Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt both used religion to legitimize their leaders, as is displayed in their wide production of religious artwork. The artwork and architecture representing this, however, differs greatly between cultures. The differences can be seen clearly at a superficial level, but also has a deeper meaning. The Egyptians built many structures in the shape of pyramids, whereas Mesopotamia built large platforms like Persepolis. If one looks closer at the uses for these structures, then the emphasis on the afterlife in Egyptian life becomes evident. The pyramids were built as burial grounds for pharaohs and much of the other art at the time dealt with the afterlife, including art of the gods. For example, the Books of the Dead were used to instruct the deceased in their passage into the afterlife, showing the various gods that would be present at the time of judgement. This likely indicates the Egyptians belief that death is the final passage to their gods, meaning that one is closer to the source of religion in death than they ever can be in life.
There are also similarities in how the two cultures expressed their devotion to their gods. The subjects of the art pieces often had their feet firmly placed on the ground in order to denote holy ground. The Egyptians show this in the funerary stele of Amenemhat to show that his burial ground was holy ground, whereas the Mesopotamians used this same tactic in the votive figures used for praying.Re: Kaitlyn
I agree with your point on how the two civilizations differ. They both used gods to legitimize their rulers, but this was displayed differently. Why do you think that this emphasis on the afterlife was displayed so much in Egypt, but not as much in Mesopotamia? Perhaps they viewed afterlife as the purest way to connect with their gods, as it was viewed as the only way to return to them.Re: Kaitlyn
Great post! You identify some good examples, such as their obsession with the afterlife. Even their concept of how the afterlife is run is surrounded by their belief in Osiris and the various other gods who would walk men through their final judgement. Much like the people in Mesopotamia, the highest ranking individuals of the society were supposedly blessed by the gods. Very interesting points!The different rules of Mesopotamia all had one underlying method to keep control of their subjects: God. They used the image and concept of gods and goddesses to validate their own rule and power. One example of this is the votive statue of Gudea. The statue holds a vase from which the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) flow, showing the good agriculture and wealth of the land. This statue was used as a symbol that the leader was chosen by God and thus able to bless the land. This image of anointed leaders is present in many other pieces of art at the time, from the relief panels of emperors killing lions to the creation of colossal structures like Persepolis.
In 1971, Persepolis was used as the site for the 2,500 year celebration of the Persian Empire. Many officials from foreign countries were invited in an effort to spread their culture.Re: Dean Riley
You make a great point about the leaders wanting to be seen as god-like. If their subjects viewed them as servants, then they would be relatable, which means that they would be vulnerable like the. It is a bit funny that they would fake being good hunters, protected from danger by their guards on hunts. Surely their subjects must’ve noticed this..? Perhaps they were too scared to speak up.The strong social separation between those of different classes and levels of wealth can clearly be seen in the code of law created by Hammurabi in the Babylonian empire. He founded the ‘eye for an eye’ law, but designed it so that punishments were only equal when the victim and perpetrators were so-called ‘equals.’ One example of this control of the higher-class citizens over the lower-class citizens is displayed in “Assurbanipal and His Queen in the Garden.’ Servants on either side of the royal couple fan them and bring them trays of food, all while the severed heads of their enemies hang from the trees in an elaborately decorated room. This juxtaposition of wealth and power is made clear by the many evident differences between the lives of the royalty and their servants.
Aalieyah:
You provide a terrific example! The vase shows the hierarchy of the times in literal form, with the high class citizens at the top of the vase. All of the lower class individuals are holding up the people at the top, however, making it possible for them to exist in such luxury.Rdnelson4:
You make some great points! Humans are highly visual creatures and this certainly fuels our desire to create art. I love your point about it being a way of preserving the things we love.Prehistoric imagery has a ‘doodled’ look to it, which is likely where the view that it is abstract comes from, however this couldn’t be further from the truth. Prehistoric art is highly sophisticated, especially considering how long ago it was made. Abstract art typically focuses on colors and other techniques, rather than portraying reality. Every piece of pre-historic art, however, has a distinct purpose and was made with intention and thoughtfulness. They all depict reality. The “Venus of Willendorf’ served as a fertility statue, as did the “Venus of Dolni Vestonice.’ The similarities between these two pieces highlight the strategy of this art period and style. The Caves of Chauvet, Lascaux, and Altamira all have highly refined style of drawing. The lighting and movement of the animals make them appear to be in motion and projecting from the walls. This realistic style is not traditionally defined as abstract.
Although art historians can only speculate on the possible purposes of prehistoric carvings and paintings, there are many plausible theories. For instance, the “Venus of Willendorf’ could have been a fertility statue. It is known that humans of this time were able to assign symbolic meanings to things, so this carving, along with the other similar statues of voluptuous women, may have indeed been symbols meant to bring good luck to women trying to conceive.
The cave paintings may have been intended as sites for religious rituals. Most ‘art’ of this time had a distinct purpose and was not merely made for aesthetic value as it is now. This means that the cave paintings were likely apart of something larger within the culture. The cave art often features animals and hunters, which aligns with what occupied humans’ lives at the time. Perhaps they began this artwork to perform rituals for good luck before big hunts. Or perhaps they felt the human urge that many feel now to leave their mark on the world. Regardless of their intentions, leaving their mark on the world is exactly what they did.Your dogs are so cute! That’s awesome that you’re trying out a class that’s so different from your majors. Welcome to the class!
Part I:
Disagree — “The academic study of the history and development of painting, sculpture, and the other visual arts.’ — Dictionary.com
I disagree with this definition because it is oversimplified. Art history is more complex than assigning art pieces styles and time periods. The below definition is more accurate.
Agree – “Art History is the study of human expression…through history. Art Historians develop ways to translate from the visual to the verbal, through analysis and interpretation, using a number of different approaches and methodologies. Art Historians develop a special sensitivity and understanding of the way visual, material, and — in contemporary art sometimes immaterial — expression makes meaning in the world, and how those meanings contribute to our social, political, and spiritual life. ‘ — Carleton University
I agree with this definition because it provides a more layered view of art history. It is not just the study the various time periods, genres, and styles of art. It analyzes art in a wider scope of the world. It creates a link from the past to current day in order to broaden our understanding of the world.Part II:
Art history is the study of historical events and people viewed through the lenses of art. Essentially, it is the study of how culture develops over time. Since art is an expression of something, rather than an objective science, it is the job of the art historian to sort out fact from fiction and to analysis why certain pieces have more fiction than others. Society studies the history of art in order to learn more about the past and how that affects the modern world. The more one knows about history, the more educated they are about the present.Part I:
Disagree — “The academic study of the history and development of painting, sculpture, and the other visual arts.’ — Dictionary.com
I disagree with this definition because it is oversimplified. Art history is more complex than assigning art pieces styles and time periods. The below definition is more accurate.
Agree – “Art History is the study of human expression…through history. Art Historians develop ways to translate from the visual to the verbal, through analysis and interpretation, using a number of different approaches and methodologies. Art Historians develop a special sensitivity and understanding of the way visual, material, and — in contemporary art sometimes immaterial — expression makes meaning in the world, and how those meanings contribute to our social, political, and spiritual life. ‘ — Carleton University
I agree with this definition because it provides a more layered view of art history. It is not just the study the various time periods, genres, and styles of art. It analyzes art in a wider scope of the world. It creates a link from the past to current day in order to broaden our understanding of the world.Part II:
Art history is the study of historical events and people viewed through the lenses of art. Essentially, it is the study of how culture develops over time. Since art is an expression of something, rather than an objective science, it is the job of the art historian to sort out fact from fiction and to analysis why certain pieces have more fiction than others. Society studies the history of art in order to learn more about the past and how that affects the modern world. The more one knows about history, the more educated they are about the present.Intro Video
Here is the link to my introductory video!Laura J. Barber
