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A review by crazytourists_books
Civilisations: First Contact / The Cult of Progress by David Olusoga
informative
slow-paced
2.5
I was somewhat disappointed by this book. Even though the research behind it can't be doubted and is certainly extensive, I have the feeling that everything was seen through a western (European), male, lens.
In the afterword, the writer notes the importance of not underestimating the art and civilisations of Africa (and other non-european based, I will add) civilisations. But the content dedicated to them is the less than the bare minimum.
We read pages after pages about how colonisation changed european art but almost nothing about how it changed the art of the colonised people. Where is the art of the indigenous people of America? The art of Mexico? Where are Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera? Where is the art of the Maōri? The art of the slaves in the plantations of the New World? How their art was almost eradicated, how did it change? Or do we not care? And that comment at the end of the book that "there is single imagination, of which all art is a product", is it just words?
Another remark I want to make is how distasteful I found the author's choice to include photos of works of art and symbols of civilisations with his face in them. The bronzes of Benin, the pyramids of Giza, the portrait of the Maōri chief Te Rangiotu. A poor choice, to say the least.
In the afterword, the writer notes the importance of not underestimating the art and civilisations of Africa (and other non-european based, I will add) civilisations. But the content dedicated to them is the less than the bare minimum.
We read pages after pages about how colonisation changed european art but almost nothing about how it changed the art of the colonised people. Where is the art of the indigenous people of America? The art of Mexico? Where are Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera? Where is the art of the Maōri? The art of the slaves in the plantations of the New World? How their art was almost eradicated, how did it change? Or do we not care? And that comment at the end of the book that "there is single imagination, of which all art is a product", is it just words?
Another remark I want to make is how distasteful I found the author's choice to include photos of works of art and symbols of civilisations with his face in them. The bronzes of Benin, the pyramids of Giza, the portrait of the Maōri chief Te Rangiotu. A poor choice, to say the least.