Art

Choice A. Did you know that many tribal cultures have no word for art or artist?

Without words for art is it still possible to create and appreciate art?

An example of a tribal culture without a word for Art is Bali. In Bali, activities such as painting are closely connected to religious ritual. I think that this changes the artists purposes in creating art. Rather than trying to make something for the sake of art, they are simply participating in religious ritual. Because of their purpose, I would not call the things they create as art. However, I think it is possible for us to create statues and paintings just like theirs and call them art, because our purpose would be different. Or, if we found ancient artifacts of their creations we could call them art because they would no longer be fulfilling their purposes. 

I definitely think it is possible for these tribes to appreciate art though. If they saw something man-made for the purpose of art and admired it, they would be appreciating art. Because their creations are used for specific purposes though, they may not appreciate "non-practical" art as much as their own creations. They might see our art as useless.

In such communities does art have a different function or role within the society?

Yes, in Bali it has religious functions.

To what extent then is "art" a culturally relative term?

I guess I wouldn't call art a culturally relative term.