• History of Western Art – Prehistoric to Gothic

• Mrs. Atherton, Art 13, basement, by apt. only

• 310-660-3542 - press 2 to leave a message

Main Objective: View Art According to the Values and Functions of the era--according to the technology of the era.

Student Information

• Please write the following information about your- self, to help me get to know you.– Name– Major and Semester at El Camino– Reason taking the class– Telephone or email address– Any other Art or Art History classes– Anticipated strengths and Weaknesses in the class

Art 2 Course Objectives

Major Goals and Objectives

• To view and study the art according to the functions and values of the era, according to the technology of the era.

• To learn to see more carefully, to see differences in art and architectural styles and changes or developments.

• To understand how these stylistic changes and developments relate to the religious, socio-political or technological factors within that culture.

• To be able to write about and describe some of the major changes of style or function with in these cultures.

Art 2 Goals (Continued)

To learn and understand new vocabulary relating to the art and architecture of the time.

• To be able to identify the major archaeological sites of these eras, and to identify art from the major cultures we study.

• To expand your world view to cultures beyond the Western Heritage and beyond the norm of your expectations.

• To understand and appreciate the richness of “man’s” artistic heritage and overall accomplish-ments.

Centaur and Dragon, Westminster Abbey, London, (Gothic)

Functions of Art

What are some functions for art?

Why do we make art?

Functions of Art

Expression

Ritual / Spiritual -transmission of beliefs, knowledge and symbolism

Utilitarian – architecture, jewelry, etc.

Preservationfeels the need to preserve his traditions, folklore, a part of himself

Commemoration

• Communication - power of the visual image to sway one’s thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication

with another life force.

• Occurs on several levels: man with himself, with the animals and nature, and with a supreme power or god.

  

Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art

Functions of Art (continued)

• Communication - Uses Art to aid in communicating-

– With one self – Expressionism– With another person– With one’s ancestors– With God, or the gods– With Nature - Animism– As an aid to ritual or devotion

Ritual Functions of Art:

• This wood-carved antelope with the baby on its back was made by the Bambara tribe in Mali.

• It is used as part of a ritual to promote good crops.

• The dancer wears this as a headdress since it is attached to a wicker basket at the bottom.

The Bambara Antelope Ritual

• At the left are two dancers participating in the agricultural ceremony of the Bambara.

• The far left is a representation of the male antelope and on the right is the female with the baby.

Bakota Guardian Figure Ritual

• Carvings such as the one on the left were used in a ritual for burial.

• The Bakota tribe of the Gabon in Africa create these as guardian figures for the graves of their ancestors.

• Below the torso, a wicker basket would be attached to hold the bones of the ancestor.

Spiritual and Expression - St. Lazare Church, Autun

• In this Romanesque sculpture carved by Gislebertus, he uses his own individualized manner of representing Eve picking the apple and the first sin.

• The elongated, reclining Eve are his unique expression.

Spiritual

• The Gothic Cathedrals.

• A Stain glass window from Chartres Cathedral

Functions of Art (cont.)

• Utilitarian - man feels need to combine art with everyday objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for commercial interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes to fully absorb his life.

• Commemoration -to commemorate an individual, a country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses

 

Transmission -feels the need to transmit the knowledge of his latest skills, technology, philosophy, or religious beliefs, etc.--a vast range of information and data, uses art to preserve and celebrate his age.

Preservation -feels the need to preserve: his tradition , his folklore, legends, his unique heritage -feels the need to preserve his immortality--to leave a part of himself and his culture on this earth

Spiritual /Transmission of Knowledge and Symbolism An Early Christian Sarcophagus (left) and a catacomb painting

Ritual /Communication Cave in Chaco Canyon, near Pueblo Bonito, New Mex.

Chaco Canyon, New Mex. The Supernova Pictograph

This pictograph (painting on stone) was made by the Anasazi culture to record an important event which occurred in the year1054, when a supernova star exploded near a crescent moon.

Preservation – Egyptian Papyrus of Last Judgment

• Many cultures use art to preserve their heritage & rituals.

• They differ from our time in not wishing to record in writing these sacred concepts but pass them on through the art.

Details of the Last Judgment Papyrus

Weighing the heart against the feather of the goddess Mut.

The devourer of the condemned. He is part crocodile, part lion and hippo.

A scribe records the results in the book of life.

Preservation – Temple of Zeus, Olympia

• The myths of Herakles were preserved through Greek art.

• Here we see him ready to receive the world from Atlas and Athena.

Commemoration - Altar of Peace of Augustus, Rome

• Augustus, the first Emperor, ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD.

• It was the longest period of peace in Roman history, so he commissioned this Altar to commemorate his reign.

Utilitarian/Decorative

• Egyptian King Tutankamun’s bracelet.

• It is decorative, but also holds ritual meaning as we see the “Scarab” on top done in lapis lazuli, which insures the King re-birth in the after life.

• Religious/spiritual - often relies on symbolism, often interwoven with the next factor of communication.

 • Communication - power of the visual image to sway one’s

thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication with another life force  - communication occurs on several levels: man with himself, with the animals and nature, and with a supreme power or god.

  

Summary

Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art

• Utilitarian - man feels need to combine art with everyday objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for commercial interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes to fully absorb his life.

• Commemoration -to commemorate an individual, a country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses

Transmission - feels the need to transmit the knowledge of his latest skills, technology, philosophy, etc.--a vast range of information and data, uses art to celebrate his age.

Preservation -feels the need to preserve: his tradition , his folklore, legends, his unique heritage -feels the need to preserve his immortality--to leave a part of himself and his culture on this earth

What do you think is the most important

function for art?

Answer on the Discussion Board

under Prehistoric and Tribal