Completeness and Truth

Essay 2b

Completeness and Truth

Question: How is it possible that what the Egyptians considered "completeness" could be misinterpreted as crude, naive, or unrealistic and how does that affect the "truth" contained in their art?

Part One:

Summary: I approached this question as a two parter. The first about how crude the Egyptian completeness was. The second was how did that misinterpretation affect the "truth" that is revealed in the artwork. I found myself running in circles between the two questions; attempting to answer one independently of the other but I quickly jump to the opposite question.

Reason: I found that the question be more about answering the relation between truth and completeness.

Purpose: I found that I didn't quite change my look on Egypt but instead developed more of a liking for it, and expanding on my previous knowledge.

Impressions: I found that I couldn't quite answer one without answering the other but somehow relating the information back and forth was the biggest struggle. It seems as though it was easy to develop a tangent to something completely different but still greatly affected by completeness and truth.

Part Two:

Egyptian "completeness" could be misinterpreted as crude, naive, or unrealistic due to the conventions of the culture. Egyptian "completeness" is "knowing thyself." In knowing oneself the people of the Egyptian culture could be closer to their gods or heaven and earth. The conventions to represent those however, never changed for thousands of years ( Art History Stokstad and Cothren p.51). The people that aided in maintain the art : sculptors, scribes, mathematicians, artists, crafters, Priests, and laborers, had ways to were not lifelike but very conceptual that aided in the expression of ideas, events and people.

"The Greek historian Herodotus thought the Egyptians were the most religious people he had ever encountered"( Art History Stokstad and Cothren p.50). The Egyptians developed an incredibly elaborate polytheistic religion. Through their artwork they show the importance of being good and humble. This could be seen as naive because much of their artwork glorifies what potentially is happening past the world of the living for the dead individual. Much time was taken to glorify those that were deceased. Pharaohs or Priests built palaces for the previously reigning Pharaoh. It seemed as though more time was spent in glorifying the dead than the living.

Another way that seemed crude was the placement of their worldly objects in their tombs. The dead carried with them their possessions from the earthly realm ( Art History Stokstad and Cothren p.56). How naive the thinking and religion seems because the dead didn't physically carry with them the objects they had. The concept was more about the dead being comfortably at peace with the familiar things around them, whether it be furniture, pets, or treasures.

However this did not affect the "truth" that was portrayed in their artwork. Their conventions brought about a composition that was detracted from change. Their written and displayed records remained consistent and their development as a society progressed to a high degree. The construction of the pyramids for example required the most sophisticated mathematical calculations as well as astronomical calculations ( Art History Stokstad and Cothren p.57). To get to that time period required a greater knowledge.

Their "truth" never ends. Their society and culture continue to carry on and the people still find a "completeness". Their statues, and mummified bodies remain to this day. They continue the cycle in which their religion pertains. The Ka lives on everyday in the discoveries, research, scripture, symbols, hieroglyphics, and megalithic structures that reside in the Nile River area. Such as in this Video hulu.com the items that they found may look and appear insignificant, however their daily life, objects, drawings, and scripture are carried on.

Even though their "completeness" may seem naive the "truth" that history allows their identities to be remembered because of the things they did. Thousands of years later we still "complete" the lives of those who died by displaying and giving recognition to the sculpted pieces or artwork as well as the mummified bodies that carry on those spirits and the Ka, forever giving truth to their idea of completeness.

Them and Us

Essay 1a

Them and Us

Part 1;

Question: How artistically similar, or different, do you think prehistoric people were compared to modern man and, what singular force or need continues to drive the artistic needs and human expressions of the 21st century?

Summary: To approach the question I had to break it down into two parts. the first was the similarities or differences in Prehistoric artwork and modern artwork of the 21st century, then i had to figure out what drives artists to create their pieces in the 21st century and then another question arose; what if there isn't a singular force that drives us.

Reason: It's an interesting connection to our past as humans. It seems to be a question of "Has humanities thoughts and drives really evolved over the course of these Milena?"

Purpose: I created a purpose as soon as i read the question. It made me really think of the things that prehistoric man dealt with, and what we deal with today and how art reflects the things in our lives.

Direction: I didn't really change much of my thoughts, I had decided on a way to go about answering this question and I instantly went out to look for that information. I find human nature very interesting and creating ideas as to why humans think the way they do is very interesting.

Impressions: At first when I started looking into prehistoric man, the information really didn't aid in development of the things i was thinking of saying. It is rather difficult to get the exact meaning of why prehistoric man did what he or she did. Their drives seem to create as much curiosity as our drives today and i feel that's what the information reflects.

Part 2;

Artistic similarities are almost non-existent in the relationship between prehistoric man and modern man's artwork of the 21st century. Differences are clear in the comparison of artwork from the two time periods. Prehistoric man drew and depicted the natural world. It was of the seasonal animals and creatures around them. Typically they are depicted on the wall of caves and stones in the composite pose (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.9). The head of the animal is facing forward, while its eye and body is shown at a forward angle where the front of its body is seen, and the forward facing eye is.

http://www.laboriechic.com
A Cave Painting in Lascaux France
 

Depictions of the animals range from outlines to valued drawings, and reliefs. Each done in the composite pose. Although this was their only form of communication. The paintings displayed many things and one of the greatness interpretations of cave art comes from Steve Mithren. "Mithen argued that hoof prints, patterns of animal feces, and hide colorings were recorded and used as a text to teach novice hunters within a group about the seasonal appearance and behavior of the animals they hunted" (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.8). They were a tool used to give very vital information to other members of the group. Without the passing down of information to the next generation, the group would not be as successful in hunting and gathering. These paints were so important that the members returned to them over and over throughout many generations and over the course of many years (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.8). However it may have also been a place where Shamans may have connected to the spirit world.

http://www.bradshawfoundation.com
A Cave Painting in Lascaux France
 

 It was also theorized that people would venture to these places and shaman would have a spiritual connection with the beasts on the walls of the cave. This was believed to produce a good hunt (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.8). However compared with the 21st century, humans needs and understanding of the world as greatly changed. The prehistoric era was not art for art's sake, but ,"one of the fundamental elements of our development as a human species" (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.25). It was a way to communicate with others and to preserve the knowledge that the previous generations had acquired.

However the 21st centuries artwork is not quite like the prehistoric era. Modern day reasons to create art range from art's sake, to society issues. Many art works are given purpose to inform the viewer about events or ideas that the creator wants to share. Other art work forces the viewer to think about what it is they are looking it with no clear reason in the artwork itself. There are many styles to modern day artwork that aid in the thinking and imagination of the meaning of the piece. However somethings may not be intended as artwork. As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary art is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects (http://www.merriam-webster.com). Anything can be art, structures, paintings, drawings, architecture, works of nature, and any work of man.

www.sauer-thompson.com

Works are created everywhere. What drives this art though? Other humans do. It is the connection to other people, the sense of understanding and bonding through images. In a video of a french street artist named J.R. he describes the need to connect in our times.

http://www.youtube.com

 

I believe that modern man wants to connect, understand, and find common grounds with others. People do not want to be seen as a horrible society. They want people to know how they really are, they want people to understand their own truths and to find common truths amongst others. Art seems to be the best platform to show these truths. Great artists have taken huge lengths to demonstrate the commonality between people and how they truly are not as different as you may think. They focus on societies horrible truths.

Artwork of Street Artist "Bansky"

 

 

Artwork of Street Artist "Bansky"

 

Old and New

Essay 5b:

Old And New

Question: Could the art of the Gothic Period be concidered "new" and if so, could geography have been a factor and, what else could have contributed to it?

Part 1:

Summary: I found that this question was to focus in on the relations the Gothic Art had to prior cultures art. Not only did I find "new" development as the question asks but also work greatly inspired by prior cultural techniques.

Reason: This question was to help find the connections between Gothic Artwork to other developed works.

Purpose: This was question seemed to focus the student ( myself) into not just believing that cultures died.

Direction: I had honestly though prior to reading about this time period that art had "died" off, as if the "greats" did no pass it down, or that they just progressed through history without so much as setting eyes on the works of the Greeks and Romans.

Impressions: Looking through the imagines, especially in the textbook, i was pretty amazed at some of the work. I had thought them to be more "simplified", but I quickly noticed the complexities that had taken shape in the Gothic Period.

Part 2:

The Gothic Period of art could, through a dictionary term, be concidered "new". As stated by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "new" means "having recently come into existence" (www.merriam-webster.com ). Is this a good enough word to discribe the Gothic Period though? Through some research, one would argue otherwise. Inherited would be a better word choice.

Not only did the Northern Europeans inherit the qualities of their artwork, but they often were influenced by prior cultures artwork which aided in creating the uniquness. These works included architecture, painting, sculpture, stained-glass work, and book illumination.

Figure 16-5 p.497. Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris.
 



Schematic Drawning : Chartres Cathedral p.499

Currently in both Figure 16-5 and of the schematic drawning, there is evidence of romanesque architecture. In basic design they both keep to the Romanesque ideal of a long central nave with a west facing entry portal. However the Gothic style gives way to a more elaborated facade, flying buttresses and a tall main spire. It was no mistake that this happened though. The development of architecture was due to the where it was being constructed. "Within 100 years, an estimated 2700 Gothic churches, shimmering with stained glass and encrusted with sculpture, were built in the Ile-de-France region alone" (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.492). Bishops, Abbots, and Clergy collected taxes as well as made rounds with relics to procure enough money to build these amazing works of architecture. They also were able to bring many craftsmen together this way as well. Artisans that would be skilled in metalworking, masonry, stained-glass, and sculpture. It generated in influx of people from all around Europe to obtain work. People came from as far as Italy to produce such wonderful places. These people also brought influence.

In a side note, it seems absolutely amazing, and ingenius that they would make the churches face west. As the rising sun shown through the marvelous stained glass it would coat the entire nave, very possibly full of a pilgrimage. This would no doutedly leave the people with a sense of wonder, beauty, and the feeling of "God". Such an amazing spectical.



Fig. 16-1 :Scenes From Genesis; From the Good Samaritan Window (Notre-Dame; Chartes). p.491

Stained-glass were amazing creations of art work. They were commonly built/crafted at the same time the Masons were building. These elegant windows were yet another example of inherited ideas. Glass work was already a well know trade in southern Europe. And the creation of mosaics was as well. Bringing the two together was a costly process (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.497).  It would seem that Roman influence came as well. Each panel was painted with incredible draperies, as well as emphasis on th emotion of the face. For the smaller scenes it was bold lines that create the emphasis.

Fig 16-16 Reims Cathedral, West Facade. p.506

Sculpture was also a marvelous feat in the facades and exterior of the churches. An excellent example of inherited artwork are these two scenes. To the left Gabriel tells Mary the news of her becoming the Mother of God, to the right Mary tells her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with St. John the baptist, the news. In comparison the figures are different in complexities. It also shows the timeline in which they were created. From the left, Gabriel was the earilest to be created and is show with the exagerated "goo-goo" eyes and smile. While to the right of him, Mary, was created later as she displays a more realistic eye. And finally the the scene on the right, was done by probably a third artist. They are covered in Roman technique: the heavy drapery, the representation of age between Mary and then to Elizabeth, and finally their Contrapposto stance as they shift their weight (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.506).

Fig 16-28 Shrine of Three Kings p.520

A combination of metalwork and sculpture, the Shrine of Three Kings was created in the Rhine River Valley region. "Ancient Romans had built camps and cities in this area, and Classical influence lingered on through the Middle Ages" (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.520). the idea of Roman realism, and Byzantine influence were incredibly prevenlent in this area. In this piece, each character is their own, they each have all seperate expressions and are all peering off into different directions.

Fig. 16-29 St. Maurice p.521.

This figure also showed the Roman realism. St. Maurice was an Egyptian commander in the Roman army. "Detailing rendering of his costume of chain mail and riveted leather," and also his skin color (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.521). Roman influence in the region inspired the artist of this statue to give him the complexion that he truely had as an Egyptian.

Fig 16-31 Nicola Pisano Pulpit p.522

Finally, the Nicola Pisano Pulpit. Italy should have been called the melting pot. This piece of art could almost be seen as multiple creators due to the inspiriations of the many cultures. From the bottom, the lions catch the eye, the texture of the manes and stout round bodies could almost seem eastern Asian in influence. Above them are the pillars. These are very close to the Corinthian Order of pillars,with the Rosette capitals and tapered colums. The archways between those seem of Byzantine influence. Around those and above are the inlayed figures of Saints and people in the dipiction of Christ. These both take the Roman style along with the works of Christianity. Their realism and natural setting convey the idea of pathos to the onlookers of the piece (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad, Michael Cothren p.524).

In conclusion, the artwork of the gothic period was very influential of region and geography. Without the  age of Churches artisans would not have come together in the flocks that they did. Also in may of the regions, Roman realism was still around to influence them. They may not have had the classical training but they could inherit the ideas that the classical works had shown. In a way the works were "new". They were pieces and structures that were never seen before, however the styles were not concieved out of thin air. Not much in the way of art can really be concidered new, just an innovation on the current ideas. Without the expansion of such much culture the Gothic Period would be as sad as the Dark ages and their artwork.

Truth and Beauty

Eassy 3b

Truth And Beauty

THE QUESTION: Using specific art references, why did Greeks concider "beauty" to be the same as "truth" and how different was this philosophy from that of the Romans.

Part One

SUMMARY: in selecting this topic question i already had envisions of the differences in Greek and Roman artwork. I also had a very good idea of what greek artwork was and what it meant to the culture. unfortunately i did not have that same mentality towards the Romans.

REASON: personally it's a comparison of the greeks and romans. Artwork isnt just something fancy that is displayed ( well for some it is ) it is a means of showing a particular truth ( whether is is truthful or not is another question). It was a nice way to see that Romans didn't exactly take everything from the Greeks but branched off of their ideas, they did not continue along the same path but another.

PURPOSE: same as the reason in this case? I mean it seems it was to understand the culture through their artwork and why they used it.

DIRECTION: I gained a new opinion on Roman artwork. It may have the same characteristics of the Greeks but that is where it ends in many of the cases.

IMPRESSIONS: my aha was remembering that i had to write this in the span of a few days. But really I find art interesting and it says alot about the history of a culture. I think many people seem to look back at Greek and Roman as the "true" realism.

Part Two

       Realism is typically valued on how life-like a piece of art work is. Much of realism people first think of are Greek and Roman artwork. Ironic because for one, it truely was as if a bit of life is being stored within the piece, where as the other, wished there was.
       In Greek artwork for one they show us, humanism, rationalism and idealism (Stokstad 117). Since their early classical age, there seemed to be an incredible spread of these "ism's". They are even more apparant in their art work.
       As a young artist myself I look to thses not just as splendid pieces of art, but as an inspiration on how style. Greeks werent trying to just recreate what they may or maynot have seen in front of them. A teacher once told me "draw what you see." Those were the greatest arrangement of words that had ever ventured through my ears. It was a freedom to develop a syle in which reality could then be produced from it. realism was not just how accurately the lines fell on the page, but how well you could depict what it meant to everything around it. That is what the Greeks identified as beauty.
       Their works of art aren't just a beautiful representation or recreation of them. They were the appriecatation of the subject. They seemed to be able to reveal the beauty in the subject and inject a life into their art work instead of trying to find life in it.
       An example would be "Warrior", (Stokstad 126).


"Warrior"
Bronze Statue with bone and glass eyes, silver teeth, and copper lips and nipples. 460-450BCE
http://culturedart.blogspot.com
 

       "The Warrior reveals a striking balance between the idealized smoothness of "perfected" anatomy conforming to Early Classical standards and the reproduction of details observed from nature (Stokstad 125)." Beauty was around the Greeks. Beauty could be defined as a pebble, because it may play a role in their life. The Warrior above may represent many things in terms of power and stature of the Greek military but, it shows beauty. Taking this ordinary figure and emblishing it; with the addition of the bone and glass it is as if the man is staring out through time. But that doesn't mean every scupture with those eyes are all the same. In seeing the beauty in this man and figure, he or she found it adamante to portray the facial features in different materials. It is interesting that so many things may be communicated through a few muscles in the face alone before anyone even speaks a word.
      Whereas the same piece from Rome shows something completely different.

Head of A Man (Traditionally Known as "Brutus")
Bronze, eyes of painted ivory 300BCE
http://www.bluffton.edu

       Although the same style is achieved here, Romans beauty in death. Almost in the same sence of the Egyptians. The character may not have been a good or ruler but they were created to have a likeness (Stokstad 171). It wasn't nessecarily the beauty in the figure anymore but what they represented in the past. It showed who they were in life. It wasn't about the beauty about the subject but to inform people of the subject.
       This also can be seen in their pottery as well.


Dionysos With Maenads
Black figure on amphora. Ceramic. 540BCE
http://www.dipity.com
 

        This Greek Amphora displays maenads, worshippers of Dionysos, interacting with the greek god of wine. "The encounter between humans and a god appear to be a joyful, celebratory occasion (Stokstad 117)." Even though this piece curves it shows such perfect perspective on the human body; although taken from any other angle they would appear deformed and stretched. The artist didn't care though, because they seemed to have the picture show an embodiment of life.
       whereas the Romans displayed stories.

The Ficoroni Cista
Bronze, etched figures. 350-300BCE
http://www.emforster.info

This is an artistic piece, telling a Greek story. There was no essence of life to be shown in this piece.
       Amazingly over the course of time and the change from Greek to Romans in power in the mediterranian shows a large difference in thinking. Greeks drew what they saw, whereas Romans drew what should be. It may have been truth but it was an ugly realism that didn't display life but told that once a life.
























OH MAMMA!

Essay 6c

OH MAMMA!

Instructions: Find and post the images of the artwork(s) mentioned in the topic essay questions.
Question: Describe the similarities of and connections between the cults of Earth Goddess, Gaia, the Virgin Mary, and DEvi, the hindu mother goddess. Select representative artwork depicting each one and descirbe similarities in the imagery.

Part One;

Reason: This question was asked to explore the similarities of the three very prominent religions through-out the western world.

Summary: At first I laid out the question in a few parts to see how to narrow down what i was looking for. At first I questioned the word "cult". I thought of my own definitions of it was believed it to be this group of people with a hideous obcession to either a person, imaginary being, or an object. Upon further exploration i found it wasn't as extreme as i first believed. Next I had to explore more about each goddess individually. Then after finding about who they were and what they represented to their religion/faith i could better determine the connections.

Purpose: This question is to show how similar the thinking of religions of the western world were. Even though my may have never had contact or they may have not been in the same time frame/period it was still evident that ideas were not just manifested from some magical lamp.

Direction: I think I started with the opinion that they were resonably connected. I knew most of the back stories except for Devi so it was just finding a bit more on her.

Impressions: I don't believe i had some Aha! moment but I did find some interesting connections.

 Part Two;

A.Uranus and Gaia with four children.

Found here

B.The Virgin Mary In Glory

Found here

C.Goddess Shakthi (Devi) With Lord and two children Ganesh and kArthikeya

Found here

 

       The connections between the Goddesses Devi, Gaia, and the Virgin Mary are astonding. Each has their own story and characteristics but they all represent the same ideals, and meanings. Responsibility of life falls not only to the man, but to women as well. Each partner surves their function in life. The goddesses Gaia, Devi, and the Virgin Mary express these meanings in their religion and through-out life.

        One of the oldest goddesses in history, Gaia, originated from the Greeks. Emerging from the eigth and ninth century BCE, Gaia has shown that women are both resourcful and caring. Her part in the Greek creation story was fitting to what a Mother should be know for in Greek culture. She expressses concern for her children when her husband, sky father Uranus, devores them. She was cunning enough to give her husband a rock, wrapped as if a baby hid beneath it; that baby would be little Zeus. Later on Zeus strikes down his father just as foretold (Cothren 104). As shown in picture A, the foremost figure in the mosaic is Uranus but surrounding the rest of the depiction is Gaia, followed by her children. It represents that the father may be the foremost person in the family, but the whole is held together by the love of the mother. She is the ground that family can stand on. The caring and love that is shown from a mother. The mosaic is almost split diagonally in half, with the both Father and Mother taking an equal share of power and responsiblity. It is also the same for Devi of the Hindu faith.

         Devi has many responsiblities in her religion. She holds many titles depending on what needs to be done. "Devi controls material riches and fertility. She has indicative forms of beauty, wealth, and auspiciousness, but also forms of wrath, pestilence, and power" (Cothren 298). She is beauty, wealth, and birth. She also controls the vitality of the male gods. She embodies the cosmic powers that supply the male gods with energy.  When she is atop the tiger ( Durga ) she represents righteous fury. She not only is apart of birth but also punishment for those that deserve it. Symbolicly she is what ties the world together. A women that keeps things in order, but can rule with an iron clad fist when she has too. In picture C she is the center of the piece. She holds the Lord and in hand as well as a child in the other. With two other hands she holds an axe and a baby fawn.

         This is also apparent with the Virgin Mary. She is commonly depicted in paintings and reliefs with a child and angels surrounding. In painting B she is in the center, showing her importance to the world. It was a women that god went to for help. Since then she has empowered Jesus to be more than a man. It was her that asked him to preform his first miracle (Cothren 231). She represents the empowerment that women have.

         Overall women have been in the background, but a full part of the family and life in religion. They empower those that need, savior to those need saving, and fury to those that require punishment. Man may be seen as the might, but women are the powers that keep life together.