GHANAIAN TRADITIONAL MYTHS AN EXPRESSION THROUGH SELECTED SCULPTURES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Overview
This chapter discusses the background to the study. Specifically explains the problem under exploration; present the purpose, the objectives of the study, research questions, study areas, significance of the study, definitions of terms as well as the organization of the study.
1.1 Background to the study
Art is deeply engaged with the subject of myth. Since the beginning of humankind 's existence, there have been lots of mind blowing questions which man over the time have tried to explain and yet haven’t found a perfect answer to fit a particular question, questions such as: Who made the world? How will it end? Where do we come from? Who was the first human? What happens when we die? are answered by myths.
Myths are stories which are believed to have happened but lacking concrete evidence that they did. Myth has been the measure and channel through which our great ancestors tried to explain the nature and the characteristics of this world comprising of how things in this world are the way they are (World myths & Legends in Art 2013).
Long ago societies all over the world devised myths which placed emphasis on creation and how this world came into existence assigning various stories to it. Since people were often isolated from each other, most myths evolved independently, but the various myths are surprisingly similar, in particular creation myths. Over time, one version of a myth would become the accepted standard that was passed down from one generation to the other, first through story-telling, and then, much later, set down in written form. Inevitably myths became part of systems of religion, and were integrated into rituals and ceremonies, which made use of sculpting, painting, music, dancing and magic (Alan 1995)
1.2 Statement of the Problem
According to interviews granted by craftsmen of Ahwia carving village it was revealed that, the existence of myths in Ghanaian sculpture works going through a hard time
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Overview
This chapter discusses the background to the study. Specifically explains the problem under exploration; present the purpose, the objectives of the study, research questions, study areas, significance of the study, definitions of terms as well as the organization of the study.
1.1 Background to the study
Art is deeply engaged with the subject of myth. Since the beginning of humankind 's existence, there have been lots of mind blowing questions which man over the time have tried to explain and yet haven’t found a perfect answer to fit a particular question, questions such as: Who made the world? How will it end? Where do we come from? Who was the first human? What happens when we die? are answered by myths.
Myths are stories which are believed to have happened but lacking concrete evidence that they did. Myth has been the measure and channel through which our great ancestors tried to explain the nature and the characteristics of this world comprising of how things in this world are the way they are (World myths & Legends in Art 2013).
Long ago societies all over the world devised myths which placed emphasis on creation and how this world came into existence assigning various stories to it. Since people were often isolated from each other, most myths evolved independently, but the various myths are surprisingly similar, in particular creation myths. Over time, one version of a myth would become the accepted standard that was passed down from one generation to the other, first through story-telling, and then, much later, set down in written form. Inevitably myths became part of systems of religion, and were integrated into rituals and ceremonies, which made use of sculpting, painting, music, dancing and magic (Alan 1995)
1.2 Statement of the Problem
According to interviews granted by craftsmen of Ahwia carving village it was revealed that, the existence of myths in Ghanaian sculpture works going through a hard time
References: According to Allen (1995), the functions of myths are categorized into four (4) sets which are; i 2.5 Art and Myth Allen (1995) testifies to the fact that; the relationship between myth and art are known only by virtue of the fact that they were narrated and also became part of a written tradition Every ethnic group worldwide has their own mythological stories. These mythological stories are the basic for their very existence and make them unique; what they are, where they are now and what they have before and where they are going (Boaduo, 2010). The four (4) functions assigned to myths according to Campbell, 1998; Courlander, 1996; Gati, 1994 (as cited in Boaduo 2010) are; i