1. Functions of Early Art:
I think the cave artists were trying to explain their culture; their world. Explaining their techniques, practices, and values in their society.
I think there were so many animals due to their importance. They provided materials for the people and were crucial for survival.
These paintings tell us about what was important to the people. Showing how observant they were of animals, through their realistic portraits. Due to their observance of nature they likely participated in hunter-gather techniques, which can be again shown through the portraits of different species. The artwork present in the caves also depicted ritualistic or religion present in the Paleolithic society. The paintings also tell us about certain tools and styles used in these paintings as they all resemble a similar style.
Difficulties include the natural landscaping of the caves. When walking through the virtual tour it was present that there were lots of challenging rugged terrain. This would make it difficult to paint portraits in certain areas. The darkness of the caves also provided a challenge to overcome, finding a light source such as lamps or torches and keeping them lit.
3 possible functions of this art could include: rituals, story-telling, and keeping traditions present. Rituals can be shown through art as they may have been symbolic in ceremonies or practices. These art-pieces can be used as story-telling for future generations about topics like the animals and hunting techniques. Lastly, this art could possibly be used to keep tradition. Reinforcing common ideas and practices the people participated in.
2. Commonalities in Function: Both Lascaux cave art and modern art have similar functions of purpose, intention, and expression. I think all art shares a commonality of purpose, whether that is to inform, persuade, or evoke happiness, art is purposeful. In the caves I believe it was to inform future generations, as well as keep tradition alive. Similar to purpose; Intention, is also a shared idea of both forms of art as the artist in the cave had an objective behind their work. Modern art often has the same, with a goal or passion behind it. Lastly, expression is present in both forms of art as emotions can be seen through art. Art has evolved through time but I think these commonalities have remained the same and will forever continue to.
3. Introduce Us to Your Favorite Art:
For those who practice contemporary dance, it serves as a way to express emotions. What is trying to be communicated can vary from human experiences, to complex and deep story-telling.
I wouldn’t say there is necessarily a complete culture surrounding this art form but there are characteristics limited to this specific type of dance. Examples include dance terminology, often a set of discipline and routine, as well as simple costumes or athleisure wear to allow for the dance to be the main focus of any performance.
Benefits of this art form include emotion release, increased physical health and activity, as well as flexibility. It is often found as therapeutic, by helping to reduce stress and tension. To a whole society, this art form is often beautiful in its portrayal of stories. Detrimental effects can include potential injury, and certain negative effects of competition.
Hey Cruz! I really liked reading your post. I think you explained the Lascaux cave paintings really well. I agree that animals were super important to early humans, and it makes sense that they focused on animals more than people. I also liked how you mentioned rituals and storytelling as possible functions of the art—I hadn’t thought about keeping traditions alive like that, but it makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteI also liked your point about how modern art and early art share purpose, intention, and expression. It’s cool to think that even thousands of years ago, art was used to communicate ideas and feelings, just like today. Your part about contemporary dance was really interesting too! I like how you talked about how it expresses emotions and tells stories. I think you’re right that there’s a culture with its own language, routines, and costumes, even if it’s smaller than something like ballet. I also liked that you mentioned both the benefits and the challenges, like injury or competition. Overall, great post! It really made me think about how connected art is across time.
You lost a couple of sections to an absence of text-wrapping. I'm going to copy them below so I can grade them.
ReplyDelete_______________________________________________
1. Functions of Early Art:
I think the cave artists were trying to explain their culture; their world. Explaining their techniques, practices, and values in their society.
I think there were so many animals due to their importance. They provided materials for the people and were crucial for survival.
These paintings tell us about what was important to the people. Showing how observant they were of animals, through their realistic portraits. Due to their observance of nature they likely participated in hunter-gather techniques, which can be again shown through the portraits of different species. The artwork present in the caves also depicted ritualistic or religion present in the Paleolithic society. The paintings also tell us about certain tools and styles used in these paintings as they all resemble a similar style.
Difficulties include the natural landscaping of the caves. When walking through the virtual tour it was present that there were lots of challenging rugged terrain. This would make it difficult to paint portraits in certain areas. The darkness of the caves also provided a challenge to overcome, finding a light source such as lamps or torches and keeping them lit.
3 possible functions of this art could include: rituals, story-telling, and keeping traditions present. Rituals can be shown through art as they may have been symbolic in ceremonies or practices. These art-pieces can be used as story-telling for future generations about topics like the animals and hunting techniques. Lastly, this art could possibly be used to keep tradition. Reinforcing common ideas and practices the people participated in.
3. Introduce Us to Your Favorite Art:
For those who practice contemporary dance, it serves as a way to express emotions. What is trying to be communicated can vary from human experiences, to complex and deep story-telling.
I wouldn’t say there is necessarily a complete culture surrounding this art form but there are characteristics limited to this specific type of dance. Examples include dance terminology, often a set of discipline and routine, as well as simple costumes or athleisure wear to allow for the dance to be the main focus of any performance.
Benefits of this art form include emotion release, increased physical health and activity, as well as flexibility. It is often found as therapeutic, by helping to reduce stress and tension. To a whole society, this art form is often beautiful in its portrayal of stories. Detrimental effects can include potential injury, and certain negative effects of competition.
Feedback:
ReplyDeleteSection 1:
a. Message (3/5) - " think the cave artists were trying to explain their culture; their world."
Us? Why would they want to teach people who don't exist yet about their culture? Keep in mind how costly this activity was in terms of time, materials and risk. Would teaching future populations about their culture give them a return on that cost making it worth their while?
Perhaps we need to figure out *who* was the target of their message? Themselves? Future generations of THIS population? Other human groups? It is easier to figure out what they are saying when you figure out who they are talking to.
Consider the fact that hunter gather populations were highly mobile. It is possible that these paintings were intended to provide information or when the population returned to the site later.
b. Animals (4/5) - No denial that the animals are important to them, but this doesn't really explain why humans are nearly absent or depicted as simplistic stick figures. Again, consider how costly these images were to produce. If you have limited time, light and pigments, would you waste them on images you don't need to see? Would it be important to understand themselves (i.e., the people)? Or understand the animals that are available in the area? Would it be important to understand themselves (i.e., the people)? Or understand the animals that are available in the area?
c. Other aspects of culture (4/5) - Good, but with regard to what it tells us about this population, does it really tell us much about their "gathering" practices? Seems like the information is solely upon hunting. Considering hunting is traditionally a male practice, with women doing the gathering, does this tell you anything about who was doing these paintings? Would the paintings have been different if women were doing the painting?
d. Difficulties (4/5) - Good. Additionally, what about the materials used for painting? Did they use something like brushes? If so, did they have to make these? And what about the pigments? Those had to be created as well. And then all of those had to be carried deep into the caves, in the dark.
e. Functions (4/5) - What type of ceremonies? Keep in mind that these caves were difficult to reach. In all likelihood, elders in the community would not likely have been able to reach them. Can you explain a bit how this might have worked and for what benefit?
I agree with the "storytelling" aspect, particularly for young hunters learning how to hunt.
I need a bit more to explain how "keeping tradition" comes into play here. Can you explain how these paintings are necessary for that?
Possible functions:
a. Story-telling function
b. Teaching young hunters (educational function)
c. Record-keeping function
d. Recording events (Historical function)
Section 2: (10/10) - Art functions as far more than self-expression. You are on the right track with the reference to art being able to "inform". Art is can communicate information and ideas or record events for future populations. It can generate anger or support or passion. It can inspire others to act or bolster a person's courage. It can teach and inform and make people aware of important issues or concerns. One great example of this is photography, which is used to communicate and inform people of events, positive or negative, and can be used to inspire people to act or warn of impending horrific events. Think a bit more deeply on this. How many of these functions can also be applied to these cave paintings?
Section 3:
DeleteImage (5/5)
a. Function (4/5) - Good, but would have liked a bit more exploration here, particularly with regard to story telling. This has been a common function of dance from early in human history.
b. Culture (5/5) - If you are "in" the culture, you may not recognize how much culture there actually is! But an outsider will definitely recognize the different language, different behaviors, different clothing and different rules of behavior compared to the non-dance world.
c. Cost/Benefit (4/5) - Good on personal costs and benefits, but are there any that are experienced by the population? Dance (like ballet) was used for political purposes in countries like Russia and could even be used to allow two countries to share commonalities. This can also lead to tensions when that exchange goes "wrong" for one country. Thinking of Mikhail Baryshnikov before he defected to Canada. Dance in general can also be used to revolt against a controlling force, such as dance was used by slaves in the south.
Section 2 had a one point deduction: (9/10)
DeleteSection 3, Part (b) should be out of 10, so (10/10).
DeleteHello Cruz, I appreciate the originality of your post. The ritualistic aspect of the drawings definitely lead us to believe some of this was spiritual. Not to mention the darkness of the caves. It is very impressive how vivid the paintings were despite the lack of sufficient lighting. The paintings do a great job of leaving the art up for interpretation. Dance is a great form of expressive art. Your pictures were great examples of the art of dance.
ReplyDeleteHello Cruz, this was a good summary about the functions behind the Lascaux paintings like writing down history or spiritual aspects of the paintings since they seem to have an importance to the animals, which you mentioned that they needed their materials/food. I think every art piece can function in the same way that the paintings of the cave did, emotion, background, history, education, and identity are all part of each art piece, even now it is utilized in that same way. You used a perfect example of the art through dancing. Great post!
ReplyDelete