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The Narrative Approach to Moche Iconography

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jeffrey Quilter
Jeffrey Quilter*
Affiliation:
Pre-Columbian Studies, Dumbarton Oaks, 1703 32nd Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20007-2934
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Abstract

This paper develops ideas first presented in "The Moche Revolt of the Objects" (Quilter 1990). It suggests that while the thematic approach to Moche iconography is useful, application of an approach that assumes that the themes are segments of a narrative will increase our understanding of the myths behind Moche art. After discussing the basis on which narrative may be inferred from art, the narrative approach is applied to demonstrate how known Moche artistic themes may be placed in sequence. Some previous uncertainties regarding iconographic figures are resolved, and part of the Moche mythic corpus is presented.

Se desarrollan ideas presentadas anteriormente en "La revuelta Moche de los objetos" (Quilter 1990). Aunque el método de análisis temático (thematic approach) de la iconografía Moche es útil, un método que supone que los temas son segmentos de una narrativa aumenta nuestro entendimiento de los mitos inherentes en el arte Moche. Después de una discusión de los asuntos de cómo se indentifica la narrativa en el arte, se aplica el sistema narrativo (narrative approach) para demostrar cómo se pueden ordenar en serie los conocidos temas artísticos Moche. Se resuelven algunas incertidumbres anteriores con respecto a unas figuras iconográficas y se presenta una parte del corpus mítico Moche.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , June 1997 , pp. 113 - 133
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1997

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