| ancestral representations | Art objects constructed to give form to and preserve human history and commemorate ancestors' histories and wisdom. |
| belief systems | Organized sets of religious, spiritual, or philosophical ideas that guide how a culture understands the world and conducts itself. |
| colonialism | The historical practice of establishing political and economic control over other territories and peoples, whose waning through independence movements has influenced global art production and representation. |
| commerce | Trade and economic exchange between different regions and cultures. |
| complementarity | In Pacific societies, the understanding that seemingly divergent forces or roles work together to maintain social balance and order. |
| cultural patterns | Recurring themes, practices, and characteristics that are shared and transmitted across societies and regions. |
| cultural practices | The customs, rituals, and traditional activities of a society that are reflected in and inform artistic and architectural creation. |
| duality | In Pacific social relations, the expression of balance between opposing forces or circumstances necessary for social harmony. |
| exchange of objects | The trade and sharing of material goods and cultural items between different peoples and regions. |
| external influences | Cultural, economic, and social forces from outside a region that affect local art and society. |
| feather capes | Garments worn by Hawaiian rulers that announce their status and shield them from contact. |
| intended audience | The specific group of people for whom an artwork is created, which influences the artist's choices in form, content, and presentation. |
| Lapita culture | An ancient Pacific culture whose people migrated eastward across the region beginning 4,000 years ago, characterized by distinctive pottery and patterns of settlement and exchange. |
| mana | In Pacific cultures, one's vital force, identity, or strength that is expressed and protected through rules, prohibitions, wrapping, or shielding practices; also associated with communities and leaders who represent their peoples. |
| masks | Carved or constructed face coverings worn in African performances and rituals to embody spirits, ancestors, or characters. |
| migration | The movement of peoples across geographical regions, often involving the transport of plants, animals, cultural practices, and objects. |
| missionary activity | Religious outreach and conversion efforts by missionaries that introduce new beliefs and cultural practices to indigenous populations. |
| Nan Madol | A residential and ceremonial complex of human-made islets in Micronesia constructed under the command of Saudeleur Dynasty rulers. |
| navigation | The practice and expertise of directing ocean-going vessels across the sea, including the creation of charts and devices to guide exploration and sailing. |
| ocean-going vessels | Ships and boats designed and built to travel across vast ocean distances, capable of carrying families and communities across the Pacific. |
| Papuan-speaking peoples | Indigenous populations of Papua New Guinea and surrounding regions who speak Papuan languages and migrated across a land bridge connecting Asia and Australia approximately 30,000 years ago. |
| patron | A person or institution that commissions, funds, or supports the creation of an artwork, thereby influencing its purpose and content. |
| physical setting | The geographic location, environment, and landscape that influences the creation and function of art. |
| reciprocity | A cultural value in Andean societies emphasizing mutual exchange and interdependence between individuals and communities. |
| ritual dress | Clothing worn in ceremonial contexts that encase and shield the focus of power from human interaction. |
| sacred ceremonial spaces | Designated spaces created by Pacific societies that announce and contain their legitimacy, power, and life force. |
| sheathing | A protective covering practice in Pacific arts used to prevent human access to sacred objects and shield the focus of power. |
| tapu | Rules and prohibitions in Pacific cultures that protect mana and limit access to sacred objects and spaces. |
| wrapping | A protective practice in Pacific arts used to prevent human access to sacred objects and shield the focus of power. |