Review of 2 Art Videos

         The video More Human Than Human (from the “Films on Demand” website), selected by our professor, makes the point that quite possibly the finest sculptures of humans ever created were those made by the Greeks in the 5^th or 4^th centuries B.C.  The Riace Bronzes are used as examples.  These male, athletic figures were unrealistic in the sense that certain muscles were overly pronounced and some muscles were tensed while others were relaxed, which cannot occur naturally.  These sculptures glorified toned bodies.  This was linked to cultural and religious beliefs commonly held at that time. Throughout history as cultures change, art, and specifically the portrayal of the human body, changes.  Different features of the body are focused upon or exaggerated at different times.  The way that ancient Egyptian art portrayed the body remained basically unchanged for about 3,000 years.  This portrayal reflected the cultural values of order and consistency.

     Both the text, Living with Art, 10^th Ed. by Mark Getlein, and the video mention the Female Figure from Willendorf, with its exaggerated features.  Getlein concludes (referring to the many female statuettes found in various parts of the world and dated to, what is referred to as, the Paleolithic period), “The most we can say is that they testify to a widely shared belief system that evolved over time,” (323).  The text also teaches about the art of ancient Egypt and the Riace bronzes.

     This video is helpful in giving an overview of how the human body has been portrayed in art by various cultures through history and analyzing possible reasons for the drastic differences in these portrayals.  This subject is not as explicitly addressed in the text, so the video is an excellent complement to it.

     I hoped that by watching the video Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England, 1400-1547 (from the “Films on Demand” website) I would expand my understanding not only of the art of this time but also the history.  I was not disappointed.  During this time period England was involved in a couple of wars.  Yet, members of society were still very concerned to create and own art.  It was considered the duty of kings to own and display great works of art.  Many kings built grand churches for their personal worship.  Catholicism was the dominant religion in England.  Much of the art was associated with this religion.  Local churches were also very ornately decorated and contained much art used for worship such as sculptures, stained glass, and illuminated texts.  Localities would sometimes compete to have the grander church.  Parishioners considered it meritorious to give towards these building projects.  With the Protestant Reformation, though, came iconoclasm, and much of the gothic art of this time was destroyed.

     The text describes the Gothic period of art, which was from about 1200 A.D. until the 15^th century (Getlein, 357).  It mentions that many churches were built at the time.  It explains, whereas the video does not, the beginnings of Gothic architecture as well as the progression of Gothic sculpture (Getlein, 359-361).  Yet, the video provides more details about the history of this time.