figures. These styles and categories are found across different geographic regions, suggesting a shared visual tradition.

How does Beth Wilson Norwood approach the issue of forgeries in her research?

Beth Wilson Norwood uses a combination of methods to authenticate West Mexican figurines, including mentorship from Robert Pickering, who developed a methodology involving the examination of the interior and exterior of objects for mineral stains and insect remains. She also uses her knowledge of the styles and themes depicted to rule out fakes and alterations.

What are some surprising findings from Beth Wilson Norwood's research on West Mexican figurines?

Beth Wilson Norwood found that the variety of day-to-day activities depicted in West Mexican figurines is much more limited than previously thought. Instead, she identified several recurring themes, such as ball court scenes, ceremonial circles, and funerary scenes, suggesting that these figurines may have been used to record and communicate important cultural narratives.

What are some misconceptions about West Mexican art and culture?

Common misconceptions about West Mexican art and culture include the idea that West Mexico was underdeveloped compared to other Mesoamerican regions, that it lacked large-scale architecture, and that it was isolated from South American influences. These ideas have been dispelled by recent research, which shows that West Mexico had sophisticated architecture and was part of broader cultural networks.

Why does Beth Wilson Norwood find her work in West Mexico rewarding?

Beth Wilson Norwood finds her work in West Mexico rewarding because it allows her to collaborate with other scholars in her field, which is often isolating for art historians. She also enjoys the detective work of art history, piecing together iconography, context, and formal aspects to understand the meaning of these ancient works of art.

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In this episode we interview art historian Beth Wilson Norwood about her research into the art of West Mexican figurines.

Beth Wilson Norwood is an art historian specializing in Pre-Columbian art, funerary art, and the art of ancient West Mexico. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of New Mexico and the editor-in-chief of the 15th volume of the journal Hemisphere: Visual Culture of the Americas. She holds an MA from UT San Antonio and a BA from the University of Central Arkansas. Her dissertation “Narrative Ceramics and Networks of Practice: West Mexican Visual Traditions in the Late Formative-Early Classic Periods,” will focus on the issue of visual communication, and the role West Mexican ceramic sculpture may have played in the expression of important cultural narratives and histories, as well as their use in performance and oral storytelling.