Video Review: Ancient Art

 Explain why you selected each of the three videos you choose from the selection listed above.

I chose to watch “The birth of the Middle Ages” because I wanted to refresh my knowledge of the Middle Ages since the last time I deeply studied the era was in middle school.  I selected the movie “Cairo Museum” because I have always found ancient Egypt so mysterious and intriguing.

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

The key concepts that I learned from the More Human than Human video included the scientific theory on why people are obsessed with images of the human body, especially exaggerated and idealized versions of it.  I learned that the early nomadic people of pre-civilization times created exaggerated “Venus” figures perhaps because of a primeval instinct in their brains and their value of fertility and fatness. The ancient Egyptians were next group that created idealized versions of the human figure. For thousands of years, they used the same mathematical grid system to represent the human figure. This was driven by a cultural value of consistency and order. The ancient Greeks also were obsessed with the human body and achieving perfection of their own bodies. Through sculpture they created idealized figures that showed perfect balance and athleticism. The cultural influence and the biological instincts to favor exaggeration are seen still in our own cultures’ constant reproduction of human images.

 In the video, The Birth of the Middle Ages, I learned about the history of the of the middle Ages, up through the Renaissance. The key concepts of the video included the system of feudalism, the plague of the Dark Ages, the Byzantine empire and how the barbarians invaded and conquered the Holy Roman Empire. I learned that the Roman cities became fortified during this time of invasion, giving them the architectural look that characterized the Middle Ages. Fortified monasteries also were built, which became centers of life that offered hope in these chaotic times. I also learned about cultures in Cameroon and Japan that have recently still operated in feudal systems like that of the middle ages.

In the video, Cairo Museum, the key concept was about the vast collection of artifacts that this museum in Egypt houses, most of them never put on display. The museum’s centennial show in 2002 aimed to unearth these forgotten treasures and let the public see them. The concept of conservation and restoration of these artifacts was explored in the preparation for this exhibit.  One large discovery by archeologists Riesner was the tomb of King Khufu’s queen; this became a part of the exhibit. One of the best attractions of the show was a rediscovered chariot harness that belonged to King Tut.

  

How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

                These videos relate directly to the readings from chapters 14 and 15. The video, More Human than Human, explored reasons that the cultures discussed in Chapter 14 made what kind art that they did. Cairo Museum also showed a modern take on ancient Egyptian art. The middle ages video dealt with the history of the cultures that created the art in Chapter 15.

  

What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I thought the More Human than Human video was very informative, it gave me new insight on the art styles of ancient cultures, as well as a scientific insight on art making.  Although the information was very intriguing, the video was dragged out and repetitive. There were too many parts where the narrator simply repeated himself and too many pauses in narration for dramatic effect. The video could have said all the same things in half the time. I liked the video on the Cairo Museum; it added new depth to what I read about ancient Egypt in the text. It gave more of an archeologists’’ view on the subject. The video on the Middle Ages seemed like it was medieval, it was so old. I did, however, like that it made connections to modern times with cultures that still function similarly to middle ages cultures.