Warriors of the Plains: The Arts of Plains Indian Warfare (Artistic Traditions in World Cultures) - Softcover

Carocci, Max

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714125970 ISBN 13: 9780714125978

Publisher: British Museum Press, 2012

Synopsis

"Warriors of the Plains" explores the art of North American Plains Indian warriors - weapons, amulets, clothing and ceremonial objects - with particular emphasis on their ritual use and symbolic meanings. Unlike most books on Plains Indians, which have a purely historical focus, this title examines continuity and change between historic warrior societies and contemporary Native American military associations. Originally set up as clubs to organise war raids and to police seasonal cycles of nomadic hunting, warrior societies today maintain much of the Plains Indians' ethos, vigorously reinforcing their cultural, national and ethnic identity. With a new approach to the subject the author reveals how specific items and symbols - objects of 'ritual and honour' - such as the American flag, eagle feathers and medicine bundles have been used over the last 200 years, as well as exploring the introduction of new elements in modern ceremonial practices such as powwow dance competitions and war veterans' celebrations. Lavishly illustrated with objects from the British Museum's important collections, as well as archival material, this book features previously unpublished material. Max Carocci has been conducting research on Plains Indians since 1989. Since 2006 he has been researching and collecting in this area for the British Museum and is the curator of the touring exhibition 'Warriors of the Plains: 200 years of Native North American honour and ritual'. He lectures on Indigenous American Arts at Birkbeck College, University of London and is editor of the Anthropological Index Online run by the Royal Anthropological Institute.

About this title

Product Description

Warriors of the Plains is a survey of the history of North American Plains Indian warrior societies and their ongoing legacy, examining continuity and change between historic societies and contemporary military associations. It explores the art of North American Plains Indian warriors – weapons, amulets, clothing and ceremonial objects – with particular emphasis on their ritual use and symbolic meanings.

A fresh approach to the subject, integrating history, anthropology and personal narratives, this volume is generously illustrated with objects from the British Museum's collection, as well as archival and modern photographs and much previously unpublished material.

The author: Max Carocci is a project curator at the British Museum and has been conducting research with Plains Indians since 1989.

About the Author

Max Carocci has been conducting research on Plains Indians since 1989; since 2006 he has been researching and collecting in this area for the British Museum and is currently curating an exhibition on this topic.

About this edition

• Publisher: British Museum Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0714125970
• ISBN 13: 9780714125978
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160