Erick J.

Banke

Art History Test Essay

October, 26, 2011

How do the driving forces of the Ancient Greek Civilizations influence and guide their Aesthetics?

The driving forces behind Greek cultures influence the aesthetics of the construction, Sculpting, Art, and, for the few still in existence, paintings. The driving forces of Greek culture are the relentless pursuit of perfection, democracy, mythology, to out-smart the opposition, the glory of the athlete, and the triumph of reason over passion. A piece that shows the influence of Democracy is the sculpture of Apollo with Battling Lapiths and Centaurs. This piece shows that democracy is more socially acceptable than war. When the Gods, the most influential figures of the Greek societies, are stepping in to stop the chaos of the battle. Apollo, the God of reason, stands alone in the middle of the pediment. Holding a single had out as to say stop the war erupting around him. With Centaurs capturing the women of Lapiths and the men of the Lapiths try to defend women from the raiding Centaurs. The Centaurs in this piece are representing what happens if the people of Greece do not follow what makes them good Greeks. Overcoming the passion for one another with the reason of the mind. Another example of a driving force in the Greek culture is the want and need to outsmart the opponent. War being a constant part of life for this civilization, it is constantly reflected in the art produced during this civilizations rein. A piece that exemplifies this force is the work of Athena, Herakles, and Atlas. The story of Herakles is that in order for Herakles to become an immortal he must complete twelve daunting. One of which is to fetch golden apples of Hesperides. The apples however are guarded by a giant serpent. In order to get the apples without having to slay the serpent, Herakles decides to have Atlas fetch them for him. Herakles goes to Atlas and offers a deal. To bear the burden of the sky for a time for Atlas fetching the apples for Herakles. Atlas agrees and passes the sky over to Herakles. When Atlas returns with the apples, He realizes the wonders of not having to carry the burden of the sky. Atlas tells Herakles that since he s doing such a good job why not keep the job. Herakles agrees, but under one condition, that Atlas gives him a pad for his shoulders since the sky was so heavy. Atlas mocks Herakles at the fact he needs a pad when Atlas never did. Herakles asks that Atlas only hold the sky for a moment so he can adjust the pad on his shoulder, Atlas complies. However when Atlas helps, Herakles slips out leaving Atlas to carry the burden once again. Without a second thought Herakles grabs the apples and leaves

Erick J. Banke

Art History Test Essay

October, 26, 2011

The way the Greeks tell this entire story in a single sculpture with one scene. Is by showing the most important scene. For this story the sculptor decided to use the scene of Atlas unknowingly taking back the sky. With arms extended to do so and Herakles still holding the sky, with arms slightly extended above his head and his head down. You can see Atlas taking the sky and Herakles still holding it. Which is as told in the story however in the sculpture Athena stands behind Herakles as to help him bear the burden of the sky. Athena being the patron goddess of wisdom; is fitting for the story because of the fact that Herakles out smarts his opponent Atlas. An example for the driving force of glory to the athlete is the Kouros. A kouros is something that is not just purchased but earned. In order for you to earn a kouros you must place first in your competition four times in the Olympics. This Kouros is very stiff and resembles in many ways those sculptures in the Ancient Near East. With braided hair, an archaic smile, large staring eyes, and a very stiff cantrapposto. A bonus to having you image permanently engraved in stone is the fact that if you won your competition four consecutive times in the Olympics. You also live for free. Everything you eat, wear and own is paid for by the people. A driving force that is deeply rooted in this culture is their mythology. It is not just part of their religion but something they strive for. Part of their mythology is that Gods have human like flaws and humans can be god like. A piece that shows this belief in Gods with human flaws is the relief sculpture of Nike (Victory) Adjusting Her Sandal. It shows Nike in a very human like pose. She is standing on one leg and the other lifted to a position where she can lean forward and reach her sandal. With what seems to be a sheer clothe draped across her body you can see most of her features through it but it is still stone. One trait of the culture is the triumph of reason over passion. This is by far a triumph because sex is what drives most people to act, weather for the good or the bad. This is communicated in most of their art as a whole. However it is communicated very well in their sculptures. A piece that shows this is the Doryphoros or the Spear Bearer. An original bronze sculpture that is no longer in existence but the Roman copy is in marble. Doryphoros is in a cantrapposto stance although while in marble it cannot stand on its own. However the Romans have attached a post to help hold the sculpture up right. It is attached to the back of his right thigh as well as a connection to his right arm to his right thigh. Doryphoros has a well-defined body but what shows the driving force of triumph of reason over passion, by the either very precise depiction or under estimation of the male genitalia. Showing that the Greeks believed that it was better to think with the reasonable, concise mind rather than the sex crazed hellion that is the male sex drive.

Erick J. Banke

Art History Test Essay

October, 26, 2011

The most obvious of all of the driving forces that exist within the Ancient Greek culture is their relentless pursuit of perfection. No one piece can define this but the progression of the art as a whole shows this. From the Geometric period where all art consists of very basic shapes and lack much detail. An example is the Centaur, which is a very small piece made of terra cotta. With lacking facial features but can still be seen. The entire body is covered with designs. Such as diagonal interwoven lines on the torso to the chevrons along the side of the body. To the Archaic period with the Kouros. With his stiff pose, braided hair, staring eyes and signature archaic smile. To the next piece of the Dying Warrior. Which are leaps and bounds beyond the Kouros. The Dying Warrior has an elongated body with extremely detailed muscles, helmet, and even the arm guard on the shield. He isn t in the cantrapposto pose but in a laying down position. As if, as the name says, he s dying. You can even See the entry wound that has set his final moments into effect. Plus how the Greeks have figured out how to fit as many figures into the pediment. While keeping their normal size, instead of just shrinking the figures as they have in earlier pieces. The progression went as far as perfecting everything but the smile which is a signature to the archaic period To the High classical period. This period is when Alexander the Great was in power. Alexander united all regions of Greece, which allowed the art to explode and take on new and astonishing talent. The piece of Hermes and the Infant Dionysos shows this. Hermes is in a elongated s-curve, rather than the cantrapposto of earlier pieces. Once again the Greeks show an amazing ability to put detail into every inch of a sculpture. From the definition in the muscles to the smallest detail in the knees, one of which is locked out and the other is relaxed. The definition of Infant Dionysos is even more astonishing. You can see every muscle in the infants body, along with the characteristic baby fat. This is the high point of sculptures. Not just this one piece but this era is the High point of the art. The Hellenistic period still posses this talent but everything seems to begin to fall apart with the society. This period is after the reign of Alexander the Great. The people were no longer happy with the Gods and war was becoming yet again a daily part of life. War was on the rise due to the fact that Alexander was no longer able to keep the peace between regions, due to the fact that he is dead. The art however still keeps these talents in the art. You can see this amazing detail once again in Laocoon and His Sons. This piece shows Laocoon, who played a key role in the Trojan War, and His Sons being attacked by a giant sea serpent. Once again this shows the most dramatic part of the story. The serpent has a long continuous body with as much detail as scales on its body.

Erick J. Banke

Art History Test Essay

October, 26, 2011

Laocoon has the extreme definition in the muscles and even veins in the arms. His sons have the muscular physic, but still show the signs of youth. Without a beard or any hair in the pubic region. Even down to the cloth that is hanging from their bodies are so defined that it looks like actual cloth. This period shows the unhappiness with the Gods and the chaos that goes on in daily life within this era. Due to the fact of sculptures having pieces broken off and destroyed for the use of weapons. We only know these pieces exist because of the Roman copies that were made so that the original bronze could be melted down into weapons