AprilArtHisotry1

April Dahlstrom Art History 1

[aprilarthistory1]

Early middle ages

I think an interesting thing to observe form Islamic influences was that there was still a contrast in idolary art and how Islam was more focused on their place of origins in Mecca, as where Christianity is heavily endowed with images and depictions of holly beings to pay respects and spread the ideas of their religion to the masses. Islam also has no hierarchy in its religious practices as where Christianity has it’s has its ministers and pastors to preach to people.

The original mosque and their Islamic influences before Christians repurposed them I feel like had much more freedom in their style as they were more about the chambers and symbolism of the buildings construction and being able to worship in the correct direction. They then were able to add details with the onto the arches they made, and even add gold Byzantine inspired mosaics to the central domes. As where when the ruling and spreading of Christianity was concerned it was more concerned with the establishment of control. When the mosques were switched to cathedrals under Christian control, I feel the structures mainly lost something, especially since it was a direct disturbance to the ornate structure that was already completed and decorated.

The times of conquering and continual invasion really took their toll on the artistic history of this time, with many structures altered as new religions and regions of control came in, and wither changing or just destroying other religions building was common practice, so much is lost to us that we only have fragments of all the  cultures full achievements.

With so many places competing to spread and conquer though, the methods they devised to bring their belief and traditions with them give us a good snapshot of a lot of the cultures too. Such as in the flat style of an Anglo-Saxon purse and its geometric and gold designs. Then there are also places like the monasteries in Ireland of the Hiberno-Saxon arts that remained as heavens that actually got to develop in to highly trained classical and theological islands. Their scholarly manuscript containing gospels and illuminating illustrations served to show that everything they did was thought out and honed to honor and praise their religion, all of the borders and illustrations and embellishments in their texts held aesthetic and symbolic iconographic meaning.

Then there were also the Carolingian  and Ottoman periods that showed even more growth and craftsmanship in their presentations and teachings. The Carolingian Holy Roman Empire’s cultural revival saw the expansion and networking of monasteries and chapels, and created many laws, libraries, and educational reforms that were meant to reinvent and honor the images of Rome. The importance of Place Chapels, manuscript, and monasteries only increased form there as they were focal points of education and literature that were being brought about, and there were clear centers of control and functionality under the influences of any newly conquered territory. After Carolingian then Otto I still took it upon himself to continue the same style of control then, because of how effective it was when implemented correctly. The ideals of using antiquity styled illustrations and depictions of biblical scenes to spread ideas to mases and reinforce ideals is a largely consumable concept, and became an important and thriving part of creating new art in these eras, and I feel is the reason we are able decipher so much despite there being so much conquering and revival going on.

[arthistoryjillian]

Ancient Rome

In reading about Ancient Roman art at the beginning of chapter nine, it sounded as if the people began to create art right from the beginning.  It was almost as if they were establishing their own culture and aesthetic before anything else.  Of course, certain aspects of the art style had changed with each king, but the overall look of it remained the same.  Architecture was a focal point of Rome’s art.  Glorifying the empire as a whole as well as accommodating a growing population was something of a challenge; however, the Romans had architectural techniques that killed two birds with one stone.  Arched roofs doubled as passageways in some cases and the domes atop of some buildings allowed more space inside.  By the end of the first century B.C., there was a common housing format that was used among most (wealthy) Roman citizens.  There were multiple bedrooms, slave accommodations, wine cellars, and storage space surrounding a foyer or entrance hall of sorts.  In the middle class, the housing was held above shops and other facilities.  Multiple families lived above the facilities in separate areas, but they shared some accommodations like kitchens.  Other public buildings, like the Basilica Ulipa were treated as public art in a sense.  The Basilica was a huge roofed building used for law.  The building has different areas for different purposes and it was also adorned with marble and bronze, which brought beauty to the building.   The Coliseum is one of the most recognized architectural pieces within Rome.  It may appear as a giant arena for games and other competitions.  But what most people don’t see are the passageways within the arena and the maze-like structures underneath the center playing field (referencing to figure 9.13 on p. 135 of textbook).  The unseen intricacy in Roman architecture is an art in itself and the Coliseum is a great example of that

Painting and sculpting are the two other forms of art most associated with Ancient Rome.  Most sculptures are derived from myths, religion, and other commemorative purposes.  The Ara Pacis is one of the most symbolic marble monuments found in Rome during Augustus’s reign.  This piece celebrates the Peace of Augustus after the emperor had made peace with the Gauls and returned back to Rome.  So, it is appropriate to say that this art piece celebrates and commemorates a political change in Rome.  Although it is common to say that Greek and Roman art at the time were very similar, this Roman works depicts Greek motifs, but the subjects are Roman.  Subjects of Roman art were usually using humanism.  Busts, sculptures, and paintings were created to depict a realistic picture of human kind.  The humanistic work done in Ancient Rome and Greece were accurate and very detailed.  If a person were to look close enough at a sculpture of a man, they would be able to see the curls in his hair, the wrinkles on his face and the veins in his arms and hands.  The part that catches my eye, though, is the clothing worn by the people within the art pieces.  The robes and togas drape over the bodies with each wrinkle and each fold in the material hanging just as it would in real life.  Depth played a large role in humanism, I believe and Rome did a fantastic job at capturing detail and realism.

[elizarosephotography-blog]

Rome really did do a fantastic job capturing detail and realism in their artwork. It’s almost as if Rome was a perfectionist community. By the artwork in Ancient Rome, we can see statues that are almost completely symmetrical, whereas with the Greeks or especially the Egyptians, measurements were not always correct. All of the art from Ancient Rome was really beautiful, even the color choices in the paintings. A person can tell their artwork was very carefully done. Not only that though, but the Romans are known for their architecture, because they spent so much time perfecting it. And it was definitely worth it, because their architecture is beautiful! I want to see whats left of it someday. The Colosseum is so massive, and what took place there was so violent. At first I couldn’t imagine sitting and watching the fights that took place there, but then I remembered what we as a society show on television (similarly to what I wrote in my post). It would be amazing to see and think about in person. 

[aprilarthistory1]

I like your point on how the architecture and art were a combination of capability and creativity. The buildings and Coliseums were huge and awinspirting, but they were still places built for the people of Rome, and every part served a function, whether we out right can see it or not. Also with the master in craftsmanship in their marvel and iroy busts, the shapes and forms created were intricate and showed wealth and status and beauty and symmetry, but they were till just that, busts of people, well studied and executed perfectly to commemorate the subject and humanity. The perfectionism of Rome I think came from its ability to incorporate things from other cultures for sure, it goes along with your point of how they were not too prideful as to ignore the potential of the things that came before them, so Rome did have a jumping off point for all it’ artistic creations, but by fostering those ideas and making them their own, they were able to do great things and change the very structures of what they were making art of and for. Rome grew into itself and culture, as much as it grew outward and adopted new ideas in its melting pot civilization.

[aprilarthistory1]

Ancient Rome

I think one of the most impressive facts about Rome, that allowed it to go beyond simply being inspired by Greece, and even to surpass Greece, was it’s huge amounts of large public structures and architecture that was so well executed and necessary for their growing territories and populations. The places they held markers and council meetings and public activities at, were also some of the most elegant and functional buildings.

The private buildings were impressive too, with personal villas and emperors creating canals inspired from other nations, but the idea of large scale public access to areas of art and museums and cultural events says something very cohesive about Rome the imparting mind set it left with us. With connected Forum and Basilica, Rome intermingled public trade and commercial transactions in one place that was spacious and comfortable enough for  citizens to  highly traffic and socialize in. Then their art the Markets of Trajan which compacted living space and markets together, making those practices that much more integral to their way of life, citizens took part in all aspects of Rome and it was not just the Elites who got to create culture. With the Colosseum and amphitheaters too all different classes of people came in their free time be entertained and enjoy fights, and all of theis buildings weren’t just places to gather, but there were also well kept and decorated with fine art like mosaic and paintings and statues of the gods, along with the architecture itself being narrative, drawing the eye in and guiding it along the arches and columns. Then there was also the advancements in plumbing and engineering, with bath houses containing drainage systems and collection pools that were aesthetically pleasing and functional. The bath houses were also then social hubs with everyone having access to hygiene and the gardens, museums, and sports that took place in them. Even the way the buildings and rooms were lit seemed to intermingle with the idea of well received citizenship, with the large towering arched entrances and many well lit and open spaced windows. Another engineering prowess was their aqueducts, that were so finely measured and fitted that they held together without much need of mordor or clamps at all, and could transport water from sources 30 miles away. The advantages of Rome's economy and engineering only feed into it’s further growth and creativity, giving it the ability to become a melting pot of new citizens and mingle and take advantage of other cultures it encountered along the way of its expansion.

The bronze and marble everything was made of wsas very commemorative and reminiscent of Greeks classical style, but depicted roman narrative and myths themselves with precision and emphasis on individuals. Such as wirh Tajan’sw Collum, implimeting a news Roman ribbon style story up the columns and creating a rhythmic sense of motion in it’s detailed and historic rendition of events. Rome is an inspiring civilization with it’s reimagined mythos and ability to produce large scale art and architecture along with documentations of it all, and the fact that some of their monuments are still standing today is testament to that. It’s power and influence are dominating factors in history and left a lasting mark on the world with its empire.

[catelizfields-blog]

Chapter 8

I really like that the main source of information about this civilization is from the tombs, in relation to how there was a lot of information found by the tombs in the Egyptian culture. The certain things that they took from other civilizations was interesting to me because it was something as little as the position that the sculptures were in and what they were doing. I understood that style was something that traveled from civilization to civilization, but I did not know that they paid attention to the position that they were putting their sculptures into until I started focusing on Ancient Greece because they started becoming less 2D like with the Egyptians. My first reaction when seeing their sculptures was style picked up from the Greeks but the temple reminded me of an Asian/ Chinese style.

It makes me a little curious about their acceptance of death. How they would identify the urns if they were male and female but also they made the urns into something that you were supposed to like the look of. Although it is a little odd to me, it is very creative. The thought of that being the resting place of a loved one from cremation does make is a little less depressing. I used to think that it was rude for people at funerals to laugh and I never understood why people did that, joke about life and laugh at the past, when it was such a sad time. When I got a little older my mother explained to me that it was the way that most people like to cope, instead of crying, they like thinking of the happy times and it helps their minds feel at peace during such a sad time and im starting to think that this was maybe their way of making light of a dark situation.

Looking at the sarcophagus’, I think they believed the afterlife to be a very relaxed after party. With the sculptures being relaxed, looking like they were making a toast, it was not an afterlife of seriousness. I like that idea because it is like the person is still there sending themselves off, celebrating with the people around them letting them know, they lived a good life and now it is time for them to go . It surprises me that the tombs they found were still in decent shape, it ties in with the articles, that since they were left in the elements of nature, they took care of themselves and did not have the elements from humans like fake light and unnatural temperature changes due to the amount of people around them.

With this civilizztion, you can most definitely see the Greek influence over anything. From the way they made the expressions and the hair of the sculptures, to the positions they would display them in on the tombs as well as the paintings. I am a fan of this civilization because of how I interpret their thinking of life and afterlife, and how they lay their people to rest.

[jdanielsus-blog]

I really like the idea of the afterlife being the after party. The funerary items were definitely intriguing to me as well. I also loved the connection to Egypt and their thoughts and art. I had no prior knowledge of this civilization and found their thoughts that we know through art to be very modern.

[aprilarthistory1]

I also really appreciated their civilizations approach to death, funerals,and cremation. It made me think about the poem Ode to  Grecian Urn well reading. The poem focuses on and idolizes the images on the Urn, which makes sense with the chapter and how's the urns are meant to be aesthetically appealing and a remembrance and symbol of the person's ashes in them. There are many pictures on the Urn in the poem and the narrator spends a long time contemplating the meaning and mystery behind all of them. Keats engage with the and personifies the statuettes of a sculpture as something to be envied because it will be there even after the people who made it may be gone, and throughout the entire poem he addresses the Urn itslef with all of his questions, knowing that he will obviously never get a concrete answer form the Urn, and that in it’s mystery the Urn becomes something more. I think his line “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” really speaks for all art history, which part of its goal is to be able to add context to art and hopefully unravel some of its mysteries for our enlightenment. I think the poem exemplifies this chapter particular even more than the chapter on Greece, because of the civilizatioins reverence in it’s funerals.

[aprilarthistory1]

Ch 8

The Etruscan civilization was almost as important as Greece in the population founding of the Mediterranean, being located where modern-day Italy is. Etruscan civilization not only had its own thriving city-state culture but as a strong trading network, it also helped to spread the ideas and influences it shares with the Greeks all across the neighboring areas.

Etruscan civilization differed from Greece in many ways though, they had more of a focus on burials and honoring the dead, like in Egypt. Most of their writings that survived to today were of religious and ceremonial nature, and their burial sites with painted tombs were left undisturbed by the Romans. Their myths are also the original content that Rome borrowed heavily form, such as in the Romulus and Remus wolf story. With more emphasis on religion and ancestry the Etruscan civilization also held more freedom for women in general then Greece did, mainly in the instance of Athens. Mothers and elite women were allowed style and fashion in expressions of status and self out in public, and there are even statues to honor women who died in childbirth.

One of the reasons it became its own strong civilization was in its grid maps and architectural building materials, and storm weathering foundations. They were able to reinforce branches with mud and clay, create impressive podium bases and tile roofs, and making houses out of the naturally durable tufa, volcanic rock, around them. The Etruscan art itself is very interesting too, they made many stylistic choices well still retaining realism and symbolism with many of their statues and figures bring based on myths and ancestry.

What was so fascinating to me about this chapter was the vast similarities and differences in the Etruscan civilization that related to the Greeks. I didn’t know much about this civilization and it was interesting getting to read about another civilization that drew influences from Greece but had similarities to Egypt and played its own part in influencing Rome. I think the eras heavy influence of trade in the Mediterranean allowed for such strong cultures to grow and remain relevant well not having to sacrifice any of its own customs to remain wealthy.

The evolution of the artwork through the prehistoric to the Etruscan is marveling, from using simple capabilities and tools of making art, the craftsman and artisanship that slowly became more important in cultures, and the ideas displayed and evolved through each civilization’s artworks. The build-up and simultaneous conclusions in many civilizations to place emphasis on art in high class and religious references, in my opinion, show the innate desire to preserve and express ourselves through art dating back to the first-time civilization was formed and persisting and continually enhancing even in modern day. In those respects, I think it is a shame that many of the Etruscan civilization writings, that were described as in-depth and enrapturing by the Greeks, is lost in time to us. I also think it shows the importance of connecting with the art of the past and present when trying to connect and create culture.

[arthistoryjillian]

Week 7 - Aegan

“How do these essays make you think about the discipline of art history?”

I believe that art around the world is inspired by different pieces.  Each place in the world may have different styles of art and different cultural adaptations; however, inspiration is a massive aspect of art.  Each art style is inspired.  For example, Buddha was a piece of Chinese culture before India adapted to the ideas of Buddhism.  Western and Eastern art differ, but there are similarities between the two styles no matter how different that may appear to be.  The essays also made me realize that the discipline of art history is slowly dying.  There are fewer schools, instructors, and students studying this topic.  If there is less appreciation for art history, then there are fewer questions being asked/answered.  Art and expression bring different countries and people together from the beginning of mankind.  Humans have always found ways to express themselves and art is the outlet to be used.  The study of the “why” and “how” is more important than people realize.  The study needs to continue to be studied and appreciated.

“What issues does Cotter raise that you were previously unaware of?”

According to his article, I gathered that museums may not have as much diversity as individuals may think.  Less funding equals less diversity in artwork origins.  In the article, Cotter used Africa as an example and the scarcity of African work in western art museums.  I had also once thought that art-based museums were “rolling in the dough” in the sense that they had an excess of funding in all areas.  Apparently, there is much less funding than I had anticipated.

“How will this impact how you view art or museums in the future?”

I had always been selfish in the sense that I do not usually donate to different organizations and corporations.  Cotter’s article opened my eyes to the reality of funding and finances for large corporations/people such as museums and artists.  Also, if I attend an art museum in the future, I will make an effort to observe the origins of different pieces (if given), as well as research the artist and read into his or her social standings, as well as their progression into the art industry.

“What do you think your role of responsibility is, as it relates to the study of art history?”

As an individual who loves looking at art as well as making it, I will attempt to be more kind and have more empathy toward artists and art museums.  It is not easy to obtain art, nor is it to create.  I choose not to ignore the study of art history, but rather delve into the study and ask more questions, do more research, and become satisfied with my knowledge on the topic.  With asking questions comes answering them and I plan to do that as well.  Instead of judging different art styles, I will have an appreciation for all art; modern and historic.

[aprilarthistory1]

I really like your point one preserving the aspect of “why” and “how” art is made. In a literature class I took we read Heart Of Darkness, a novel about a white explorer in Africa by Joseph Conrad written in 1899. As an lasting piece of literature it has value still today for its themes and psychological perspective. Reading it though, the racist and dehumanizing language used to discribe the natives can not be over looked now or excused. It is important to know how the book was written, along with why people should still read, it indorder to have a positive take away on it. Also with its racism stemming from a 1800’s British perspective, we read a companion pieces about African tribes to balance out and modernize our perspective, so our only literature that included Africa was not that of an outsider who demeaned Africans. The how and why are important in all aspects of life and art should be no exception because otherwise we tend to be left it bias and deviding opinions.

[aprilarthistory1]

Ancient Greece

The artistic evolution of Ancient Greek art as one of the most rapidly advancing art forms of its time is a deeply inspiring and intriguing aspect of all ancient art that impacts us even today. I feel that the highly naturalistic forms and detailed sculpting and pottery is still very influential in what we see and value as beauty and high art. With such a well documented history and a vast expanse of art because of it’s long rule, rich economy, and strong city-state structure that could conquer and dominate others, there is an abundance of examples of how enlightened the people of the time were, and we can see our own connections and philosophical, psychological, and even language roots based in their culture.

With how highly exposed we are to Ancient Greeks art, it’s easy to see how it influences us. A society build on successful conquest had resources to spare, and in that down time they took to creating some of the most iconic and recognizable art styles and literature of their time. As a society that founded the idea of individual fame, we today in America art still very similar in our own philosophical values. Between the biological explanation for seeking symmetry and proportion in art to the aesthetic training we endure throughout our life to look for features similar to ours and to consider highly lifelike renderings as some of the highest forms of art, such as the skill that goes into making them and the patrons who could request them, Ancient Greek art is the foundation for what we consider beautiful.

It had beautiful pottery, sculptures, architecture, mosaics and literature, all of which is readily on display and encouraged to be observed. Homers stories are some of the first things I read with a critical eye due to their fundamental characteristics of hero and epics. The relation of history to stories make them memorable and iconic in their telling, and the simplicity in Greek literature with its dramas and tragedies made the very idea of plays and dramas a lasting one that we value today. Also in it’s art, the drapery, realism, and preservation of it’s sculptures and pottery show the fine craftsmanship that was able to be cultivated at the time, and we actually get names to go along with the creation of the sculptures that often also encapsulated their mythology.

The study and evolution of naturalistic poses from the Geometric to the Hellenistic period is a great example of not only the Greek’s art and studies advancing and reflecting on the human form in nature, but also of the Greek society as a wholes expansion and influence on all its conquered additions. Their ideals of beauty affect us so deeply because their artists and philosophers and architects created the ideas we base many of our ideas on today, and we see their ideologies all around us with our individual focuses and the lasting partiality of their designs with their columns and outdoor theaters designs still used. They got to right their own history, and thus they accurately got to portray their heroic epics and ideologies of design so it was capable of leaving it’s impressions upon the world and the history of art and beauty.

[aprilarthistory1]

Chapter 7: Aegean

I really like how this chapter focused on islands during a transitional period. They were wealthy and able to develop a rich culture on a small scale, and their depictions were of everyday life, such as mercantilism and fortified palaces that also functioned as shrines. Also, I thought it was interesting how closely legends were tied into their architecture, such as with the lion gateways and the more abstract cyclopean masonry of the mud brick houses of the everyday citizens. The tomb of Agamemnon is also an interesting thought because it would be a living link to one of the most famous Greek stories then that I personally really enjoy reading about. I feel like this chapter really relates to the essays in that it talks a lot about the archeologists going to pre and post Grecian dig sights in hopes of discovering more about the myths and legends that they portrayed, and about how that enthusiasm could be applied to many different culture’s art if we cared to learn more.

The essays made me reconsider the founding of art history, and how they are like much of western society today. I don't often think of the motivations behind collecting and studying art. The glimpses into the past and the drama of the present art are interesting to see taken on in art mediums. Considering it now though, it’s easy to see how modernism and conservatism has limited the views on what's considered high and valuable art. We are a post Enlightenment people, so we don’t force heavily on religion or traditions that are present in almost all historical art, and were are even less aware of foreign traditions that make up other countries histories. I was unaware of how lacking art departments were in Asian and near eastern art. When I think of classical art one of the places my mind goes to is iconic Japanese ink paintings and natural sceneries, but obviously those vogue ideas are only the surface of such a large continents range of art, and now I'm aware that we are actually taught very little about Hindu or middle eastern art forms.

Now I want to go through art museums and see how much emphasis that they may put on art outside the west and see how much representation is actually included. I’ve been to many modern art galleries that obviously have a western pull, but for larger galleries that keep and document historical art, I’ll have to keep an eye out for all they have. It’s easy to look at and accept art from places like Greece and Rome because we learn so much about them and are highly exposed to them in all aspects of learning, but like in many ways the evolution and inclusion of all art is a sign of the evolution of a society, so I feel a responsibility to look out for and include foreign and less recognized art in the repertoire of what I think of then I hear about high art.

[arthistoryjillian]

Chapter 5: Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt has many different components to the culture and its art style.  One of the factors going into these two topics were the Pharos.  Pharos was Egypt’s version of a king, and this king had absolute power over everything the Egyptian government, said, did, and even the personal values of the current Pharaoh would be implemented.  Each Pharaoh that served would be respected highly because, in the Egyptian culture, the Pharaoh was seen as godlike – similar to a Pope.  When the Pharaoh had a queen, her art style and personal preference were taken into consideration and this eventually led to a more artistic element within the hierarchy.  However, throughout history, Egypt has fallen under different rulers.  The change in authority also meant a change in culture, lifestyle, and art style.  For example, Egypt fell under Persian rule twice throughout history.  When it was under Persian rule, the art style resembled that of Persia.  

An example of Egyptian art depicting the importance of Pharos is seen in The Palette of Narmer.  This piece links between divine and earthly power.  This piece dates back to the beginning of pharaonic rule.  On one side of The Palette of Narmer, King Narmer (thought to be the Menes, the first pharaoh) is the biggest figure pictured.  His size is to identify his importance.  His pose, in which the head and legs are in profile view and the view of his eye and torso in frontal view, is an Egyptian convention.  The entire figure is flat.  Narmer wears a tall white conical crown of Upper Egypt and threatens a kneeling enemy with a mace.  He holds the enemy by the hair, symbolizing conquest and domination.  There are also two additional enemies who appear to already be dead in the lowest register of the palette.  Behind Narmer on a suspended horizontal strip is a servant whose small size identifies a lesser importance.  The servant holds Narmer’s sandals indicating that he is on holy ground.  In front of Narmer is Horus, the falcon god of the sky at the end of a rope.  From the back of the figure stands six papyrus plants, which represent Lower Egypt.  The image of Horus dominating these symbols parallels Narmer, crowned as the king of Upper Egypt and subduing an enemy.  At the top corner of each side of the palette is a serekh containing the king’s name in hieroglyphs as a flattened representation of the royal palace.  There are also frontal heads of the horned cow goddess, Hathor, who guards the king.

On the other side of the palette stands Narmer wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt.  His sandal-bearer is behind him and he is preceded by standard-bearers.  At the right, ten decapitated enemies lie with their heads between their feet.  Two felines, roped by bearded men, are found in the central register.  Their necks frame a circle similar to those that held liquid for mixing eye makeup.  This one, however, is larger than the ones used in everyday life.  This is most likely ceremonial.  In the lowest register, a bull, a manifestation of Narmer, dominate the enemy.  

From my understanding of The Palette of Narmer, as well as other works during the period of Ancient Egypt, the art within this culture was very symbolic.  One cannot simply look at a piece of art from Ancient Egypt and know exactly what it is about – they must study it and read into the pieces a bit deeper and put the meanings together like puzzle pieces.  Also, Ancient Egyptian art is one of the easiest styles to identify.  It is very different to the others in the sense of shifting perspectives, as well as how human bodies are depicted.

[aprilarthistory1]

I totally agree with their art being more then surface value comprehension. There are many deeply symbolic images beyond the reading or their hieroglyphs in their art works. Each god meant something different, all the depictions of them in the tombs and pyramids were parts of an interspersed journey meant to lead the dead to their next life. To look at anyone scene and judge it simply on whats happening in that one instance, loses all the religious connotations and imagred involved in the art.

[aprilarthistory1]

Week 6 Ancient Egypt

This chapter has been by far one of the most interesting. Egypt is one of the first, most complex and wealthy nations for it’s time for along time, and with its stability and emphasis on traditions and access to precious metals, stones, and immense man power, it has some of the most iconic and mystifying are of the ages. It’s societal focus on pharaohs as gods and traditions centered around their departments and burials, outline the rigid class system and monumental influence and power of the king. Then the colossal illustrations and monuments made because of them are truly stunning and deserve to be called wonders of the world.

I find their burial practices to be one of the most interesting parts of their society, along with the half man half animal depictions of the gods and the afterlife myths that go with them. With the massive pyramids themselves serving as burial chambers of their royalty, the the magnitude of the tomb is impressive enough, but they also follows the many rigorous steps to preserve a body and its organs, and place them in heavily embellished sarcophagus and jars is, though vastly different from our own ideas, still an amazing expression and dedication to their beliefs. It’s a shame that some many of the tombs were raided and plundered despite the Egyptians precautions, because their tombs were a guidance and passageway for them into another life, and all the riches within the tombs were meant to honor and furnish their pharaohs in that next life.

It’s is understandable and obvious thought why the tombs were raider, what with almost everything being made of gold, and Egypt itself plundered other nations for its resources too. The constant and massive devotions of its resources to the dead is a beautiful, but also fairly wasteful thing considering they were using slave labor and conquest to fund it all, like most other societies. That's why I think, after its decline, and the subsequent Nubian revival at Meroe that encompassed a lot of the egyption themes but depicted things as much more human, it an interesting and insightful out come around Egypt’s end. It’s reference to the god Amon and similarity to the Amarna period is something I appreciate because of the more dynamic portrayal of motion and just the general switch to a more realistic style to depict royalty is more interesting to see then the rugged and huge stone statues of the rest of Egypt in my opinion.

Also the final thing I found so interesting about Egyptian art, was the vivid use of color created from grinding up semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli and malachite. Their semi turned portraits became even more dynamic in color, and  depictions of their sceneries, animals, and attire become even more iconographic with distinctive coloring details. The depiction of Nefertari in her tomb in the Valley of Queens is the most interesting example the book gives us. It contains a transcription and picture,of  a connection and communion with gods and the progression to the after life, in stunning and complex characteristics.

Ultimately the iconography of Egypts royalty and its head dress and adornments, and  then the sculptures and paintings of those pharaohs and queens, is something very striking that I think should forever be remembered.

[elizarosephotography-blog]

Week 4 Art History

I’m amazed at how much people have been able to find out about past civilizations based on their art. It kind of goes back to what Ellen Dissasanake said about art being a crucial part, and a need of humanity. 

I’m also intrigued at how civilization always tried to grasp some sort of religion, and it’s interesting to read about Inanna, the goddess of love, fertility and war, and the supreme male god Anu. They considered him a sky god, with a roar like that of thunder. They were always providing some sort of sacrifice, and even dedicating artwork to the gods. Later when they invented cuneiform, they would even write about these gods to keep track and probably pass it down generations. 

Something else that amazed me was The Niggurat of Ur. I can’t imagine the time and process for making such a huge building. Obviously there was no type of technology back then, or cranes and whatnot. Wow…I’m sure people must have died building such a thing, with the heat on their backs, and constant exhaustion. I remember learning about the Mayans, the Aztecs, and the Incas back in middle school, and I recall their being similar buildings in their civilizations. If I can remember correctly, they would cut the throat of a human sacrifice, and throw them down the tall flight of stairs, where blood would pour down them. Pretty gruesome, that’s probably the only reason why I remember it! That picture 4.14 on page 42 of the book is  magnificent, of the Nanna ziggurat, Ur, c. 2100-2050 B.C.

The Law Code of Hammurabi: Wow. What an intense time. I love that they were able to inscribe his law and way, and how nowadays we can look back at it. I can’t imagine living in a town with such rules, as I don’t think any of us can. The three types of punishment that stood out on page 43 of the text were crazy! The Biblical, “Eye for an eye” became a huge part of Hammurabi’s law, and I’m sure that it could have made people even scared to leave their homes. But then again, I can assume they were born and raised to live in that environment, and the people of that time didn’t know any different. 

In conclusion to chapter 4, it’s left me to think about today’s society. I feel like as a society we have lost our patience for such art, and we have the technology to produce things so quickly. Even just less than one hundred years ago, in order to have nice furniture for our houses, we would have had to hire a wood craftsman to make beautiful designs in our tables and chairs, Nowadays everything is just manufactured and produced without any effort. I think that’s the beauty of these works of art in chapter 4, is that each artist and individual took their time to create these works of art. These works of art were always backed by something, a reason for creating them. It was for their community, or it was for their gods, it was to uphold a standard. The picture on page 49, 4.27 (Royal Guards, Audience Hall of Darius, Persepolis, c. 500) that’s amazing. The detail is what makes the significance of the artwork, and the precision. 

[lovelytonesofblue]

I have similar thoughts on the Ziggurat of Ur. Isn’t it amazing how people of the past spent years upon years building structures for spiritual purposes? I cannnot even fathom how these edifices were created without the use of heavy machinery. I feel the same about the Ancient Pyramids. In order to build theses amazing structures, there also must have been years spent planning the architecture. 

[slightly2optimistic]

I totally agree with your thoughts on their gods and religion. Having read The Epic of Gilgamesh in one of my literature classes, it is one of the oldest examples of literature to exist and is even missing parts of its scripture from decay or just being lost in time. It really goes long with what you said abut their practices they used of passing down tradition lyricly and transcribing a kings link to gods and their conquest, in words.

[aprilarthistory1]

Chapter 4: Ancient Near East

I thought the most interesting thing about this chapter was that with all of the ancient east places forming sedimentary societies, you see how their locations change their cultures, and how the art and tools evolve along with the societies.

The Neolithic Era is a time of agriculture and craftsmanship, people are exploring architecture and building cities, using natural landscapes and resources for survival and adaptation, and though all those stabilizing factors, new stories and remembrance oriented sculptures and pottery are developing along with the people, such as in early Ziggurats in Mesopotamia, built to protect themselves in flat lands, and also constructed with potery and seal impressions on them, or in the melding of household burials and a rooftop walkway system, in tradition of honoring ancestors. They are combinations of tradition, necessity, and art that being to shape societies.

Also once there are more settlements, you see how the advancements and geographical locations interact with each other. Monumental king sculptures were common and cataloged rulers, written word was created to form epics and creation myths along with documenting histories, which gives us much deeper insight into these societies compared to prehistoric ones. With more emphasis on culture and class as a whole, we also see the emergence of laws and royal burials and many other social practices and distinctions. I think the dominance of kings and their links to Gods became much stronger due to the ability to create and portray new epics and myths through art, and I also think that those stronger iconic connections to deities is why there was such an emphasis on new atisin crafting and stylized sculptures and carvings. Art was able to become more symbolic and could be used as more than just decoration. Animal forms were always highly used in places of symbolism, but I feel like they grew even more, such as like the lion for protection and the bull of fertility, and mixing human and multiple animal forms together. A pinnacle example of animal stylization in art to represent and capture movement and meaning, is I feel in a place like Iran, with its distinctive style of art and beyond realistic depictions, into almost surreal and strikingly formoriented meaning, it had in my opinion one of the most interesting and advanced art style.

Also thought, art was a way to carry out a cities achievements. Kings could create massive structures like the Ziggurat of Ur and Ishtar's Gate and be immortalized in them until even the present day.

With all these monumental achievements though, it’s easy to see hows depictions of war and conquering were glorious, and that resource rich places were the leaders art creation.The use of more resources and creation of more cities lead to the downfall of many dynasties. The Mesopotamian clay and earth sculptures gave way to Babylonian citadels and sculptural guardians gods, which eventually peaked with Persia and it’s vivid gold objects and colossal structures for kings, such as palaces and the Apadana in the city of Persepolis, before Alexander the Great came.

[aprilarthistory1]

Ch. 3: Prehistoric Europe

I think stonehenge is one the most mystifying and mysterious architecture feets to date. The many symbolic circles and rings of stone build up around it at multiple points in time show that people building it also saw is as a magical place, that maybe even people from all over the land would come to see. Stonehenge does have the stunning feet of framing the sun as it rises, and it’s massive and semi-precious stones brought from all over come together to for a meticulously crafted, and in my opinion, very powerful looking centerpiece in an otherwise fairly empty and grassy plane, almost heightening its stature in comparison. On of the Theories for stonehenge is that people may have seen it as a place of healing, maybe from harnessing all of the collected stones power or having them placed there for symbolism to pray, and I’d have to say I agree. Especially if the other theories of it being an astrological calendar are true, because it would also make sense that if they were to perform a ritual at such a ceremonial place, they would want to perform it on a ceremonial night as well, there may be many uses for Stonehenge that we also may never know about, it’s true meaning lost in time.

Evidence though for it being a place of healing lies with the long traveled stones and architure found at stonehenge as well the many cremated and disfigured bones, granted it wasn’t uncommon for people in the Neolithic era to create stone structures to honor the dead or stay connected to them, Stonehenge does not resemble or reflect very much at all to the walled in tombs or entrance in other burial sights. Its cromlechs formation is more similar to the type of open displays of worship to a deity or goddess then to their ancestors. That is another reason why I think it could have been seen as a healing sight, built to gather and ask for power form some higher source to help their people in their fairly new sedentary lifestyle.

Also though, It’s understandable why people think stonehenge is so advanced and out of this world for its time, that they would even theories it was not made by people of this earth, even though it was built close to around when the pyramids were built as well. I feel like that theory discredits the people of the time though, and how they had been building many stone structures around this time. Even today we can also theories hows the stone may have been moved there, and we can pinpoint where the stones came from, but ultimately It’s a shame we may never be able to unravel the mysteries behind stonehenge and its original purpose, but my money's on a ceremonial healing sight for the people that built it. It must have been a monumentally important swight for it’s creators, and I think they put so much care into it for their benefit.

http://legomenon.com/stonehenge-meaning-history-theories.html

[lovelytonesofblue]

Week 2

Over Thanksgiving, my cousin who is currently working to achieve his masters in art, and I were having a conversation about the meaning or “point” of art. By the end of the conversation, he had me convinced the only point of creating art was to protest the economy, because it wastes time and money. After having this conversation with my cousin, I was pretty confused. My cousin is an amazing artist; most of his work is abstract and revolve around conceptual ideas. It didn’t come to a surprise to me when he explained his dry take on the value of art in our world. Even though I wasn’t surprised by his opinion, I have since thought about our conversation a lot.

Ellen Dissanayake’s, “The Pleasure and Meaning of Making,” helped me to find answers when it comes to why art needs to be created and valued in society. In today’s world some people assign artists and art with a negative connotation. They might think it is pointless, in that it doesn’t necessarily contribute to society and is completely unnecessary for survival. Ellen Dissanayake has studied evolution, and believes the creation of art is an essential part of society. Perhaps, humans are so naturally drawn to creation and expression, we thrive on it. Dissanayake described, in the early ages, when humans were beginning to make tools and weapons, they were oftentimes decorated with designs. Early humans took pride in the making of their weapons, for those who did not care for their weapons would not use them properly. Even tough decorating the weapons wasn’t vital in how the weapon mechanically functioned, it was vital for the user to take pride in his task. This made decoration vital in the weapon making process.

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/dect/hd_dect.htm

The ceremonies of the Mbari were an important aspect to Ellen Dissanayake’s study because they showed how important the process of creation is to humanity. For it wasn’t the finished painted and carved structure which brought the members of the Mbari together, it was the process of making which brought them together as a community. I feel this is an important concept for one to remember when viewing artwork which is more abstract, or seems to lack technique. One might find themselves in an art museum in front of an entirely blue painted canvas and think, “That’s not very good, I could probably paint that.” However, the primary source of meaning for the artist may not be the finished result, more so the emotional experience they went through while creating the piece.

http://cavemancircus.com/2015/07/30/15-ridiculous-pieces-of-art-that-sold-for-millions-of-dollars/

Overall, I really enjoyed reading “The Pleasure and Meaning of Making.” It left me with a greater insight on how essential it is for us as humans to create. Chapter 2 left me with a greater knowledge on the basic elements of art. As an aspiring artist, I’m familiar with the use of line and color. When I create, in order to get my point across, I think about how I can manipulate or change a color, line, texture, shape, etc. It never hurts to review the elements and develop a deeper sense of understanding in order to analyze pieces in a more skillful way. Both the assigned reading and the chapter from the book allowed me to think deeper about the importance of expression. The chapter explained how artists express themselves through their art where, the assigned reading got me thinking about how important it is for humans to find outlets to express themselves by making and creating.

[futurebachelorsstudent-blog]

First I just want to commend you for having a conversation about art and politics.  I can hardly mention the word politics without my blood pressure raising a few points.  I agree that the article shared with us the value of creating art or making the ordinary extra-ordinary but I found it hard to follow the article.  I had to read it numerous times to be able to focus on the concept she was trying to convey.  But I do agree with her insights and I did enjoy reading about the Mbari and I found it valuable that she brought to light a tradition that gave a great example of artifying.  As far as the chapter reading goes.  I really found that helpful!  I gained a much better knowledge base of the fundamental elements of art.  I was able to use that knowledge and think back on the art that I have encountered and admired over the years and apply it and have a better understanding and appreciation for it.  It was definitely worth the read.

[aprilarthistory1]

Your focus on how art is made being just as important as what we’re making, and when you pointed out how art can be viewed negatively if it’s not seen as a worthy contribution to society or survival, really hit home to me. As we read in the chapter, it sometimes takes very minimal depictions for an idea to resonate with use, maybe needing few shapes or lines to convey a thought process, and I think it’s a shame that the skill and context of art, is not taken into account as often as its monetary value is.

[aprilarthistory1]

Week 2: The pleasure and meaning of making art

The value of art to me has always been it’s means of expression. It is a healthy, constructive and often times beautiful way to convey thoughts, feelings, and ideas. I feel it enhances and defines cultures along with helps identify a person person or society may value. I recognize the value of art mainly in the way that it can be a window that shows the deeper and inner workings of complex emotions and interpretations.

Art has been a way for me to feel like I’ve contributed to something larger. When I visit art museums or galleries I appreciate hows large scale an impact art has remained in our society, and hope to contribute to that in some small degree.

As for how Ellen Dissanayake portrays art in her writing, I have some reservations on art itself being a survival mechanism, but I do agree that it’s an instinct human need to create it. In many things Ellen Dissanayake points out, art coincides with another survival factor, such as teaching craftsmanship or arts participation in rituals, which I feel are necessary in their own right and art is really only used to enhance them. I think from a societal standpoint art is not a survival tool, but without it, the building blocks of society do start to falter. Art blooms in sable wealthy times, and withers when people can no longer afford to put in the time and care for it.

From a person to person standpoint though, I view art an essential to our mental health and psychic. When Ellen Dissanayake describes the need to make as a means to the purpose of art, such as in a child's development or to adorn tools or clothing to help it be more prosperous, that application of art to enhance or adorn something is what I consider part of that social viewpoint.

If a baby or child didn’t have the tools to make art, I don’t know if they’d really notice it until very much later, and they would continue to learn motor skills through playing or penmanship in some form. The same could be said for artful adornments,they would be sacrificed or cst aside if they were flt to be ineffective or too cumbersome, but there would be psychological costs to those losses, which Ellen Dissanayake also touches on.

If we are stipped of art and music and beautiful literature, then can we really call yourself human? If we are not a functional people or society capable and wanting to produce these things that we would otherwise have flourishing when we can, then there's probably a problem much worse taking place then just the loss of the arts. As I’ve said, I feel art is a means of expression, and if we went without it, I fear we would lose meaningful cultures and traditions, along with images and text that embellish and pass on our histories, and the people who would normally make them, would be in a very dire state. I agree with the author when she says art if a form of humanity and that it helps us survive. Art can keep us from depression, isolation, and ignorance. So not valuing it as a societal means of survival, is more of a by product of the fact that if art is not a flourishing fundamental in that society, then that society is probably dying because people’s well beings are preoccupied with the more pressing physicality of survival, and they don't have the effort or energy to put into mental stability and pleasure that would further their futures.

[artdahlk-blog]

My favorite work of art is the Mona Lisa. I find the painting very realistic. It was painted by the great artist Leonardo da Vinci. He is also my favorite artist.

[arthistoryjillian]

I also find the Mona Lisa to be a very realistic painting.  At the time it was painted, realism was a very popular form of art.  This is one of many wonderful examples!

[aprilarthistory1]

I really appreciate the Mona Lisa as well, because not only is it one of history’s favorite art pieces, but also because Leonardo Da Vinci also liked it so much that he just didn’t give it to the patron who commissioned it until after his death, which says a lot about the pieces in itself I think. It’s one of the most iconic pieces of fine art and with good reason, it was a masterpiece the and it’s a masterpiece now.

[crisalys]

Hariko no tora I wish for courage

[aprilarthistory1]

I don't know if i can call this particular piece my all time favorite piece of art, it's just on of the many examples of independently made digital art that I’ve saved on a different tumblr, but I love this picture and every single other one like it that exists. I’ve seen tons of hyper stylized  and beautifully rendered digital art pieces, and they never seize to amaze me. In each one you see so much emotion and personality and care the artist put into it, and the bold and modern styles are what I aspire to create myself.

So many people now have access to creating art in this new digital medium that there seems to be a never ending plethora of unique and beautiful artworks stemming from it. They range from fanciful and whimsical color theories, to bold geometric character defining shapes and lines, because thousands of artists are creating them daily, and with the internet we have the largest platform ever to exist to post and share them on, some people even are able to make their livelihoods on that. All that and more is why I think that these pieces are my favorite artworks and I always look forward to seeing more of them.