N°12 June 2016
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ISSN 2499-1341 EXPRESSION quaterly e-journal of atelier in cooperation with uispp-cisnep. international scientific commission on the intellectual and spiritual expressions of non-literate peoples N°12 June 2016 WHY ART? Rock engraving of Har Karkom, Negev Desert, named “The Thinker” (from Anati 2015, The Rock Art of the Negev and Sinai, figure 150) EDITORIAL NOTES WHY ART? LOOKING FOR A MEANING Why was this engraving made? The site it- self provided some suggestions. This rock is standing oblique being located in front Together with a small group of students we of an almost flat small space: the rock itself explored a newly discovered rock with en- appeared to us like a blackboard in a scho- gravings, in a wooden area of the Camonica ol classroom. Valley. The rock was covered by moss; after a The makers died long ago and nobody can first cleaning, about 60 figures became visible. provide direct testimony, but the hypothe- Some of the human images were holding to- sis emerged that a group of young people, ols and weapons and comparing their shapes probably candidates for initiation, may with those of similar datable objects discove- have sat on the floor in front of the rock, red in graves and other archaeological excava- while an instructor was telling them the ted levels, a date could be established for the story. engravings which turned out to be about 2,750 The engravings narrate a myth and we may years old. thus consider that it was produced in order After tracing and recording, it appeared that to remember this myth, like the frescoes of three human figures, located on different par- cathedrals still do today. Its purpose may ts of the surface, all had the same features, the well have been educational. same clothing and the same weapons, but each Several other engraved rocks were found one was in a different context, accompanied in the vicinity. Probably some others may by different signs. These figures appeared to have had the same purpose, but not neces- be those of the same being in three different sarily all of them. situations. The picture was telling a story: the Rock art is like the literature of more recent story of this being. times, some books may concern science, The study of the rock revealed a complex as- others religion, some may be school textbo- semblage of engravings belonging to a single oks and others fiction. The reason for ma- phase, produced with one and the same en- king one rock engraving is not necessarily graving tool, likely by the same hand. In a the same as all the other rock engravings. single panel are illustrated various events in The decoding of prehistoric art may help a sequence. It is telling the story of an anthro- us to understand why each piece of art pomorphic being, probably a mythical an- was produced and for what purpose. But cestor or spirit, going through a journey and we have first to understand what message adventures, experiencing events connected to it intended to convey. Like any other com- thunder or some other natural expression of munication, to understand its motivation power. This being appears as the one who gi- we have first to know its content. ves men their sexual ability and energy, a sort E.A. of ‘Lord of Virility’. The story concludes with the depiction of an enormous male sexual or- Note: The decoding of the rock engraving in question ap- gan in the process of ejaculating. This phallus pears in Proceedings of the XV World Congress of UISPP, is over 1 m long. Lisbon, 2006, vol. 16, ‘Prehistoric Art and Ideology’, pp. 3-12, and in Semiotica dell’arte preistorica (Anati, 2014, pp. 2 EXPRESSION N° 12 CONCEPTUAL ANTHROPOLOGY One of the purposes of UISPP-CISENP, in addition to the pleasure of meeting Conceptual anthropology is the discipline that and growing by dialogue, is to promote a combines various aspects of human and social common commitment to the understan- sciences in respect of human behaviour and ding of such human expressions, with the culture, using experiences of the past to un- support of multidisciplinary research. As derstand the present and build the future. The students of various disciplines, anthro- concept gestated for some time until it was for- pologists and archaeologists, psychoa- malized during the UISPP Congress in Floria- nalysts, educators, sociologists, semio- nopolis, Brazil, in 2011, setting new horizons ticians, philosophers and historians, we for human sciences. It was decided to make all wish to face questions which a sha- of the newly proposed discipline, conceptual red commitment can help clarify. The anthropology, a concern of the International meeting of different disciplines offers a Scientific Committee on The Intellectual and wider dimension of knowledge and gre- Spiritual Expressions of Non-Literate Societies ater capacity for analysis and synthesis. (UISPP-CISNEP). The goal of this new disci- Faced with the fashion of extreme spe- pline is to understand human behaviour and cialization, which risks reducing scholars cultural trends, recurring and isolated pheno- to technicians, conceptual anthropology mena, predictable and unpredictable evolu- goes against the tide. No doubt techni- tion and change, not only in technology, but cians are needed, but we seek a cultural also in social, intellectual and spiritual life. It vision and broad overview in the com- is a permanent journey of discovery and emo- mon work of the humanities and social tions. sciences. Let technicians and intellectuals Each discipline has its own memory as the ba- be aware of their different roles, let them sis of research and the advancement of the di- do their own jobs and then enrich each scipline itself. Combining disciplines is also a other through the joint dialogue. union of memories for a broader base of resear- Research has a real social function when ch and culture. Today media replace technical it produces culture. When culture is cre- and historical memory. But the human mind’s ative and innovative, it promotes the insights and associations are still irreplace- growth of intellect and stimulates new able. Our being and our actions are rooted in thought. The dialogue is open to all disci- the memory. When we err, we often owe it to plines of the humanities and social scien- our memory blurring. When we reach positive ces as well as to those who do not identi- results, it is because we have made good use fy themselves with any specific discipline of our memory. We do not refer to electronic or who just want to listen. Each listener is memory but to the one expressed in intuition a potential transmitter of ideas and ideas and discovery, the memory that springs from grow and spread not only through tho- the deep well of our psyche. se who produce them, but also through Every being, like every discipline, focuses on those who listen. The dialogue does not certain aspects of memory and neglects others. stop and is a source of growth and en- Together, various disciplines and various cul- richment, and also of cooperation and tures share wider dimensions of memory. friendship. Research is a provocative, sti- Such approach offers an immense contribu- mulating and inspiring source of aware- tion to the study of the intellectual and spiri- ness. You are welcome to join. tual expressions of non-literate peoples. JUNE 2016 3 The present world crisis is a cultural crisis, - passport standard photo; - letter of pre- a crisis of values and wisdom that has eco- sentation or recommendation from a uni- nomic, social and political consequences. versity professor or a previous employer. Reviving the role of culture is our modest Applications should be addressed by joint effort to contribute to overcoming the email to: crisis. [email protected] APPRENTICESHIP IN CONCEPTUAL LEARNING TO BE AN EDITOR ANTHROPOLOGY Readers interested in learning editorial The apprenticeship, under the guidance work may apply for three months’ edito- of Prof. Emmanuel Anati, may last from a rial training at EXPRESSION Quarterly minimum of two months to a maximum of Magazine. Skills required: perfect know- one year. It grants the apprentice the title ledge of the English language; ability to of research assistant. The apprenticeship is manage various relevant computer pro- oriented to the acquisition of practical ope- grams; ability in public relations; special rational abilities and conceptual formation; interest in anthropology and archeology. it includes participation in research, edi- For applications or further information, torial activities, compilation, organization please address a letter showing your inte- and layout of exhibitions and publications, rest, including a copy of an identity docu- arrangement and cataloguing of ethnolo- ment, to: [email protected]. gical collections, planning of cultural and scientific projects. Traditional learning as an accumulation POSITION FOR ASSISTANT of theoretical notions is enhanced by ap- CURATOR OF ETHNOGRAPHY plying the notions in practical activities, learning to do by doing. Graduate students in anthropology and During active presence in the Camoni- ethnography are given the opportuni- ca Valley, the student will have access to ty of training as curator of ethnography. self-catering accommodation on campus, The engagement consists in classifying at a student fee. Preference is given to old ethnographic collections of art objects graduates and other seriously motivated from Oceania and Africa. The expected young people with knowledge of the En- result is the compilation of a catalogue glish language and operational abilities of a given collection, eventually to be on a database. Application in an informal published under the name of the com- letter should specify the motivations and piler. The successful experience gives skills of the candidate and be accompanied the apprentice two important addi- by: curriculum vitae; - copy of record of tions to the curriculum: the publication studies; - copy of identity card or passport; of a scientific work and the position of 4 EXPRESSION N° 12 “Assistant Curator” for the period of A NOTE ABOUT THE PRESENT time of his/her engagement.