This class studies the intersection of anthropology, art and material culture focusing on Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Our objective is to recognize and understand art in a cross-cultural context. We will examine the specific historical events that have propelled Indigenous Australian art from relative obscurity to global recognition over the past fifty years. A survey of the broad scope of Indigenous Australian art will encompass the styles, techniques and meanings that distinguish regional art forms and introduce the major artists of each area. Our study will include the art of urban-based artists and contemporary expressions of identity and politics seen in their art. Additional topics include aesthetics, tradition and innovation, the art market, appropriation and copyright, the politics of curatorial practice and art criticism. Students will conduct research using the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection and Study Center.