Chapter 14-15 questions

1.    Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

The reason I chose “The Greek Awakening: Art from the 5th Century BC” was because the title insinuates a transition in Greek culture.  While the other titles do describe parts of Greek culture, the word “ awakening” made me think of Buddhism and so I decided to watch that specific video.

2.    For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

In the Awakening video, I learned that around the 5^th century B.C. that greeks shifted their focus from Gods being the center of the universe, to the individual. Around this time, Greeks started positing questions about purpose, existence, mathematics, and other areas of philosophy. Also, I learned about the different uses for the Parthenon, for example: It was used as a mosque, and a temple, before scholars would congregate.

In “More Human than Human” I learned about different cultures and their and values: pertaining to the representation of human figures in art. Also, I learned about the seagull research done at Oxford: which is theorized to describe why historic cultures accentuated certain salient features of the human body in art.

3.    How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? The videos relate to the text, because they all describe the relationship between culture, art, and architecture.  There is a correlation between the ways in which Egyptians and Greeks valued mathematics; resulting in art and architecture that placed a heavy emphasis on mathematics. The prehistoric figure, found in Vienna also is representative of these correlations. as heavier women were more capable of successfully carrying children in those times, the idea of female beauty conveyed in art, indicates that certain salient features were sought after to ensure the existence of their tribes.

4.    What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I really enjoyed both films, because they illustrated how our perceptions of beauty are influenced by culture, but also, how both of those factors influence art and architecture. The films also depicted how Greeks used mathematics to compensate for visual effect using a slight bulge “entasis”.  I also learned about how Christians and Greeks used architecture to bring people together. In Christianity, multi-purpose halls “Basilica’s” were designed for congregational worship. In Greece, The Parthenon was used a place of central worship, but also, for scholars to philosophize.