Marvels of Everyday Vision... by Jeremy Coote

Coote states “There is, it is true, probably no society that has no art-form at all, but there are certainly societies with no visual art traditions.” This being said, he analyzes the cattle-keeping Nilotes (Nuer, Dinka, Atuot, and Mandari) of Southern Sudan and East Africa and their visions of aesthetics. “Cattle are not just a food source, but a central factor in all aspects of their social and cultural activities, being used to mediate social relationships through the institutions of bridewealth and bloodwealth, as well as to mediate man’s relationship with God through their roles as sacrificial victims (pg.137).” The perceptual qualities of cattle are very different from anything the Western world could think of. Three main characteristics of the cattle are given most importance: the color, the glossy hide, and the horn shape. These characteristics are not only seen as qualities of the cattle themselves, but are used as terminologies and analogies for people and things alike. The qualities of cattle are seen as art and aesthetics itself. One line sums up their view of cattle: “cattle are primarily a feast for the eyes, and only secondarily a feast for the stomach.”
Because the Nilotes’ entire livelihood depends on their cattle, children grow up knowing everything about them. Cattle characteristics play a role in every part of society, whether it is dance, clothing, color schemes, or architecture.
Although this article was to summarize the value of aesthetics among a particular group of people in Africa, it served a greater purpose. This article showed that aesthetics are not the same everywhere. One’s own sense of beauty comes from whatever he or she grew up with. Also, mere descriptive words come from wherever the person grew up and what he or she is comparing the thing to.