Robert Farris Thompson – författare

In this generously illustrated book, world-renowned Yale art historian Robert Farris Thompson gives us the definitive account of tango, "the fabulous dance of the past hundred years–and the most beautiful, in the opinion of Martha Graham.”Thompson traces tango’s evolution in the nineteenth century under European, Andalusian-Gaucho, and African influences through its representations by Hollywood and dramatizations in dance halls throughout the world. He shows us tango not only as brilliant choreography but also as text, music, art, and philosophy of life. Passionately argued and unparalleled in its research, its synthesis, and its depth of understanding, Tango: The Art History of Love is a monumental achievement.From the Trade Paperback edition.

This book reveals how five distinct African civilizations have shaped the specific cultures of their New World descendants.From the Trade Paperback edition.

This landmark book shows how five African civilizations—Yoruba, Kongo, Ejagham, Mande and Cross River—have informed and are reflected in the aesthetic, social and metaphysical traditions (music, sculpture, textiles, architecture, religion, idiogrammatic writing) of black people in the United States, Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad, Mexico, Brazil and other places in the New World.

This captivating book offers an in-depth exploration of the profound relationship between dance, art, and objects in African culture, focusing on the ways in which movement breathes life into static forms. In many parts of Africa, dance extends beyond the human body, uniting with everyday objects such as spinning tops and cutlasses, transforming them into vibrant, autonomous works of art. The Tiv people of Nigeria exemplify this philosophy, where the motion of a spinning top or a twirling blade is imbued with the same artistic essence as human dance. This broader conception of dance highlights a fundamental principle in African art—the fusion of movement, form, and life. Motion, in this context, is not just a performance but a bridge to sacred realms, where the aliveness of an image or object is essential for it to function as a work of art. The book further delves into the unity of African art forms, where sculpture, dance, music, and visual objects are all intertwined, creating a holistic aesthetic experience. Famous examples, such as the Basinjom mask of Cameroon, illustrate how art maintains its vitality even in stillness, requiring ceremonial practices to anchor its powerful presence. The author explores how these performances and objects combine, not only to enhance the visual brilliance of the art but also to create metaphors for ethical and spiritual existence. This seamless integration of the arts provides a rich framework for understanding the icons of African culture—attitudes of the body like standing, sitting, and balancing, which transcend time, evoking themes of stability, flexibility, and balance. Through this lens, the book offers a journey into the timeless, poetic world of African danced art, where physical movement and artistic expression unite to reveal deeper truths about life and spirit. This title was originally published in 1974. This captivating book offers an in-depth exploration of the profound relationship between dance, art, and objects in African culture, focusing on the ways in which movement breathes life into static forms. In many parts of Africa, dance extends beyond the