Video Reviews

More Human Than Human

Images dominate our lives, tell us how to behave, feel and think, mold and define us. The human form is not depicted but exaggerated. V. Ramachandran from was also in an earlier video that we reviewed.  He tried to explain why the Venus figures are what they are. Our brains are rpre programmed to exaggerate what matters most. Large breasts, swollen hips and big bellies were traits that were looked for. Egyptian art shows each part of the human body from its clearest angle. Egyptian artist were driven by consistency and order. The reliefs were all made using a grid system. Their culture reflected their art. Culture is King driven by the types of society and its values. Ancient Greece Bronze statues were found by a diver. They were examples of the better you looked the closer to being a god you were. Belief that gods took human form is something the Greeks took from the Egyptians. They were also the first to produce realist art. Polycleitus created a series of theoretical rods that divided the body into quarters. One side of the body was depicted in motion and the other was at rest. The Riache Bronzes found on the sea floor were inspired by Polyclitus. These are so lifelike but could not be totally realist and are exaggerated. The legs are longer then they could possibly be, muscles were conveyed in the wrong position and areas exaggerated beyond human form. Humans do not like reality. We exaggerated features in art and in ourselves. This all began 30k years ago and continues into today. Just looking at our media, sports players, models, art, it is all exaggerated to express what is pleasing to our eyes.  
The reading in chapter 14 depicts the same ideas about the Greeks; they exaggerated everything, from their sculptures on up to their architecture. The Greeks made art not only realistic but much exaggerated to what was pleasing to their eyes.

Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany

The dawn of the Renaissance was during the 1300s when Sienna and Florence were at their height. Cathedrals, buildings, palaces, square wre all being built at that time. Sculpture and paintings were also created. This was the richest time for these two areas. Peace between the cities had been achieved. Walls were erected for defense. Walls were first constructed and then the buildings were erected afterwards. The bubonic plague came over from China during 1348. One third to one half of the population in Europe died. After the plague pretty much all building had ceased in Sienna. The banks collapsed in Florence because the English King defaulted on the loans that he was given. If a king couldn’t pay back his debt then there wasn’t much anyone could do about it. Florence’s still flourished but was never the same as before the plague. Sienna had lost half of its population. It was though that the way we live our lives on earth predetermines a judgment of glory or condemnation. Proper burials were very important. Funerals were shortened during the plague years for fear of spreading the disease and not having enough time to bury so many people. Jews were persecuted and blamed for the plague. Jews were thought that they drank from wells to avoid city water, thinking that they were poisoning Christians. In some towns, Jews were butchered and burnt. Cities feared outsiders aft er the plague. Flagellation fraternities were formed. These people would hurt themselves (whip themselves) which was thought to keep them from being victims. Thinking the plague was gods judgment of the immoral, some of these beating lasted 33.5 days because Jesus was here on earth for 33.5 yrs. The plague turned social order upside down. Whole families wer destroyed. In 1348, most of the great artists were lost and artistic activity had changed after the plague. The doubting Thomas was reflected in many works of art, doubting the church. Heaven and Hell was depicted in Christian Mosaics. Figures emerged flatter than the previous centuries. Art was less realistic then artist such as Giotto. Painting was the greatest medium. Giotto depicted figures with human emotions that tell their stories. His was a medieval artist who began the early Renaissance. Real space, real bodies, real emotions and three dimensional spaces were all depicted in his works. IN the 1400s, artists created mathematical perception by using the vanishing point. Modern art restores use Renaissance tools to repaint great works of art. The crafts are still alive, making belts, wallets; key holders were accomplished using the same tools as in the Renaissance. The years 1200-1350 saw a rise of the modern city, banking and universities. It also saw a large impact of art and literature. After the plague years there was a new development in arts, philosophy and art. It was driven by a new way of thinking about us. Naturalism was now the goal of painters that led to the Renaissance.

Cairo Museum

The museum houses the most extraordinary object on earth. Visitors come from all over the world to view over 160 000 artifacts but only half of these objects are actually displayed. Most of these artifacts are housed in the basement and arrived there over 100 yrs. ago. These artifacts some of which have not been opened since their discovery, makes me think of Indiana Jones. The museum opened in 1902 and has yet to display all of its treasures.  In 1875 a man lost one of his goats near Luxor, he found his goat near the Valley of the Kings. This man also found a secret place full of treasures that he sold off for years until he was caught and forced to take authorities to his hidden place.  The authorities ended up finding 40 mummies in this hidden cache. These mummies were transported to the Cairo Museum. There is a bicentennial celebration that will be opened in new areas in the museums basement. The statue of the priest Kai which is in our textbook will be displayed at the celebration for the first time ever. This statue could be the finest piece that has ever been discovered. Not only does the museum itself house treasures that have never benen seen but there are countless storerooms around Cairo that are being examined for the best pieces for the museums bicentennial. Many of the objects have been hidden away for decades and have to be preserved before going on display. The discovery of the queen’s tomb in 1925 demonstrates how carefully George Riesner preserved the site. The Queens Throne is the only remaining artifact that has not been recreated since the tombs discovery. The discovery of King Tuts tomb is still one of the most renowned attractions of the museum. The artifacts of ancient Egypt have to be the most influential in the art world. Every piece that was discovered from the mummy sarcophagus, sculptures to reliefs are a work of art that is breathtaking.

I picked these videos because I love learning about ancient history. Anything Egyptian that I can watch or read about would be my favorite. I felt that the Greek and Roman era has a similar draw to me. Not only do I love the history but the art itself is simply amazing, there is nothing like it in the world and probably will not be anything created that will come close to their equal. I hope that someday I can take a trip to the Cairo so that I can view these artifacts up close and personal.

The readings in the text go more in depth with the concepts that are discussed in the videos but there is just something about the videos that bring everything all together. I guess seeing is believing and being able to view some of the objects that we read about is a wonderful way to learn.