Midterm 1 Flashcards
VISUAL AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS / SINGLE STORY
:)
Implied Lines
Invisible lines that direct our eyes in a piece of art
Contour LInes
lines that define the form of an object/painting
Organic Lines/Shapes
Irregular and imperfect (natural) lines
Inorganic (Geometric) Lines/Shapes
Straight or curving lines that are often found in geometry
Complimentary Colors
Red - Green
Yellow - Purple
Orange - Blue
Analogous Colors
Colors that are very similar to each other, especially when they are next to each other on a color wheel
Tint/Shade
TINT
color + white = lighter color
SHADE
color + black = darker color
Warm vs. Cool Colors
Warm colors—yellow, orange, red and combinations therein—breathe energy, positivity and a sense of sunshine into any room.
Cool colors—green, blue and purple—evoke relaxation and calm.
Contrast
Creating major visual differences between multiple elements
Monochromatic vs. Polychromatic
- The word “chrome” comes from the Greek word chrôma, which means “color”
Monochromatic: when all colors in a painting derive from one primary color
Polychromatic: when a painting includes several contrasting colors
Atmospheric Perspective
When artists portray objects that are meant to look farther away as paler and less-detailed
Linear Perspective
Relative size, shape, and position of objects are determined by drawn or imagined lines converging at a point on the horizon
Texture
The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or substance
Balance
The way that visual aspects and elements are distributed within a piece
Symmetry
Mirror/Bilateral Symmetry
Radial Symmetry
Asymmetry (Balanced)
Hieratic Scale
Figures that appear larger than others in order to show their importance
Iconography
Visual symbols intended for a specific culture
Visual (Formal) Analysis vs. Contextual (Historical) Analysis
Visual (Formal) Analysis: analyzing a piece of art or literature according to physical appearance or purely on content
Contextual (Historical) Analysis: analyzing a piece of art or literature according to things like time period, background or beliefs of the artist, contemporary styles
Be able to describe a piece of art using some of the elements of art and principles of composition.
:)
Why might both visual and contextual analysis be important to understanding a piece of art or literature?
To get the whole picture!
What is iconography? How does understanding the iconography of a specific group or culture help us better understand their art?
Symbols used in art that would be familiar to a specific culture. Understanding iconography can greatly enhance our appreciation for their art.
(UNDERSTANDING -> APPRECIATION!)
Understand the meaning of the terms above. Why might an artist choose to use one or more of these elements? For example, why might an artist choose warm colors over cool colors? Why might an artist choose to use hieratic scale? How might the use of sharp contrast affect the feeling of a painting, etc.?
All art is intended to create certain emotions, make us think, draw our attention to a particular aspect, or teach us a lesson!
How can a single story be dangerous? How does this apply to history? How does it apply to us?
A single story dramatically limits our perspective. With history and in our lives today, it can lead to misinformed judgements based on false perceptions/beliefs.
PREHISTORY AND MESOPOTAMIA
:)
Prehistory / Prehistoric
Before Written Records
Ziggurat
A large temple base made of mud brick (common in ancient Mesopotamia)
Cuneiform
OLDEST KNOWN WRITING SYSTEM!
Wedge-shaped characters used in the ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, Persia, and Ugarit–surviving mainly impressed on clay tablets
Code of Hammurabi
A Babylonian legal text composed during 1755–1750 BC. It is the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East. It is written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian, purportedly by Hammurabi, sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon
Stele
An upright slab (usually stone) that contained inscription or sculpture (or both), and was used to commemorate an event or memorialize a person.
Polytheism
The belief in multiple Gods (having affairs and stuff)
Civilization
Human society with its well developed social organizations, or the culture and way of life of a society or country at a particular period in time
Hammurabi
The sixth king of the Amorite First Dynasty of Babylon, best known for his famous law code which served as the model for others, including the Mosaic Law of the Bible. He was the first ruler able to successfully govern all of Mesopotamia, without revolt, following his initial conquest.
Venus of Willendorf
A prehistoric sculpture that was created around 25,000 BCE and has exaggerated features such as breasts, abdomen, and hips (11 cm tall)
Cave Paintings at Lascaux
Some of the earliest and most detailed human paintings, located in southeast France. Depictions of animals.
Stonehenge
The most architecturally sophisticated and only surviving stone circle in the world. Could have served as an ancient burial ground as well as a ceremonial complex and temple of the dead.
Votive Sculptures
Objects offered to a god or goddess at a sacred place, such as a temple. Symbolic!
Stele of Hammurabi
A seven-foot-tall piece of basalt that was inscribed with the law code the Babylonian King Hammurabi presented to his people
What type of art do we find in prehistoric Europe? How do these types of art fit with what we know about Neolithic lifestyles?
Cave paintings and rock art, Petroglyphs and carvings, Portable art (ex: Venus figurines), megalithic structures (ex: Stonehenge). Each of these arts reinforce the idea that the Neolithic lifestyle included much symbolism and rituals, community and social organization, agricultural practices, and astronomical knowledge
Why are there so many “mysteries” surrounding prehistoric art?
Lack of written records, Aging and preservation issues, Symbolic and abstract nature, Contextual ambiguity =
How did the move to cities change the type of art that was produced? Why?
The transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled communities and eventually to urban centers during prehistory significantly influenced the types of art that were produced.
How did the function of Sumerian votive sculptures affect how they are portrayed?
They were created to portray continual worship to the gods, so they often had a reverent, serene, calm appearance.
How did Naram-Sin and Hammurabi use art to solidify their power and/or to justify their decrees?
Both Mesopotamian leaders commissioned artworks that communicated their divine right to rule, their military prowess, and their role as lawgivers. (victory Stele of Naram-Sin and Stele of Hammurabi)
What was the Code of Hammurabi? In what ways did the code encourage greater equity? In what ways was it inequitable?
The code consists of 282 laws covering a wide range of subjects, including criminal justice, property rights, family law, and commercial transactions.
Greater Equity: standardized punishments, codification of laws, protection of the weak
Inequitable: social class distinctions, gender inequality, harsh punishments, slavery
How might Sumerian ziggurats fit into the description of the Tower of Babel given in the Bible?
Architectural Similarity, Construction Materials, Cultural and Religious Context, Symbolic Themes
OLD TESTAMENT
:)
Testament
An agreement or covenant between God and man
Babylonian Captivity
A time when the Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple, took many Jewish people captive, and conquered the kingdom of Judah, which was where many Jewish people lived.
Lost Ten Tribes
Northern Kingdom is overrun by the Assyrians and people are scattered or killed
United Kingdom of Israel
All of the Tribes of Israel appointed Saul to be their king (even after Samuel warned them against having a king)
Abraham
Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Isaac
Abraham’s son, the second patriarch and father of Jacob (Israel)
Saul
The first monarch of the United Kingdom of Israel
David
The third monarch of the United Kingdom of Israel. A young shepherd and harpist who becomes king after defeating Goliath. He ruled Israel after Saul’s son–who was only king for 2 years.
Solomon
Son of David, became the fourth king of Israel and built the first temple in Jerusalem. Known to be wise and good king.
Torah
The first 5 books of the Old Testament, or “the law”
Chiasmus
Sometimes referred to as INVERTED PARALLELISM, because it presents a series of ideas in one order and then restates the same ideas in the opposite order
Parallelism
Using repetition to emphasize an idea (common literary device in Psalms)
Metaphor
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable (“YOU ARE A SUMMER’S DAY”)
Simile
A figure of speech that compares two otherwise dissimilar things, often introduced by the words “LIKE” or “AS”
Acrostic Poetry
A poem in which the first letter of each line spells out a word, name, or phrase when read vertically
Figurative Imagery
Figurative imagery relies on figurative language, like similes and metaphors, to engage the reader while describing things
Dualism
The division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided
(ex: the idea that the universe is governed by two supreme forces, good and evil)
Psalms
This book of the Old Testament reads differently from many of the others because of its emphasis on EMOTION and our PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO GOD
Solomon’s Temple
the First Temple in Jerusalem
Abrahamic Covenant
Much of the Old Testament is centered around promises made by God to Abraham and his posterity
Proverbs
Concise bits of WISDOM and instruction that deal with how to live a moral, true, and virtuous life. Attempts to answer, “WHAT IS TRUE WISDOM?”
- Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Monotheism
Belief in only one God
Jerusalem
Holy city
What Mesopotamian empire destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th Century BCE? Why do we refer to these people as the Lost Tribes of Israel after this event?
The Assyrian Empire destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Lost Tribes = Scattering of God’s people
How did the Babylonian Captivity effect the Israelites and the content of the Old Testament?
This period lasted about 70 years, during which the Jews were away from their homeland. It’s an important event in Jewish history, marked by suffering and exile, but it also led to spiritual reflection and eventual return to their land.
How does the God of the Old Testament interact with human beings? How might this be different than the gods of Mesopotamia?
Jehovah is perfect, just, merciful, and abides by laws. He desires a personal, covenant relationship with us. VERY different from the other made up gods, who were imperfect and often selfish/prideful.
How is the story of Abraham and Isaac symbolic of Christ? Where do most Jews and Christians believe Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac?
Mount Moriah is traditionally identified with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This site holds significant religious importance for both Jews and Christians. In Jewish tradition, it is believed to be the location where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac, and in Christian tradition, it is also seen as a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
What is the significance of Abraham to Jews, Christians, and Muslims?
Patriarch, Father of Faith, Prophet
What is the Abrahamic Covenant?
(A.K.A. New & Everlasting Covenant) For Abraham and his seed:
- Land of Inheritance (Canaan)
- Posterity (as sand and stars)
- Nations Blessed (gathering)
- Preparing (2nd coming)
- PRIESTHOOD (*eternal!)
Why was Saul so jealous of David? How did this jealousy affect Saul’s behavior and judgment? What can we learn from Saul?
David was getting a lot of attention and praise, which made Saul jealous. This insecurity clouded Saul’s perspective and led to some grave sins.