Entry 6: Video Review

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Beyond the Classical: Byzantine and Later Greek Art:

One key idea learned in this film was that the subject matter for Greek art was mainly humans/people because that's what they were mostly fixated on. Another key idea was that Byzantine paintings inspired the creation and improvement of other paintings to come in the future. I also learned that Greece is still a religious country as of today.

The Greek Awakening: Art from the 5th Century BC:

One key idea learned from this film is that sculptures were very important to Greek art, and once again the subject matters were humans. Gods were even depicted as human beings. Another interesting key idea I learned was that the Parthenon was both a Christian church and an Islamic mosque which was pretty cool. The Parthenon was destroyed several times long ago so the images we have now are constructed. Lastly, the Acropolis Museum has paintings of demon-like figures that dated back to the 6th century.

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure:

One key idea learned from this film is that pottery was used for grave goods. The images on the pottery showed familiar images from mythology and everyday life in Greece which was quite interesting because these images on the pottery helped spread the revolution in art. Another key idea learned from this film is that Classical Athens is described as having this "obsession" with the human body. From this obsession, artists were intrigued by other human-like components that they later integrated into their art.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the OER Content?

The videos relate to the readings because it depicts the way certain things came around such as the discussion in the video about the Parthenon which was once an Islamic mosque after it was a Christian church. After the Parthenon was destroyed different images close to it have came about. In the reading, we see the Mosque's architecture and learn more about it. So the reading and the video were very close in the information given.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the themes/topics for this week?

The films were quick and straight to the point with the facts. The films made me see why different artists chose certain subject matters over others. Although I do not like history and find it very boring, art history is not so bad. The symbols depicted in the films showed that a lot of things held significance back then and art was a really important way to express certain thoughts and ideas.