The Stuff that Dreams Are Remade Of Flashcards
When did the tradition of using butter as a sculpting medium originate, and how was it associated with entertainment during meals? (A1)
The tradition of using butter as a sculpting medium dates back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods, particularly in the practice of “banquet art.” It was a form of entertainment during meals, signifying special occasions. The earliest reference to this practice is from 1536, detailing creations by Pope Pius V’s cook Bartolomeo Scappi.
Who was Caroline Shawk Brooks, and how did she contribute to the art of butter sculpting? (A1)
Caroline Shawk Brooks (1840 – 1913) was an American sculptor who, after marrying a farmer, began creating butter sculptures in 1867 to promote the product. She gained admiration for her use of traditional tools and exhibited her butter sculptures in galleries and exhibitions. One notable work was “Dreaming Iolanthe,” a butter sculpture of the blind princess Iolanthe exhibited in 1874.
Who was Daniels, another butter sculptor mentioned? (A1)
John Karl Daniels, a Norwegian-American sculptor, used butter as a medium. His creations were featured in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904 and the Minnesota State Fair in 1910.
How does artist Erika Iris Simmons create art using cassette tapes, and what is the theme of her series called “Ghost in the Machine”? (A2)
Erika Iris Simmons specializes in using non-traditional media like old cassette tapes and reel tapes to create art. Her series, “Ghost in the Machine,” features works of art portraying celebrities and musicians such as Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan, Robert DiNero, Jimi Hendrix, Ian Curtis, and Jim Morrison.
What is the significance of the materials Erika Iris Simmons uses in her artwork, and how does she describe her experience working with them? (A2)
Erika Iris Simmons finds it fulfilling to work with strange, older materials like old books, audio cassettes, playing cards, magazines, and credit cards. She appreciates using materials that have a history of being discarded or donated, emphasizing the unique character of items past their prime in creating her art.
What is the impact and theme of Blain’s installation, characterized by a three-dimensional grid of strings and shoes, and how does it convey narratives related to war and its consequences? (A3)
Blain’s installation, marked by a spartan grid of strings and shoes, creates a nearly deafening silence that evolves as one navigates the space. The installation explores ominous connections, such as facelessness and force, blind obedience and inhuman strength, evoking haunting narratives and dark associations related to war and its often abstract yet very real consequences.
What recent discovery in North America sheds light on ancient rock art, and who were the key figures involved? (A4)
Recently, Professor Jan Simek and colleagues from the University of Tennessee uncovered giant glyphs dating back almost 2,000 years in an Alabama cave, depicting human forms and animals, including a 3-meter-long diamondback rattlesnake. They used digital analysis, specifically photogrammetry, to reveal these images in a cave with a low ceiling.
How did researchers determine the age of the cave art, and what challenges did they face in studying it? (A4)
The dating of the findings was established by analyzing residue from a flaming torch, dated with radiocarbon to 133–433 AD, consistent with pottery fragments in the cave. The challenge lay in the cave’s low ceiling (60cm high), making it impossible to view the large images directly. Photogrammetry, a technique involving thousands of overlapping photographs digitally combined in 3D, allowed researchers to virtually revealing the complete artr.
Why is the exploration of ancient rock art significant, and what technological advancements are aiding these discoveries? (A4)
Ancient rock art, found worldwide and at least 64,000 years old, holds historical value, but much remains undiscovered due to factors like erosion and cave conditions. Recent advancements in techniques like photogrammetry and reflectance transformation imaging (RTI), similar to airport security technology, are enhancing archaeological searches, potentially bringing more hidden rock art to light in the future.
What is the significance of Leang Timpuseng Cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and how does its cave art contribute to our understanding of prehistoric human migration and artistic development? (A5)
Leang Timpuseng Cave, located in the Maros-Pangkep caves on the island of Sulawesi, contains some of the oldest Stone Age art globally, dating back to at least 37,900 BCE. Discovered by a team led by Dr. Anthony Dosseto of the University of Wollongong, the cave paintings, including a hand stencil and a depiction of a “babirusa” (pig-deer), were dated using Uranium/Thorium (U/Th) techniques. The findings challenge previous beliefs about the timing of human cognitive and artistic development, suggesting that prehistoric art emerged globally and may have originated before the migration out of Africa.
What are the key findings regarding the age of the cave art? (A5)
An Australian-Indonesian team, including researchers Maxime Aubert and Adam Brumm, employed a “uranium decay technique” to date 14 paintings in seven limestone caves at Maros Pangkep, Sulawesi. The results revealed that most artwork is around 25,000 years old, with the oldest hand stencil in the world found in Leang Timpuseng Cave dated to at least 37,900 BCE. Additionally, a pig-deer painting in the same cave was dated to at least 33,400 BCE, placing it among the world’s oldest figurative art.
How did the discovery of Sulawesi cave paintings impact previous theories about the origins of human artistic capabilities? (A5)
The Sulawesi cave art challenges the idea that “modern humans” developed significant artistic abilities much later, around 15,000 BCE. The findings indicate that similar cave art was created at opposite ends of the world, suggesting a shared creative ability among modern humans. This challenges previous theories that suggested a “cultural and cognitive advance” occurred in Europe due to interactions with Neanderthals. Instead, it supports the idea that modern humans developed artistic capabilities before leaving Africa, as seen in the Blombos Cave Engravings and Diepkloof Eggshell Engravings in South Africa.
How does the presence of ancient art in Leang Timpuseng Cave challenge existing assumptions about prehistoric art, and what implications might these findings hold for future archaeological investigations? (A5)
Leang Timpuseng Cave, as the oldest known prehistoric art site in Southeast Asia, disrupts previous beliefs that there was a lack of art at the same time in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Americas. These discoveries hint at a shared creative capacity among modern humans, suggesting the development of artistic abilities occurred before their migration out of Africa.
Who is known as the father of evolution, and what significant voyage did he undertake? (A6)
What role did the ornithologist John Gould play in Charles Darwin’s research, and how did Darwin’s findings contribute to the theory of evolution?
Charles Darwin is known as the father of evolution. In 1831, he embarked on a voyage on the HMS Beagle, serving as the ship’s naturalist, with the aim of studying the local flora and fauna around South America.
How did the Galapagos Islands influence Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and what key species did he study there? (A6)
During the five weeks the HMS Beagle spent in the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin conducted crucial research on the geology and native species. The most famous among these were “Darwin’s Finches,” which he brought back to England. Although not true finches, they played a pivotal role in the development of Darwin’s ideas on natural selection and speciation.
What role did the ornithologist John Gould play in Charles Darwin’s research, and how did Darwin’s findings contribute to the theory of evolution? (A6)
After returning to England, Charles Darwin sought the assistance of ornithologist John Gould. Gould identified 14 different bird specimens, 12 of which were entirely new species, emphasizing their uniqueness to the Galapagos Islands. This observation, along with Darwin’s broader experiences, contributed to the formulation of Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection, later detailed in his influential work “On the Origin of Species.”
What happened in September 1940 that led to the discovery of the Lascaux cave? (A7)
In September 1940, while walking through a forest in southern France, four teenagers discovered the Lascaux cave when their dog fell into a hole. Upon investigating the hole’s echo, the boys crawled in and stumbled upon a cave adorned with hundreds of prehistoric paintings, making it one of the world’s most significant examples of prehistoric art.
Why was the original Lascaux cave closed to the public in 1963? (A7)
The original Lascaux cave was closed to the public in 1963 due to concerns about potential damage to the prehistoric paintings caused by the breath, sweat, carbon dioxide, and humidity generated by the increasing number of visitors. The preservation of the delicate artwork became a priority, leading to the decision to seal off the cave.
How has the French government addressed the closure of the original cave, and what is the cost? (A7)
To address the closure of the original Lascaux cave, the French government invested $64 million in constructing a meticulous replica of the cave. This replica, located next to the actual cave, aims to recreate the emotional and authentic experience of the original discovery. The investment underscores the government’s commitment to preserving and sharing the cultural heritage embodied in the Lascaux cave paintings.
What makes the replica cave experience authentic? (A7)
The replica cave is designed to mirror the original Lascaux cave visit. Starting outside, visitors gradually move towards the cave entrance, surrounded by sounds of the forest. Inside, the temperature is cool, emulating the real cave. Alongside, interactive exhibits with personalized tablets in multiple languages allow visitors to explore the cave paintings, ensuring an immersive and authentic experience without unnecessary complexity.
How has the French government addressed the closure of the original cave, and what is the cost? (A7)
How has the French government addressed the closure of the original cave, and what is the cost?
Answer: To address the closure of the original Lascaux cave, the French government invested $64 million in constructing a meticulous replica of the cave. This replica, located next to the actual cave, aims to recreate the emotional and authentic experience of the original discovery. The investment underscores the government’s commitment to preserving and sharing the cultural heritage embodied in the Lascaux cave paintings.
What is the main idea of the proposal regarding a stone pyramid in Detroit, and who proposed this idea? (Name of person, association, year, size of proposed pyramid, location, and estimated cost) (A8)
A century-old proposal to build a full-scale replica of the Giza’s Great Pyramid in Detroit, presented by E.S. Wheeler of the Association of Engineering Societies in 1908. The proposal suggested constructing a 485-foot tall pyramid on a twelve-acre site between Fort Street, Griswold, and Cass in Detroit, with an estimated cost of $36,000,000 at that time.
How did E.S. Wheeler justify his whimsical proposal, and what were the projected capabilities of the United States in building such pyramids according to him? (A8)
E.S. Wheeler justified his whimsical proposal by expressing the need for a playful paper that allows for free use of fancy and imagination, contrasting with the typically serious and technical presentations. He estimated that with the available workforce in the United States, if the country were to dedicate itself entirely to building pyramids, it could produce two pyramids every three days, based on a day’s work being worth a dollar and a half.
What did artist Phillipe Maindron create in Paris, and what motivated him to build it? (A9)
Phillipe Maindron created a mini Eiffel Tower in Paris, around a tenth of the size of the original. He named his creation “Eiffela” and expressed his desire to create something “carefree” as a tribute to the iconic landmark.
How tall is the mini Eiffel Tower, and how long will it remain in place? (A9)
Despite being significantly smaller than the original Eiffel Tower, Phillipe Maindron’s mini Eiffel Tower stands at just over 32 meters tall. Contrary to initial skepticism, it was confirmed not to be an April Fools’ joke, and it will be on display until April 10th.
What are some facts about the original Eiffel Tower mentioned in the mini Eiffel tower article? (A9)
The original Eiffel Tower, completed in March 1889, stands at about 330 meters tall. It started construction in 1887 and required a team of 150-300 people. The tower is made up of 18,038 iron parts, 2,500,000 rivets, and four pillars, and it was initially intended to be a temporary structure. Despite its temporary nature, the Eiffel Tower still stands today, serving various purposes over the years, including functioning as a military radio post and a broadcast point for TV.
Who is Andrew Goldman, and what is he doing with virtual reality in his history class at Gonzaga University? (A10)
Andrew Goldman is a history professor and archaeologist at Gonzaga University. He is integrating virtual reality technology into his class on Pompeii, allowing students to explore ancient Roman cityscapes using smartphones and $5 cardboard viewers.
What technology is Lithodomos VR providing, and how many virtual reality experiences have they created? (A10)
Lithodomos VR, an Australian company, is providing virtual reality experiences of ancient cities. They have created nearly 400 such experiences, primarily for tourists but also for educational purposes.
How did Goldman first learn about Lithodomos VR, and what collaboration occurred between him and the founder, Simon Young? (A10)
Goldman learned about Lithodomos VR two years ago in Turkey while working on a project. Simon Young, the founder of Lithodomos VR and an Australian archaeologist, visited Goldman, leading to a collaboration. They decided to use the virtual reality technology in a classroom setting.
