Final Flashcards
A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha
Buddhism
- Achieve enlightenment by renouncing all worldly desires.
- Attempt to break the karmic cycle of rebirth (aka human suffering)
- Break the suffering through rescinding all desire and ultimately of the “self” with meditation or yoga
3 core ideas of Buddhism
They are the Buddhist writings concerned with the cycle of rebirth
Upanishads
The reincarnation of human/animal forms according to how beings conduct in a previous life which is dependent on their morality in the previous life
Karma in Buddhism
Rigorous self denial and active self restraint of earthy pleasures, (ex. Starring oneself)
Asceticism
3 bends, involves a “serpentine” type pose, appears throughout Indian art in both figures and designs
Tribhanga pose
A dome shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine, often containing his ashes
Stupa
What did the architectural structure of the Stupa symbolize?
A representation of cosmology, a symbol of the heavens surrounding the earth, a way of depicting a shrunken down form of the universe
Why night the Buddha not be represented in art?
If Buddhism is about physical transcension, the representation of his body is not important and there was no appropriate way to represent him. (Ex. Architrave on the great stupa)
How was the Buddha represented in early Buddhist art?
As “the wheel of law”, as wheels were associated with the sun, the cosmos, and the supreme/divine law
- Hiyana/theravada: Buddha as a historical human figure
- Mahayana: Buddha as an eternal god, anyone can become a Buddha in process
2 main paths for Buddhism
- Unhnisha (bumb atop of head)
- Big ear lobs
- Right hand raised
- Monastic robe
Key visual aspects of the Buddha in Mahayana Buddhist art
Representation of the Buddha influenced by Hellenistic art (seen through the folds of the dress)
Gandharan Buddha
In Hindu art, depiction of shiva as a phallus or cosmic pillar demonstrating the power of sexual organs in relation to god.
Linga
An act of prayer/meditation in creating the object itself and for the viewer gazing at it was also meditation
The artist’s process in the making of Hindu art
Artists were like “agents” of a deity, responsible for communicating the mystical power of the deity to humanity following the conventions of representation, individual artistic willer vision is not the objective of their artistic creation
The role of an artist in Hindu art
What is the point of depicting mortal figures in states of sexual congress in Hindu art?
Meant to communicate the joy of divine uniting with humanitylex. Ratha structures)
A temple complex built in the Khmer empire and dedicated to the Hindu God vinshu
Angkor wat
Buddhist architects and artists used what as a teaching tool?
Ornamentation
Refers to Greek art after the classical period
Hellenistic Art
The conquering of the Grecian empire and consequently the culture (art and architecture) was the result of?
The Romans expanding across Europe
A stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription and associated with the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece.
Sarcophogus
What is the difference between Hellenistic art and its Roman copies
Roman copies are more muscular, wider in figure and stiffer in pose in comparison to Hellenistic figures
What represents the shift from classical to Hellenistic art?
The shift to more allegoric/symbolic representations of gods/goddesses
What is the appropriation of roman/grecian style art/architecture representative of in contemporary culture?
Used to reflect a sense of authority/power alike to the Roman Empire
Represented the power and authority of the state all throughout the Roman Empire, an image of propaganda
The image of Augustus
The period between about 250 and 600, which bridged the classical world and the Middle Ages
Late antiquity
Constantine won a battle due to a vision of a cross in the sky and converted Christianity, normalizing across Roman society
Normalization of Christianity in late antiquity
Standardization of visual and linguistic symbols the alpha and the omega, the Christian fish, the Shepard, a new visual language, telling staples with pictures
Christian iconography
A semi-circular space that sits at the back of the church
Apse
A short flight of steps used as a platform by a preacher in a mosque
Minbar
An ornament or pattern resembling a rose
Rosette
Why aren’t figurative images allowed inside sacred spaces and texts in Islam?
Considered a form of idolatry
The holy book of Islam thought to offer protection from evil
Qur’an
Why weren’t artists credited a many Muslim artworks?
Because they want to focus on the divine, as putting the name of an individual artist may be an act of idolatry or pride
A niche in the wall of a mosque, at the nearest point to Mecca, toward which the congregation faces to pray
Mihrab
Scroll like twisting form that looks like beak or wings
Rumi pattern
The direction toward Mecca which Muslims face in prayer
Qiblah
The name for a chapter of the Quran
surah
Decorative element added to architecture often in corners, 3D and made from many varied materials - (earthenware, wood, and stone)
muqarnas