{"product_id":"9780253000415","title":"A Bird Dance near Saturday City: Sidi Ballo and the Art of West African Masquerade","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1978, Patrick McNaughton witnessed a bird dance masquerade in the\u003cbr\u003e small town of Dogoduman. He was so affected by this performance that its dazzling\u003cbr\u003e artistic power has never left him. As he revisits that very special evening in A\u003cbr\u003e Bird Dance near Saturday City, McNaughton carefully considers the components of the\u003cbr\u003e performance, its pace, the performers, and what the entire experience means for\u003cbr\u003e understandings of Bamana and West African aesthetics and culture. The performance of\u003cbr\u003e virtuoso dancer Sidi Ballo becomes McNaughton's vehicle for understanding the power\u003cbr\u003e of individuals in African art and the power of aesthetics as a cultural phenomenon.\u003cbr\u003e Topics such as what makes art effective, what makes it \"good,\" how production is\u003cbr\u003e wrapped in individual virtuosity, and what individual artistry suggests about\u003cbr\u003e society reveal how individuals work together to create the indelible experience of\u003cbr\u003e outstanding performance. This exuberant and captivating book will influence views of\u003cbr\u003e society, culture, art, history, and their makers in West Africa for years to\u003cbr\u003e come.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Indiana University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47120362766576,"sku":"9780253000415","price":21.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780253000415","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}