AFRICAN ARTS

Scope & Guideline

Bridging Disciplines in African Literary and Visual Arts

Introduction

Welcome to your portal for understanding AFRICAN ARTS, featuring guidelines for its aims and scope. Our guidelines cover trending and emerging topics, identifying the forefront of research. Additionally, we track declining topics, offering insights into areas experiencing reduced scholarly attention. Key highlights include highly cited topics and recently published papers, curated within these guidelines to assist you in navigating influential academic dialogues.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0001-9933
PublisherMIT PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2002 to 2024
AbbreviationAFR ARTS / Afr. Arts
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressONE ROGERS ST, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02142-1209

Aims and Scopes

The journal 'African Arts' serves as a pivotal platform for the exploration and dissemination of scholarly work related to African art and culture. Its aims and scopes reflect a commitment to understanding the multifaceted nature of African artistic expressions, their historical contexts, and their global impacts.
  1. Interdisciplinary Approaches to African Art:
    The journal embraces a variety of disciplines, including history, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, to provide a comprehensive understanding of African art and its significance.
  2. Decolonization and Cultural Heritage:
    A consistent focus is placed on the decolonization of art narratives, addressing colonial legacies and advocating for the restitution of cultural artifacts.
  3. Contemporary and Traditional Art Forms:
    The journal covers both contemporary and traditional African art, exploring how these forms interact, influence, and inform each other.
  4. Art as a Social Commentary:
    Research often emphasizes the role of art in social, political, and economic contexts, analyzing how artistic practices reflect and respond to societal challenges.
  5. Global Perspectives on African Art:
    The journal also highlights the global implications of African art, including diasporic influences and the intersection of African art with international art movements.
The journal 'African Arts' has seen a rise in the exploration of several trending and emerging themes in recent years, reflecting evolving societal dynamics and academic interests. These themes highlight the journal's responsiveness to contemporary issues and its commitment to fostering innovative discourse.
  1. Intersection of Art and Technology:
    Recent publications increasingly address the intersection of art and technology, particularly in the context of AI and digital media, reflecting the changing landscape of artistic production.
  2. Fashion and Identity:
    There is a growing emphasis on fashion as an art form and its role in identity formation, particularly within African and diasporic communities, highlighting the cultural significance of clothing.
  3. Queer Perspectives in African Art:
    Emerging themes include queer identities and expressions in African art, signaling a broader recognition of diverse narratives and experiences within the artistic discourse.
  4. Community and Social Engagement:
    A trend towards examining the role of art in community building and social activism is evident, as scholars increasingly explore how art practices contribute to social change.
  5. Environmental and Ecological Art:
    The journal is also witnessing a rise in themes related to environmental issues and sustainability, reflecting the global urgency of ecological concerns within the context of African art.

Declining or Waning

While 'African Arts' continues to evolve, certain themes that were once prominent in its publications appear to be waning in frequency and emphasis. This decline may reflect broader shifts in academic focus or changing societal contexts.
  1. Traditional Art Forms Exclusively:
    There has been a noticeable decline in the focus on purely traditional art forms without contextual analysis. The recent trend favors a more integrated approach that connects traditional practices with contemporary issues.
  2. Art Historical Narratives Without Decolonial Perspectives:
    Previous discussions centered solely on art historical narratives are diminishing, as there is a growing demand for decolonial perspectives that challenge Eurocentric frameworks.
  3. Singular Cultural Contexts:
    The journal seems to be moving away from papers that analyze African art in isolation from global influences, as interdisciplinary and comparative analyses gain traction.
  4. Focus on Individual Artists:
    While individual artist studies remain significant, there is a shift towards collective movements and broader cultural phenomena, reducing the frequency of isolated artist profiles.

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