Final answer:
Anthropologists study three major types of artistic expression: visual, literary, and body art, using ethnographic and other anthropological methods to understand the cultural contexts and significances of these art forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anthropologists study art through ethnographic studies, physical anthropology, and archaeology, examining how art operates within cultural contexts. Three major types of artistic expression studied by anthropologists are visual art, including both monumental works like cave paintings and portable items like jewelry; literary art, which encompasses forms of writing and storytelling; and body art, including tattoos, piercings, and body modifications, each with its own cultural significance. The anthropological approach to understanding art addresses the holistic experience of human creativity and expression, investigating the intended application of imagination, skill, and creativity within a cultural framework.
By observing and participating in cultural activities, utilizing methods such as observation, interviews, focus groups, and site assessments, anthropologists gain insight into the diverse ways that different societies produce and interact with art. Investigating the relationship between cultural expression and memory, understanding the symbolic meanings behind art forms, and considering how art and music are learned and produced are all essential to the anthropological study of artistic expression.