Module 8 - Video Response

1.    Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure- I decided to pick this video because by the titles it looked like this film had many similarities to More Human Than Human. I wanted to pick a film that would help me get a better understand of what people in ancient history used to think about humans. I also wanted to know how the word human in each of these titles would connect with art.

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

More Human Than Human-The key concepts in this film seeks to understand why unrealistic figures are so prominent throughout the evolution of painting and sculpture. The Venus of Willendorf , one of the oldest representations of the body ever found, the film talks about stimulus- and response theories that suggest the brain is hard wired to favor exaggeration. The value of the Venus of Willendorf is worth nearly sixty million dollars. This statue was made with great skill to show off mothering aspects maybe but it definitely wanted to pronounce these assets. This statue was produced all over the world in France and Rome that is a replica of the original. The film talks about exaggeration and where it was formed to make humans draw the human body with such unrealistic body features.

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure- The key concepts about this film is how sculptures began to portray the actual human body. Artists developed these sculptures to be as realistic to the human body as possible. This film evokes ancient obsessions with the body, and humanity's place in nature, that are alive and well today.

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

These videos relate to the reading in the text because they are both concentrating on ancient art that has plenty to do with history. The both described the realism of sculptures and unrealistic features that were made on these sculptures. They both help us to get a better understand of when the human body was developed properly through art. They both connect with the idea of religion and how important that was in ancient history when it came to reading ancient artwork to find out the stories that lie beneath them.

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

I believe that these films help me understand exactly where the drawing and sculpting of the human body originated. The drawings of humans on poetry helps historians today to see exactly what was happening centuries ago and how those Egyptians and Greek cultures lived. These images that are all over poetry was their way of advertisement which is not something that I would ever think about when looking at a piece of ancient art work.