The functions of art in four North American Indian cultures : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

This discussion focuses on the vital role that art plays in four North American Indian cultures. Clearly, art exists and is admired in many cultures for its aesthetic qualities. Besides these qualities, however, art functions in many other ways within societies. For example, art serves as a means of enculturating young people into a given culture. Moreover, art fulfills crucial roles in the religious, social, economic and political sectors of many cultures. Four cultures are explored in detail in order to demonstrate the various functions that art plays in these societies.