Module # 8: Video Review

1. Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.
I chose to watch The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure, for several reasons. First, I have a curiosity about Greece because my godfather is from Greece. He and my mom spend several months a year visiting the island he grew up on, Skyros, and I know from my personal experience that Greece is rich in history and in art. I also chose this video because I had a great opportunity while pursuing my first degree to spend a semester abroad. My friends and I visited Athens and Greek Islands  for our spring break, so I thought I may be able to relate to the subject matter. Additionally, after watching the first video and seeing how heavily focused it was on the human form, I thought, judging by the title that The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure, would build on the content of More Human Than Human.

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

In the video More Human Than Human, I found it really interesting that the topics of body image were so thoroughly explored and their sources so accurately pinned down. The key points that I found most fascinating were how interrelated the perception of attraction was with the culture, how  the depiction of human form evolved, and why the portraits are unrealistic.  I found it interesting that at the time when being fat was not attainable it was considered desirable, as with the small statue in the beginning of the video. It was insightful to hear that even after the Greeks mastered highly realistic statues, it was viewed as boring, not like art at all. I feel like it was at this point that people first began viewing exaggerated features as attainable. Also, it was interesting how statues became associated with the permanent residence, which was a change from the nomadic life that necessitated small figurines. Finally, the video was interesting in the way the artist viewed the human form. Though the narrator didn’t say it the Egyptians, from a pharaohs perspective depicted many humans, all the same, like slaves or servants. The Greeks depicted humans like gods, too perfect, like something for humans to strive for.

In the video The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure, the evolution of sculpture that was specifically credited to Greece, and the appreciation of everyday ancient Greek art in the form of pottery were highly discussed. As was mentioned in the first video the Greeks were the first to perfect the human form in a statue. From there the desired features became more prominent. Interestingly the Greeks are also credited with perfecting motion. The example given of the statue’s clothing appearing to flow in the wind and also being the part of the statue that stabilized the figure, must have been a mind blowing revelation at the time. It is still really impressive today. Also, because obviously the statues could not be transported for other countries and cultures to view, the relaying of Greek artistic advance through the paintings on pottery was revolutionary. It may have been the first time in history that art was so functional and readily available to common men and women. It was also not worthy that they are still constantly finding old pieces of pottery intact and that it is typical for the metro in Greece to be stopped because of a new find.

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

The video explain more of a why, the statues were the way that they were. The video also focused on the human figure as opposed to other decidedly less human forms, centaurs and the sphinx.  The video More Human Than Human, touched very little on religion, and the second video that I chose The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure, was also the devoid of religion.  It is possible that some of the other video options may have provided more information aligned with reading from Chapter 15, but for my choices the videos really complimented the reading material found in Chapter 14.

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

I really enjoyed the films. I was hooked from the beginning of More Human than Human when the narrator linked art to body image. Much of what we have studied thus far has required an investigation or interpretation of art. It was easy to grasp the variety of tactics and approaches when that were applied to a medium as familiar as our own bodies. I feel like the videos made the information in the readings more real to me. It is also easier to explain concepts of motion, and human interaction with statues and depiction of the human form, with audio and video over the written word. If there was more time I would like to watch all of the video’s from the titles they each seemed as though they would highlight a different aspect of the reading and perhaps give it more life than a picture and words on a page.