Depictions of the male figure often support or challenge attitudes toward men within their cultural contexts. Select and clearly identify two works of art depicting the male figure (from the AP Artwork list) that support or challenge attitudes toward men within their cultural contexts. The works may be in any media. One work must date before 1700 C.E., and one must date after 1700 C.E. When identifying the work you select, you should try to include all of the following identifiers: title or designation, name of the artist and/or culture of origin, date of creation, and materials. Using both visual and contextual evidence, analyze both the similarities and the differences between the two works in regards to how each work supports or challenges attitudes toward men within its cultural context. ( Spend 30 minutes)
Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer) or The Canon, c. 450-40 B.C.E., ancient Roman marble copy found in Pompeii of the lost bronze original, 211 cm, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli: This sculpture seems to have a very similar human like identity. The sculpture does not seem anymore significant to others. The only thing I would point out is the emphasis in body structure and muscle structure and the larger than life aspect. This can make viewers percieve the male as strong and possibly intimidating.
ReplyDeleteAugustus of Primaporta, 1st century C.E. (Vatican Museums): I notice in this one as well the proportions. The figure is much larger than life and has a small baby put beside it in order to portray that.
The difference I notice between the sculptures is the clothing. One is wrapped in gold clothing and supreior attire where as one is clothed in nothing. I feel this is relevant because it defenitly identifies social class and relevance.
Great Altar of Zeus and Athena at Pergamon, Unknown Artist, c. 200-150 B.C.E., 35.64 x 33.4 meters, Hellenistic Period, Marble. This Altar depicts Zeus and Athena, and both are portrayed as strong, and powerful, mainly because they are gods, but also because the Ancient Greek culture looked up to figures such as Zeus, Athena, Hercules, etc. Zeus appears strong, and this is very in line, with the time period and setting in which it was made, because of the idealized sculpture.
ReplyDeleteThe Burghers of Calais, Auguste Rodin, Bronze, 1884-95 This sculpture made in the late, 1800s depicts six city council-men, as they walk towards death. Rodin conveys a lot of sorrow throughout the body language of the men, by creating slumped shoulders, solemn, and sometimes anguished faces, and have the men wearing tattered clothing. The figures then show the time in history when sorrow was prevalent, during the War.
The difference between the two pieces above are that the statue of Zeus is very idealized, and full of action and motion. Whereas the sculpture of the six councilmen, is heartbreaking, no one would look at them with envy, and instead of a fast paced motion is portrayed as a slow, and never-ending walk. The similarities between the two pieces are few but the facial expressions are similar, instead of the serious look that most Greek statues have, both of the examples above convey deep emotion. Also, both of the sculptures convey motion, through not having a symmetrical ground and by being able to view the six men all around.
Doryphoros, created out of Bronze in Greece c. 450-440 BCE. This sculpture aimed to create the ideal proportions of the male human figure in Ancient Greece at the time. The sculpture was created using a mathematical system that made all human parts perfectly proportionate. The sculpture is perfectly symmetrical. The message is that, while unattainable, everyone should strive for physical perfection.
ReplyDeleteMan's corset: Dinka artist, Sudan. Beads, fiber, leather. 1900 CE-2010 CE. In African societies, the human body is recognized as a way to display mediums of the arts, such as fashion. Dress was highly valued. The colors, patterns, and materials in such fashion displayed age, social status and prosperity. We can understand through the man's corset that the wearer was between 15-20, and of high wealth.
The difference between the two pieces is that the Greek sculpture aims to show the ideal body, and the corset is used to emphasize the wearers body and character. The sculpture is more "society based" while the corset is more "tradition based". However, both show pride in their community/city. The sculpture shows how a proud Greek man should look in order to preserve the cities image of prestige and strength, while the corset shows how tradition is important to the Dinka society to the wearer.
Androgyne III made by Magdalena Abakanowicz on 1965 C.E. using the following: burlap, resin, wood, nails, and string. This depicts a figure with creases, ridges, and veins of the hardened-fiber surface assume organic characteristics, which is to be reminiscent of the earth's rough surface or the cellular composition of human skin. The artist felt that it was these characteristics and manifestations that make fiber the base unit of the universe. In a way, the universe itself is communicated to all of us through the male figure.
ReplyDeleteDoryphoros was created by an unknown artist from bronze in Greece c. 450-440 BCE. It is clear that the male figure presented is made to represent the ideal proportions of the Greeks at the time. It's symmetry is used to communicate that everyone should be striving for the presented body "perfection". This is unlike the previous piece as the themes evoked from the materials are different. The first suggests that there is beauty within us all as we are natural like the earth while the other suggests in a sense that we should try to be the ideals of the masculine figure. They are both similar in regards that they both use a male figure to communicate thematic concepts.