Edna Bay

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Location: ICIS Conference Room 108

Book Discussion:Asen, Ancestors, and Vodun: Tracing Change in African Art

Edna Bay is Associate Professor in Emory's own Graduate Institute of Liberal Arts. Her research interests include: gender, cultural history, religion and art, historical anthropology and West Africa.

In Professor Bay's book Asen, Ancestors, and Vodun: Tracing Change in African Art she "expertly reads evidence of the area's turbulent history through analysis of asen motifs as she describes the diverse influences affecting the process of asen production from the point of their probable invention to their current decline in use. Paradoxically, asen represent a sacred African art form, yet are created using European materials and technologies and are embellished with figures drawn from tourist production. Bay's meticulously researched artistic and historical study is a fascinating exploration of creativity and change within Benin's culture."

This discussion will feature commentary by several members of African Studies, both faculty and graduate students. Others in the Emory community are invited to read the book, attend and participate in the discussion.