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Indigenous Body Adornment     

by Art History 309 - Spring 2009

Matutaera Tawhiao - the 2nd Maori King

In this Wiki the students of UW Art History 309A have collaborated to create an encyclopedia of meanings, symbolisms, and examples of indigenous body adornment.   Each team has taken a topic or geographic region and individuals have contributed their research to the wiki.  Dig through the layers for loads of information provided by your classmates.

Team Folders & Pages:

Polynesian Tattoo - group 1

Native American Adornment

Japanese and Korean Adornment

Asian Tattoo and Adornment

Jewelry

African Adornment

Polynesian Tattoo - group 2

Team Readings 

Class Information:

Go to Sign-up Sheet for Personal Adornment Presentation

Go to Class Wiki Assignment page.

Go to Team Introduction and Overview to see how your team folder should be organized.

Go to Tips and Ideas page

Class Blog- a place to add thoughts, files, or questions.

Possible Team Research Topics

by Region:

South American

     (Canela, Kayapo)

Mezo-America

     (Maya, Aztec, Inca)

Africa

Native America

Arctic

     (Yupik, Alutiiq, Inuit)

Asia

     (Japan, Ainu, China)

Southeast Asia

     (Phillipines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, India, Malaysia)

Early European/Christian

Egyptian

Polynesia

     (Hawaii, Samoa, Marquesas, Tonga)

Micronesia

Melanesia

New Guinea

By Topic:

Appropriation - "Tribal Tattoos" & Cultural Property

     (in modern times or as taken on from sailors in Polynesia in the 18th century)

Scarification

Piercings

Hairstyles

Jewelry

Head shaping

Dental Alteration

Body/Face Painting

Tattooing

Other useful links:

AH309 Wiki Assignment

Wikis - Scholarly or Popular content?