THE (DYS)FUNCTION OF ART IN ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY EGYPT: RELIGION, IDENTITY AND MIND

Abstract

This paper will examine the functions and dysfunctions of art in ancient times and modern societies from an artistic perspective. It will focus on the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt as well as on contemporary Egypt (post revolution). It will give historical context to specific examples of identity expression in art and use modern language to explore both ancient and modern artistic expressions in Egypt. The paper will make correlations between narratives in the ancient and modern worlds through specific examples of visual art and how it was used as a channel for both mourning and liberation. Using Ancient and modern Egyptian mortuary artwork, this paper explores these correlations in the ancient and contemporary societies based on the examination of visual and textual contexts from both periods. This examination of mortuary art analyzes the purposes of these different types of mortuary works to determine their functionality or dysfunctionality, demonstrating the vulnerabilities of self-expression through art as a result of religion and politics. These findings show the effects of religion and politics on identity in Egypt and how it has been used beneficially to society and individuals as well as detrimentally throughout Egypt’s history.