![]() | Mistaking Africa: Misconceptions and Inventions Subjects: Area Studies; Humanities; Social Sciences; African Studies; Cultural Studies; Media & Film Studies; History; Anthropology - Soc Sci; African Culture and Society; African History; African History; Social & Cultural Anthropology; For many in the west, the mention of Africa immediately conjures up images of safaris, ferocious animals, sparsely dressed "tribesmen," and impenetrable jungles. Newspaper headlines rarely touch on Africa, but when they do, they often mention authoritarian rule, corruption, genocide, devastating illnesses, or civil war. Advertising, movies, amusement parks, cartoons, and many other corners of society all convey strong mental images of the continent that together form a collective consciousness. Few think to question these perceptions or how they came to be so deeply lodged in western minds. Curtis Keim is Professor Emeritus of History at Moravian College. He is a recipient of the College's Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and he is coauthor of African Reflections: Art from Northeastern Zaire and coeditor of The Scramble for Art in Central Africa. |
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