The Commonality of Humans through Art

THE COMMONALITY OF HUMANS THROUGH ART: HOW ART CONNECTSMANKIND THROUGH THE AGES explores how art has linked different culturesover the past 30,000 years. Organized thematically rather than chronologically orgeographically, it traces how all humans are connected from birth to death.Ten leading scholars offer essays on how the language of art has been used by culturesto explain human behavior. The book begins with a discussion of the brain and art,aesthetics and human cultures, and creation myths. With these important subjects as afoundation, it moves into explorations of lived experiences: motherhoodand the family,the world around us, conflict and warfare, portraying ourselves and others, sicknessand healing, religion and rituals, and death. Each chapter is illustrated by outstandingartworks showing the commonality between cultures as they expressed their lives totheir own people and those who followed them.The essays are written to the lay reader so the book can be a beautiful showcase on acoffee-table, an important art reference book in a library, or an introductory textbook inarchaeology,cultural anthropology, and art history classes.