Final answer:
Okwonko's life in 'Things Fall Apart' is deeply influenced by his societal context, including Igbo traditions and colonial pressures. The Kano School's art reflects this idea of societal influence in a different cultural context, reinforcing social structures through visual representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Okwonko's life in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart is, in many ways, shaped by his broader social context, which includes the traditions and expectations of his Igbo culture as well as the external pressures of colonialism felt during his lifetime. This external influence is especially important when Okwonko deals with the arrival of European colonizers and the changes they bring to his society, challenging his way of life and personal identity. For instance, his zealous adherence to traditional Igbo masculinity is a reaction to his father's perceived weakness and failure, which motivates Okwonko's insistence on strength and success. This is put to the test when colonial forces disrupt his society's status quo, leading to his tragic downfall.
Another example from a different cultural context is how the Kano School of painting established itself as a significant institution during the Momoyama period in Japan with Eitoku's style, which successfully represented power and authority that aligned with the ruling class's desire to project wealth and control. Just as Okwonko's life is entwined with external societal forces, the Kano School's art served to reinforce social hierarchies within its cultural framework. Additionally, the widespread and enduring resonance of Things Fall Apart across various cultures suggests that the story of Okwonko and his challenges within a rapidly changing society strikes a universal chord. This is evidenced by Chinua Achebe's account of receiving letters from students in South Korea who found parallels between the narrative of colonial impact in Nigeria and their country's history of colonization by Japan.