| Description: | Art is a human universal, and for this reason it can be understood and studied as a characteristic of our species, like other products of human evolution. At the same time, art is also a sociocultural product and a personal creation: it is a place where biology and evolution intersect with culture viewed in terms of both social dimensions and individualized expressions - psyche, personality and choice. Such a complex reality can best be comprehended and appreciated in its entirety through the holistic approach offered by anthropology, by analyzing every dimension of art: evolutionary, sociocultural, historical and psychological. The course is structured in two parts: during the first half we will explore the emergence of art and creativity in the human species, gathering data from the many disciplines that are involved: paleoanthropology, primatology, neurosciences, and evolutionary psychology. During the second half of the course we will explore the sociocultural aspects of art and creativity, using many different ethnographic sources. Students will have the opportunity to test the theories developed in class by exploring Florence as their research field: they will meet with local artisans, artists, and gallery owners, discussing the topics they explore in class with people who are directly engaged with art and creativity. |