1/27/2005
slide 9
Creation
| First, some
non-computer-related observations: |
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| Visual culture: |
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| Art history:
painted by Michelangelo in early 1500s, part of the Sistine
Chapel ceiling, famous painting, commissioned by the Pope Julius
II, |
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| uses religious
iconography and narrative: we know from title that the figures are God and
Adam. |
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| We can look at the styles
of the period and of Michelangelo in
particular, etc. realistic yet idealized depiction of human form, Renaissance
attention to proportion, use of shading and perspective, all important
aspects of this period of painting |
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| Theory: we
all recognize this image, why? Walter Benjamin and influence of mechanical
reproduction—creating what he termed the “aura” of the original. |
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| •Evidence: Over 3million visitors a year to Vatican museums. |
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| •So probably at least 2 m people/year see this in
person– a lot! |
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| •Viewers tell of aggravation of actually going to see
the chapel. Hour-long wait typical! Dark, cramped, forced in one
direction, etc. recorded tape didn’t work… (link in notes) |
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| •Technology: Role of photography and printing essential in
creating this situation. |
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| Art and Design:
the life-like modeling of the human form, the dynamic composition,
the use of color, especially as revealed by the recent cleaning of the
chapel ceiling . The challenges of fresco, etc |
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| The effects of the
design can also now be analyzed in terms of… |
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| Vision Science
(Cog Sci) : how do we recognize those swirls of paint as people? |
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| Why do some colors
come forward—red in front, red for God, blue recedes (artists’ rules
of thumb but also now confirmed by more scientific methods) |
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| Why easy to discern figure
from ground, |
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| How was Michelangelo
able to create the illusion of the
painted architectural elements (and the role they play in the image….) |
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| _________________________________ |
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| SOURCES |
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| http://luciano.stanford.edu/~fred/rome.html |
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| Travel reports
describe long lines, multi-hour waits, people bribing official to cut the
lines, unpleasant viewing conditions, and more |
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| http://www.epinions.com/content_18359946884 |
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