ART-Learning Journal Unit 2

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Northern Virginia Community College *

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102

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Arts Humanities

Date

Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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2

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Learning Journal Unit 2 Making reference to resources listed in this unit's Reading Assignment, please address the following: What were your impressions of ancient Greece and Rome before you began this course? The ancient Greeks and Romans were, in my humble opinion, quite realistic and rational individuals who had greatly contributed to our current philosophies (including science), arts, cultures, and structures before I started this study. Of course, they had their shortcomings. For instance, both the Athenians and the Romans fell prey to avarice and hubris at the height of their power, which ultimately contributed significantly to their downfall. How has studying their art and architecture changed your impressions of these ancient cultures? I have gained a great deal of knowledge about these ancient societies from this week's study materials, particularly their understanding of reality and how it relates to their arts. The mathematical ratios of geometry were a tool the ancient Greeks used to try to understand the world. For instance, their conception of beauty was based on concepts of the ideal ratio, such as the eight-to-one body-to-head ratio or the "S" form with slanted shoulder and hips ("Ancient Greek and Roman art," n.d.). Repeating geometric motifs were visible in their pottery and architecture as well. With this information, I've grown to appreciate these works of art more for the precise geometric thinking that went into their creation, which aimed to capture the beauty of the natural world. In my humble opinion, their use of geometry to comprehend the physical world looked quite shrewd because, although chaos or disorder may be obvious in the physical world, as we look for patterns, geometry emerges as the finest means of comprehending and describing our chaotic environment. The Romans were admirers of ancient Greek works of art and imitated nearly all of them, including the gods ("Ancient Greek and Roman art," n. d.). What specific monuments, sculptures or paintings helped you change your thoughts? The Greeks and Romans built their constructions in accordance with these principles because pattern- seeking and the application of geometry became a crucial component of comprehending and expressing their arts and cultures. When I came upon the Parthenon, one of their most famous buildings, this reality became very clear to me. The Doric and Ionic orders of traditional Greek architecture were combined to create the structure, which was built on the post and lintel basis. The structure also had highly regarded sculptures that were no longer attached to the structure on the metopes in the frieze area ("Who owns the Parthenon sculptures?," n. d.).
Each of these sculptures depicted a conflict between chaos and order. My modest belief is that the Greeks used geometry to look for worldly orders and discovered beauty and justice in these patterns. References: Khan Academy. (n.d.). Ancient greek and roman art (video) . Khan Academy. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/approaches-to-art-history/very- beginner/ancient-medieval-art/v/greek-and-roman-art Khan Academy. (n.d.). Who owns the parthenon sculptures? (video) . Khan Academy. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient- mediterranean-ap/greece-etruria-rome/v/who-owns-the-parthenon-sculptures
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