The video More Human Than Human showed how all the world likes to exaggerate the human body. We see that in Venus of Willendorf that was made 25,000 years ago. In this figure, the breasts, butt, and thighs are enlarged to unbelievable proportions. The video showed other figures that were found around the world and the same body parts were exaggerated. By 5,000 BC along the Nile settled civilizations appeared. Tomb of Ramses VI had proportioned figures but not realistic forms. The Egyptians showed the body from its clearest angle. The way they carved bodies didn’t change for 3,000 years. There is evidence in the Tomb of Ramose that they used a grid to form the body and used the same grid for all them years. After 3,000 years, the body began being exaggerated again which is believed to occur because we are influenced by our culture. In 1972, Riace Bronzes were found in the sea, they were made in Ancient Greece. The bodies were perfectly defined, anatomically correct, and perfect proportion. They believed the gods took human form so man should look good, also. The Kritios Boy from 480 BC was truly realistic but within a generation the Greeks abandoned realism. The sculptor Polclitus in 450 BC shows athleticism and divides the body into quadrants and creates the body to show at rest and movement.
The next video I watched was Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England, 1400-1547 these years were very hard and bloody but it created glorious artwork. The church had to magnificent and huge compared to the mortals. It was an age of faith and consumption. Henry VII adds a Perpendicular style church to Westminister Abbey. The perpendicular style emphasizes vertical lines. It is lavish, symbolic, and virtuosity. There began a national identity and regionalism. Romanesque style incorporates wood roofs, vaults, and angels. The church became the social center of the community. During Reformation, altarpieces, stained glass, and plates were destroyed.
The next video is A World Inscribed: The Illuminated Manuscript. Very few men knew how to read and write so the monasteries produced most of the books. They were copied by hand in adverse conditions, like low lighting, aching hands, difficult text, and demanding abbots. The scribes couldn’t talk to their neighbors so they would write their thoughts in the margins. After the book was done, the scribes would write in their own words a page or two. In the 13th century, cities flourishes and trade increased which gave a lot of work to booksellers, paper sellers, scribes, illuminators, and anyone dealing with the book industry. How-tos, romances, histories, entertainment, and prayer books began to be popular. By the late 15th century, the printing press replaced the scribes.
The last video I watched was Art and Life in the Middle Ages: The Luttrell Psalter, which was a prayer book in Latin. It consisted of scenes from the Bible, monsters, and everyday life. The illuminations were full of detail, hairstyles, emotion in the people’s faces, and fashion. This book gave a glimpse into how Medieval people lived. It showed how the servants did the jobs for the Luttrell family. They farmed, spun wool, cooking, falconry, and games they played. Everyday life is weaved in with the stories of the Bible.
I chose the three videos because I love Gothic architecture and the illuminations of the Middle Ages. The things I like about the architecture are the pointed arches, stained glass windows, and how massive the churches are. Illumination interests me because I’ve taken calligraphy and we had to illuminate a page. I enjoyed decorating a page to make it more interesting. The videos strengthens the thoughts in the book. I believe you can learn more easily by watching videos. If you read it and then watch a video about it, it helps to contain that information so you don’t forget it. More Human Than Human video I did not like. I don’t like Greek and Egyptian art that much but everyone has the preferences. The other three videos I enjoyed. I love to see the different Gothic churches and I enjoyed seeing The Luttrell Psalter so in depth. It had such beautiful drawings from one page to another.
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