Sculpture - Race Experts: Sculpture, Anthropology, and the American Public in Malvina Hoffman's Races of Mankind (Critical Studies in the History of Anthropology)

Race Experts: Sculpture, Anthropology, and the American Public in Malvina Hoffman's Races of Mankind (Critical Studies in the History of Anthropology)

Name: Race Experts: Sculpture, Anthropology, and the American Public in Malvina Hoffman's Races of Mankind (Critical Studies in the History of Anthropology)
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4.7 of 5 Stars: Sculpture - Race Experts: Sculpture, Anthropology, and the American Public in Malvina Hoffman's Races of Mankind (Critical Studies in the History of Anthropology)

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Book Synopsis: 2019 Finalist for the Charles Rufus Morey Book Award from the CAA Charles C. Eldredge Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in American Art from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

In Race Experts Linda Kim examines the complicated and ambivalent role played by sculptor Malvina Hoffman in The Races of Mankind series created for the Chicago Field Museum in 1930. Although Hoffman had training in fine arts and was a protégé of Auguste Rodin and Ivan Meštrović, she had no background in anthropology or museum exhibits. She was nonetheless commissioned by the Field Museum to make a series of life-size sculptures for the museum’s new racial exhibition, which became the largest exhibit on race ever installed in a museum and one of the largest sculptural commissions ever undertaken by a single artist. Hoffman’s Races of Mankind exhibit was realized as a series of 104 bronzes of racial types from around the world, a unique visual mediation between anthropological expertise and everyday ideas about race in interwar America. Kim explores how the artist brought scientific understandings of race and the everyday racial attitudes of museum visitors together in powerful and productive friction. The exhibition compelled the artist to incorporate not only the expertise of racial science and her own artistic training but also the popular ideas about race that ordinary Americans brought to the museum. Kim situates the Races of Mankind exhibit at the juncture of these different forms of racial expertise and examines how the sculptures represented the messy resolutions between them.
Race Experts is a compelling story of ideological contradiction and accommodation within the racial practices of American museums, artists, and audiences.

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Discover a captivating exploration of American history and art with the acclaimed book Race Experts: Sculpture, Anthropology, and the American Public in Malvina Hoffman's Races of Mankind. Linda Kim delves deep into the complex world of sculptor Malvina Hoffman, unveiling the mesmerizing journey of Hoffman as she created the iconic Races of Mankind series for the Chicago Field Museum in 1930. Dive into this rich narrative that intertwines art, anthropology, and the American public, offering a unique perspective on race and cultural representation.

Unveil the secrets behind one of the largest sculptural commissions ever undertaken by a single artist with Race Experts. Linda Kim expertly navigates the intricate role played by Malvina Hoffman in bringing to life the 104 bronzes of racial types from around the world for the Field Museum's groundbreaking racial exhibition. Be captivated by the unique blend of artistic vision, scientific knowledge, and societal attitudes that converged in the Races of Mankind exhibit, creating a monumental display that continues to fascinate and provoke thought.

Immerse yourself in the compelling narrative of Race Experts, a finalist for prestigious awards like the Charles Rufus Morey Book Award and the Charles C. Eldredge Prize. Linda Kim skillfully weaves together the threads of art, history, and racial discourse, offering readers a profound and thought-provoking exploration of American racial practices. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, anthropology, and cultural representation in the context of interwar America.

Experience the powerful fusion of artistry and history with Race Experts today. Uncover a world of artistic brilliance, cultural reflection, and societal challenges as you delve into the pages of this award-nominated masterpiece. Don't miss your chance to journey through the intricate tapestry of race and representation with Linda Kim's insightful analysis. Take the first step towards enlightenment and order your copy now!

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