Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Much of the way modern government is ran such as elected politicians and have senate seats and such was originated from Ancient Rome. I wonder of that is the reason behind many federal buildings utilizing Roman architecture in their buildings.
You are correct that different cultures used decorative columns, I’m curious if the Roman advent of roads connecting different places allowed much of their culture, whether appropriated from somewhere else or not, to be spread across the area.
Lacey, you are right that a great many of the pieces we have seen this semester involve some type of propaganda. Anywhere from making the subject of the piece larger than those around him, to making the subject equal to the gods. By drawing similarities between a mortal and a deity, the mortal was elevated to the rank of a god in the populaces eyes.
Lucas you bring up a great many good points in your discussion, but I’m curious if those that viewed the statue of Commodus dressed as Hercules helped people see him in a greater light or if it became an item of ridicule. When first viewing the statue, I can’t say I was awe inspired about how powerful Commodus looks, but how it makes him look as if he is trying to be something he is not.
Just like earlier civilizations associated themselves with their gods in order to elevate themselves, we see Romans associating themselves with previous rulers in order to elevate themselves to the previous rulers popularity. One of the most noted examples of this propaganda is the statue of Augustus of Primaporta. The statue connects itself visually to both the Spear Bearer statue and The Orator statue. The breastplate that Augustus is wearing shows his military prowess, whereas the emblems on the breastplate associates him with leadership. The statue also shows Cupid riding a dolphin at Augustus’ feet to associate him with the gods.
It’s not difficult to see the impact that Roman culture has had on modern society. The building of roads by the Romans helped make Rome a center of commerce, a practice that many modern cities adhere to. The easier it is for people to enter and exit your city, whether by air, sea, or ground; the more likely they will be to bring business to that city. The Roman introduction of the aqueduct, such as the Pont du Gard, helped modernize Rome. The aqueduct was the precursor to many of our plumbing ideas in modern times. The Roman weren’t only concerned about their infrastructure, the entertainment of their people was also important. The Romans built theatres, sporting establishments, and public bath houses. Having areas where people can meet and socialize is something that is still very important in modern times.
I agree Miranda that I could not understand how it could be viewed as a regression either in the terms of humanistic values. It appears to me that the Hellenistic culture was progressing closer to humanistic values and not away from it.
In other cultures they were often pictured with or buried with the possessions that they wanted to take into the afterlife. I think it is very significant that instead of worldly possessions, in the Cerveteri Sarcophagus and the Sarcophagus of Larth Tetnies and Thanchvil Tarnai we see what really matters to them, their wives and the love they felt for each other which is visible on their faces.
I found it intriguing that the Cerveteri Sarcophagus was also called the Sarcophagus of the Spouses which denotes equality. They both looked happy and not the woman is not pictured as being subservient to the man.
As was mentioned in the note featured in the Cerveteri Sarcophagus page, Greek and Latin people found men and women socializing together as offensive, but there are many examples of men and women socializing and embracing in Etruscan art. In the Sarcophagus of Larth Tetnies and Thanchvil Tarnai, they are pictured in bed together naked which I am sure Greek and Latin scholars would have very much frowned upon. In the art of other civilizations, men were shown as a higher social status than women, but in the Etruscan art, they are viewed as equals in the artists eyes and viewed as having a relationship that could go beyond the confines of death.
I have seen that many people say that they can see both sides of the debate whether Hellenistic art was a progression or regression of humanist values. I must say that I have no problems finding weight to support why Hellenistic art was a progression of humanist values, but can not find anything to support how it was a regression. During the Hellenistic period, the artists started using more “non-traditional” subject matter such babies and the elderly. They also started showing emotions in their art which was very rare before this period. Instead of elevating man to the gods level, they began giving the gods more human characteristics.
The human brain is an awesome machine. When a body or face is not symmetrical, the human mind can instantly tell that something is not correct. I think as humans when we see differences that instantly pop out to us and we sometimes deem those difference as odd and therefore as ugly. Even of the difference isn’t readily apparent, many times the human mind knows that something is different and we will keep on staring at the person or object until we can figure out what is unique.
Aubri, thank you for pointing out that it does seem as if the ideal male body type has remained constant throughout the ages, but the female body type is constantly changing. In some eras being waifishly thin was considered ideal and then in other periods having a little extra weight was what was considered ideal. It is a shame that all body types cannot be celebrated for what makes them different and beautiful.
In the Classical period proportion of human body was important. In Myron’s Discobolus I can imagine the sculptor placing the subject in the pose that he wanted him in, not even caring that the way the subject is throwing the disc isn’t even correct. Since the pose shows the subjects proportions ideally, this was the reason that pose was chosen. Even in modern times we have determined what body types are ideal and what is not, even though that ideal body type is ever changing. If someone does not fit into what society deems the ideal body type, that person can be deemed an outcast and considered “ugly” by the current beauty standards.
One of the great things about art is when it leaves room open for interpretation by the viewer and I think that is the exact thing that the Old Woman statue does. It could be the artists grandmother or like has been mentioned before it could have been a “young” follower of Dionysus that imbibed in the lifestyle a little to much. Either way it is a beautiful piece of artwork to be cherished and talked about for years to come.
