Module 8

1. Explain why you selected each of the three videos you choose from the selection listed above.

I chose the videos because I felt as though I’d enjoy watching them.  I always want to be able to enjoy the videos when I watch them because I feel like I understand them better when I take an interest in them.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

 “More Human than Human” – This video showed how art made the world and how images dominate our lives.  It said that images tell us how to think and how to feel.  The human body affects what we think of others and what we think of ourselves.  Pictures of the human body dominate our lives; they’re all around us.  All of the images have one thing in common – that they don’t resemble real human beings.  The images are very unrealistic.  Ancient Egypt was one of the first civilizations on Earth and they had an organized system of government.  They were the first people to use images of the body extensively in their art.  There was art buried in the ocean and by removing sand, divers revealed what was hidden under the beautiful details of the artwork.  In ancient Greece, the more impressive you can make your body look, the more you were perceived to be a god.  They believed that if you looked good, you were good.

“A World Inscribed: The Illuminated Manuscript” – People felt as though manuscript was the work of an angel, not of a man.  Very few people knew how to read and write that were outside of the church.  Monasteries were the places where the books were produced.  They were dedicating their life to God so their labor was to spread the word of God.  The spread of knowledge was slow because writing was not advanced.  People believe that their writings were used against people on the days of judgment.  Scribing was very tedious.  There were letters and poems within the writings and tales were told.  There was also a lot of money spent on textbooks.

“The Measure of All Things: Greek Art & the Human Figure” - In this video, it showed the transformations that were made in the 5th century.  The structures and statues were very real and the figures of the humans that were made were idolized.  The Greeks were very focused on the Olympics and their imagery and architecture that went alone with it.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The videos and text both provide the information but each go into depth in different parts than the other.  It is important to read the text and watch the videos because you get different information from both but it is still a review. 

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

Watching the films always helps me understand my readings in the text better.  It is helpful to have a visual.  It adds more to the readings in the text because you actually see what is happening and see more of the history.