Final answer:
The consideration of Egypt as a Middle Eastern society rather than an African one has led to issues in art history, including a Eurocentric perspective that isolates Egyptian art from the rest of Africa and a racist narrative that downplayed the abilities of African civilizations. Modern scholars and artists are working to reintegrate Egypt into the context of African culture and history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Problems in the Search for the World's Original Art
The search for the world's original art presents several problems when Egypt is considered as part of Middle Eastern society rather than as an integral component of the African continent. One significant issue is the historical tendency of art history to study Egypt as a precursor to Greek, Roman, and European art. This Eurocentric perspective has led to Egypt being isolated from the art of the rest of Africa, despite its geographical location and potential cultural ties with African neighbors.
Such isolation stemmed from a racist belief that sub-Saharan Africans could not have produced a sophisticated civilization like that of ancient Egypt. This perspective justified the violent transatlantic slave trade, by suggesting that African civilizations were inferior. Furthermore, European colonizers often appropriated African art, devaluing it and viewing it as curiosities rather than true art, which resulted in a disruption of African cultural heritage and histories.
On the other hand, modern scholars and artists of the African diaspora are working to reclaim and recontextualize Egyptian art as part of the broader African cultural narrative. By recognizing the shared cultural traits and rejecting outdated Eurocentric viewpoints, the artistic heritage and history of Egypt are being reintegrated into the African context, contributing to a more representative and inclusive understanding of the history of the world's original art.