Module 6 Video Questions

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the OER Content?

In the reading labeled "Ancient Greece and Rome" and the videos both had similarities in the way that sculpture was highlighted, Greek art highlighted life as was stated in the videos too. In the reading, it states that Greek art wanted to symbolize a desirable way of life, focusing on leisure, the arts, luxury, and learning. They both mention the importance of marble in Greek art as well, proportions were obtained with marble in Ancient Greek sculptures that were carried into modern Western Civilization art as well.

3.) What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding the themes/topics for this week?

The films gave me a lot of insight into why certain artists choose what they choose to create. Humans being the center of most of the art from the films made me connect the question from Module 5 too "Why is our modern world dominated by images of the body that are unrealistic?" this question connects to the chiseled Greek sculptures showcasing unrealistic expectations in bodies. Learning the history behind choices in art reveals how important art really is to civilization. The symbols and importance of art in the past also show how much more important art was in the past compared to now. I think walking around museums and commenting on our classmate's experiences at the museums reveals the importance of museums as well, the videos really expressed how much important pieces were showcased all over the world yet still connect people.

Beyond the Classical: Byzantine and Later Greek Art (key facts)

• Christianity brought the famous painting “Icon” to popularity
• Byzantine paintings allowed for progression to be made in future paintings
• Post-Byzantine art was inspired by Italy
• The War of Independence of the 19th century led to subjects that were painted or “home-grown” paintings
• Greek painters in the 20th century began to look to Paris for inspiration
• People were the center of Greek art
• Architecture has had the greatest influence on Greek art forms
• Most of the Neoclassical buildings were destroyed post-war in quick-buck development
• The charioteer is one of the best-preserved examples of what's now known as the severe style of sculpture and was created at a time when the greeks were beginning to portray human beings in a realistic rather than stylistic way.

The Greek Awakening: Art from the 5th Century BC (key facts)

• The Parthenon represents Humanism, Rationalism, and Idealism which all deal with Western Civilization. Human beings being the center of the universe was an important ideology for Greeks to drive. 
• The Acropolis Museum has paintings from the 6th century which resemble demon-like faces.
• The Frieze is talked about as “3 feet high and stretched 524 feet all the way around the building, with carvings depicting a procession known as the great Panathenaic” 
• The Frieze is very well executed and has multiple carvings, horsemen, a river, etc.
• Sculpture was very important to Greek art. 

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure (key facts)

• Classical Athens is described as “being obsessed with the human body” this led to the artists attempting to capture something about the human condition, and the human mind through sculpture.
• Naturally, sculpturists tried to capture movement. A statue called “The Calf Bearer” from 570 B.C. attempts to convince the viewers that it is walking.
• Kouroi statues have very distinct characteristics like their “almond-shaped eyes” “static posture” and its “smiling”
• No matter how lifelike statues did get, the stories and the characters in them were the blends of reality and myth that pops up again and again in ancient Greece.