In modern research of the Central Mexican manuscripts, the Codex Laud has always remained in a position of obscurity. Barely a handful of comprehensive studies of this codex have been published...Show moreIn modern research of the Central Mexican manuscripts, the Codex Laud has always remained in a position of obscurity. Barely a handful of comprehensive studies of this codex have been published over the past century. Mostly, the Codex Laud is only mentioned briefly in studies of other divinatory codices, and simply regarded as one of the Borgia Group codices, often serving as material for comparison with the other codices of this group. As such, a closer look at this codex is warranted. In this thesis, a single page of the Codex Laud takes the centre stage: page 23, the second-to-last page of the codex, which features a complex composition of calendrical and various other elements around a single central figure. This page forms the subject for a detailed analysis using the iconographical method of Panofsky in order to gain insight into the various layers of meaning hidden within its imagery. In this manner, this thesis will attempt to do what the ancient Mexican diviners did – to determine the associations and meaning(s) of the page in all its aspects and contexts.Show less
This thesis aims to investigate and analyse the ways in which Ancient Maya sculpture at Yaxchilan may have been perceived in the past. Contemporary Maya worldview has been used comparatively to...Show moreThis thesis aims to investigate and analyse the ways in which Ancient Maya sculpture at Yaxchilan may have been perceived in the past. Contemporary Maya worldview has been used comparatively to understand how different peoples can interpret and understand material culture, such as the stelas of Yaxchilan. The author has used knowledge and information gained through his own time spent in Mesoamerica in 2011, and especially ethnographic data collected on the contemporary Maya by a variety of scholars in the 20th Century to analyse this sculpture in a way that not been attempted before. Additionally, the role and value of ethnographical data is also discussed at some length.Show less
In this thesis the Classic Maya city of Aguateca is reconstructed using Unity3D. This city, which had a very short lifespan, was nevertheless the home to a royal family which came from the nearby...Show moreIn this thesis the Classic Maya city of Aguateca is reconstructed using Unity3D. This city, which had a very short lifespan, was nevertheless the home to a royal family which came from the nearby city of Dos Pilas when the situation for them appeared to have become more hostile. The walls that were later built in Aguateca and are also shown in the 3D model are evidence of the hostility in the area. The main features in the 3D model are the Main Plaza, the Palace Group and the Causeway that connects the two. The Main Plaza is separated from the Causeway and Palace Group by a deep chasm. This model was created to serve as a scene in which kingship ritual was probably performed to bind the populace of the city to the reigning king. This thesis follows the article on ritual performance by Inomata (2006) in regards to this theory. While the ritual itself is not given form in the scene, various preliminary conclusions based on the visibility in the scene indicate a high probability for such rituals to have taken place.Show less
Through the process of cultural ruination, the ancestral cult of the Inka was supposedly lost in exchange for Christian funerary practices. Though there is an outward façade of acculturation in...Show moreThrough the process of cultural ruination, the ancestral cult of the Inka was supposedly lost in exchange for Christian funerary practices. Though there is an outward façade of acculturation in relation to the treatment of death during the Colonial Era in Cusco, Peru, all was not lost. This particular study suggests that through the introduction of Western artistic media, the colonial Inka were able to maintain aspects of their pre-Hispanic belief system. Specifically, this thesis argues that there are distinct parallels between the way the Inka mummies and the practice dynastic portrait paintings that was adopted during the late 16th century.Show less
This thesis puts the topic of community museums into the light of museology, museum ethics and indigenous human rights. In order to achieve this, the first thing that is looked at is the...Show moreThis thesis puts the topic of community museums into the light of museology, museum ethics and indigenous human rights. In order to achieve this, the first thing that is looked at is the traditional public museum. Then a history and definition of the community museum is given. Museum ethics is discussed after that. Human rights of indigenous peoples are discussed at some length and through this a solid basis for the indigenous claims to their own heritage is established. After this, four case studies of community museums in Mexico are discussed. In the last part practice and theory are combined and the research question, how can community museums in Mexio profit from and contribute to museology, museum ethics and indigenous human rights debates?, are answered. There is also a section on the responsibility of local and foreign scientists and professionals towards indigenous communities and community museums.Show less
