Szenina Russo
1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
For the first video, I chose to learn about Buddhism. I am currently in an Islamic art lectures class and in this part of the world there was an exchange of ideas. The Eastern world was very connected through trade, which allowed the spread of concepts, ideas and art. I find other religions fascinating and how they influence people. Throughout the video, I could see where there was an overlap of culture occurring. I found this really interesting and educational about the way that people view spirituality and how to internally conquer happiness. I really didn't know much about this form of religion until this video, I knew the very basics so I really enjoyed this video.
The second video I chose was on African art because I am ignorant when it comes to this type of artwork. I want to know and understand this culture and the way that they lived their life. With this subject matter, also comes the understanding of the artwork that they produced in this area of the world. I choose this video to become more informed about the basis of how these people created art, what materials they use and the purpose in which they created imagery. I was interested in this area of the world because they seem to make art based upon spirituality which is very different from the European approach to the arts.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
563 was the birth of Siddhartha who as the founder of Buddhism in India, he had a pleasant life until he saw the horrors of life. He met a monk and began to center his life around meditation. After Siddhartha was enlightened, this practice was born. Bodh Gaya is a place were many people pilgrimage to, it is symbolic in many of the important themes of Buddhism. The gateway of the temple is carved inscriptions and the way of his teaches are. Pleasure and want are the evils in this religion, once one lives without this, you will reach enlightenment. Buddha’s symbolic meaning is love, this image is found in temples. There was a Golden Age that swept over India once people became familiar with these teachings, he died soon after this. There was a spilt of two groups, one group looking for nirvana and others look for companions. Buddha was a saint and a savor.
Art and Architecture were influenced by these wave of spirituality. Honoring centers and relics of Buddhism became very important with architecture and narrative art. There are stone elements are the top of the rounded temples, these places are also seen as a place to pilgrimage to. Gateways are cut in stone, passage to the stupa, this shows scenes of his life. Buddha is never seen in human form, and is shown as a animals. In all directions, narratives of Buddha's life, temptations, desires as well as rewards are represented in carved stone reliefs. Maidens hold the supports on the sides of the gateways. Mandala's of animals, flowers and mythological creatures are carved on the staircase up to the stupa. This is all part of the process to virtue and right living. The third tiered structure at the top of the building, represents the three levels to heaven, also known as nirvana.
Buddhism would spread, Indonesia would be the home of the largest Buddhist structure on a hill. There is a center stupa on the top of the large, six story high structure in the shape of a lotus flower. All over Asia, people would voyage here. Again, there are many carved paintings of the process one should go to reach internal enlightening. It took about 100 years to build, an eruption occurred and was abandoned until the 1990s when it was restored. The 1985, shrine would include a ceramic saint woman on the interior. There is a simplicity to these styles of buildings, pilgrimages must leave their shoes at the door. The Buddha hall can fit 2,000 people within it, without any piers it uses bent wood. Monasteries are built for the practice of paradox, prayer and inner peace for people all over the Eastern world. It focused on treating all living things with respect and kindness.
The second video on African Art is centered around the culture and people who lived within it. Art was a part of daily life, in homes and utensils, dress and other ornamentation. Art is especially important in rituals, statues or masks reflect objects that would be used during rituals or dance. Wood and straw were popular materials, therefore artifacts are about 200 years old. These objects have been passed down. Sound, color and movements are imperative to understand African art. Aesthetic evolution began with cave paintings on rocks, representing animals. This could have been a reflection of hunting rituals or practices. Humans are also seen on rock art throughout the continent, Southern African art could have been recent due to the continuity of hunting and gathering. The spread of agricultural life developed civilizations along the Nile. Egyptian way of life influences civilizations across the Sahara desert. In Medieval times, African empires became to come in their own as well as distinguishable culture. Rulers or pharaohs were represented through statutes. Gold work, carved chairs reflect the ruler's power. In Southeastern Africa, Zimbabwe reflected a well developed community surrounded by a way. There was also a tower, and pharaohs within would rule the interior land. There was national emblems shown in statue forms.
African art was just recently discovered and looked at as primitive, or exotic. This was a style that stepped away from naturalistic forms. The perceptual and conceptual approaches to art are both seen in African art, where the European art was very centered on perceptual. African art is an abstraction of the realistic world and added meaning to symbolism. Ritualistic meanings in art is very important, in other regions masks, decoration, and utilitarian objects are very important. Ancestors and spiritually is very important in this area of the world. Sculptures of statues show rulers, ancestors, spirits all represent all diverse aspects of life. The dead are present among the living through statues, where offering would be left near them. There are also statues that represent the sacrificial rituals. Texture and the decision to show a statue as a profile or straight on provide diverse meanings. Theater and ritual are combined in the masks used during rituals, that make them in touch with the universe. Animal masks are meant to represent hunting, beauty, courage, harvest or other elements.
2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
Both of these arts of study were mentioned and had a section in the text. The text goes over the fundamentals of the religion of Buddhism as well as the culture of the African descended peoples. I thought that the videos went into more detail of spirituality and more examples or types of art that were found. The text goes over the most well known art found or main practices of Buddhism. The text refers to how African art is interlaced with the daily activities as well as ritual purposes. As for Buddhism, the text describes the basis of the religion and the temples that are created for its purpose. Main temples and other places of worship are shown in the text as well as the narrative carvings.
3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
The first video on Buddhism was very informal in introducing the idea of the religion. It began with its origins, why it caught on to other cultures or spread in the Eastern world. I thought that it was interesting that the film was almost a narrative of a man viewing and looking at temples or places of worship. I really enjoyed the visual aspects of this video, it was easier to understand what people of that time period were thinking and wanted to convey. I also found it interesting how there were parts of the video focusing on the people practicing the religion.
In the second video, it was very informative and focuses directly to the culture of the African American people. I thought that this whole video was captivating, perhaps this was because of my interest in the subject matter but I thought that the content was intriguing. The culture itself that these people lived in is so diverse in process and thinking to the western world. I think that the video did a good job of being concise with information and relaying that information to the viewer. I personally really enjoyed the video and the ways these people used visual imagery in their lives.
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