Reading Comprehension

PT103 · S4 · P2 · Q7 James Porter

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James Porter (1905–1970) was the first scholar to identify the African influence on visual art in the Americas, and much of what is known about the cultural legacy that African-American artists inherited from their African forebears has come to us by way of his work.

Topic

James Porter’s pioneering scholarship on the African influence in African-American visual art

Framework

Highlight Noteworthy

Main Point

James Porter was the first major scholar to document and analyze the African roots of African-American art, making fundamental contributions that integrated African-American visual arts into the broader context of American art history. ()

P1: Porter's Foundational Research and Discoveries

Porter broke new ground by connecting West African artistic traditions to African-American crafts from the 18th and 19th centuries, recognizing distinct influences in ordinary, everyday items. He went further to map out the cultural legacy inherited by future generations of African-American artists.

P2: Porter's Impactful Publications and Approach

He set the record straight on artists like Duncanson and Johnston, proving their African heritage, and published an influential history that for the first time truly explored the influence of African art, unlike earlier works by Locke. Porter’s personal art reflected his deep awareness of these African ties.

P3: Porter's Ongoing Scholarship and Legacy

Porter continued to refine his work, correcting earlier errors and making discoveries about notable African-American artists. Even after his death, his unfinished research and notes continue to offer valuable insights for scholars today, especially regarding the broader impact of African art on Western art overall.

7.

The discussion of Locke's books is intended primarily to

  1. argue that Porter’s book depended

    Too Strong: depended upon

    The author never stresses such a strong causal relationship as this. This answer is saying that "if it hadn't been for Locke's pioneering scholarship, then Porter wouldn't have written his book", and we have no evidence for that.

    1% picked this

  2. Correct

    highlight an important way in

    Why this is right

    On Local Purpose, we want our correct answer to sound like either/both of the "bookend" ideas (the Framing Idea preceding a detail or the Takeaway that follows it). The only previous work in Porter's field was by Locke. And whereas Locke didn't address African precursors, Porter's book addressed this issue. This answer nicely reinforces the author's overall Highlight Noteworthy purpose in writing about Porter.

    Skill tested: Local Purpose · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    91% picked this

  3. suggest an explanation for why

    Out of Scope

    Out of Scope: little known Detail-Sentence Bait Nothing in the 2nd paragraph indicates that Porter's book was "little known outside academic circles". The sentence in which Locke is first mentioned says that he was a professor where Porter also taught, so this answer is trying to get students to react to that and pick something that says "academic circles". There is often a trap answer or two using something from the detail-sentence itself (when what we're really being tested on is the surrounding context).

    0% picked this

  4. support the claim that Porter

    Wrong Claim

    We could say that the info on Locke supports the claim that Porter was not the first to publish a book on the accomplishments of African American artists. But no one was ever talking about whether Porter was the first to notice African influences. He actually was the first to write about African influences (i.e. precursors), so if anything this answer is opposite. But the passage is only talking about the first people to write on certain subjects, not the first to notice.

    6% picked this

  5. argue that Locke’s example was

    Too Strong: major influence

    It would be hard to pick this over (A), or vice versa, so the two kind of cancel each other out. They are both taking the fact that Locke and Porter are mentioned near each other and trying to turn that into a crucial causal relationship. The author is merely telling us that when Porter's book came out it was almost the first of its kind, and it was the first of its kind when it came to talking about African precursors.

    2% picked this

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