The Death of Authentic Primitive Art

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In this insightful and engaging book, Shelly Errington presents the argument that Primitive Art emerged as a distinct art form in the early twentieth century, only to face a complex demise by the century's end. She contends that the concepts of authenticity and primitivism have been undermined by cultural critics, leading to their conceptual death. Concurrently, the influence of nation-states, tourism, and transnational corporations has drastically diminished the availability of "primitive art," marking a second "death." Errington emphasizes that the notion of the primitive, as constructed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, is tied to narratives of progress—ranging from European technological advancements to modernism and the late-century rise of the free market. In the first part, she provocatively navigates through museums, art theorists, and tourism, offering a historical perspective on the evolving meanings of primitive art. The second part examines various public sites in Mexico and Indonesia, such as a national museum and a cultural theme park, illustrating how the concept of the primitive can serve nationalism and economic growth. Errington's analysis of progress and primitivism in contemporary society provides a lively introduction to anthropological studies of art institutions and significantly contributes to the field of cultural studies.