Class
Article
College
Caine College of the Arts
Department
Art and Design Department
Faculty Mentor
Marissa Vigneault
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Travel to any southwestern tourist destination and one image will seem to appear everywhere: that of the humpbacked flute player, commonly called “Kokopelli.” Appearing in rock art spanning at least 5 states, the image has met with many different interpretations. The oral traditions and lack of written language of ancestral people means any definitive interpretation of this image and its relation to ancient culture is problematic. There are several key points, however, that are helpful to shaping our understanding. The presence of flutes in the early Basketmaker and Pueblo cultures is well documented, and their precise tonalities suggest the presence of complex melodies. Modern flute ceremonies are carried on today by descendants of these ancient Puebloans, the Hopi, using similar flutes. Modern symbols and legends of the Hopi are useful as a lens through which to study these ancestral Puebloans. In addition, records from early colonizers in the Southwest provide another context of understanding. However, the symbol of the flute player extends beyond Puebloan territories, so other factors must be considered. There is some evidence to support the existence of trade with Pre-Colombian people, and given the variety of images designated as “flute players,” it is likely that the symbol meant a lot of things to a lot of different people. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-12-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Flutes of the American Southwest
Logan, UT
Travel to any southwestern tourist destination and one image will seem to appear everywhere: that of the humpbacked flute player, commonly called “Kokopelli.” Appearing in rock art spanning at least 5 states, the image has met with many different interpretations. The oral traditions and lack of written language of ancestral people means any definitive interpretation of this image and its relation to ancient culture is problematic. There are several key points, however, that are helpful to shaping our understanding. The presence of flutes in the early Basketmaker and Pueblo cultures is well documented, and their precise tonalities suggest the presence of complex melodies. Modern flute ceremonies are carried on today by descendants of these ancient Puebloans, the Hopi, using similar flutes. Modern symbols and legends of the Hopi are useful as a lens through which to study these ancestral Puebloans. In addition, records from early colonizers in the Southwest provide another context of understanding. However, the symbol of the flute player extends beyond Puebloan territories, so other factors must be considered. There is some evidence to support the existence of trade with Pre-Colombian people, and given the variety of images designated as “flute players,” it is likely that the symbol meant a lot of things to a lot of different people. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.