Visual_Language_Lect_2.pdf

Transcript

1. Date Thursday February 14th 2013 Building Visual Language Lecture 2 Staging Sunday, 24 February 13
2. All these images are staged Sunday, 24 February 13
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4. The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein 1533 Sunday, 24 February 13
5. The skull is the ultimate memento mori. All things on earth are transient, including the people and objects in this painting. When we position ourselves so that we can see the skull as a skull, the other, supposedly realistic objects are in turn distorted. The moral is that death is everywhere, but we do not recognise it. When we do finally make out its shape, life in turn becomes twisted and blurred. Sunday, 24 February 13
6. The piece of furniture behind the men is known in England as a "whatnot", on which scientific instruments are laid out. These mark the pair out as being men of learning, of the kind who were at that time shaking the foundations of old beliefs. This was the age of Copernicus, the first astronomer who develop a theory which placed the sun in the centre of the universe, instead of the earth. Amongst the objects displayed are a celestial globe, a Polyhedral sundial, a cylinder sundial, a Quadrant, and a Torquetum (a medieval astronomical instrument) along with Peter Apian's arithmetic book. Sunday, 24 February 13
7. The lute is a symbol of harmony, but on this instrument a string has broken. This may refer to the increasing discord between Catholics and Protestants at that time. The hymnbook is open to texts that do not upset either party and may represent Holbein's plea for a unified Church. Sunday, 24 February 13
8. The globe shows Europe in the most prominent position, and Africa below it. Even the place in France where Dinteville's castle stood can be made out. Sunday, 24 February 13
9. Hidden away, where it is difficult to spot is the presence of the crucified Christ. It is behind the curtains in the upper left hand corner. This raises the portrait to a higher level, as does the skull: despite their status and intellectual activities these men remain sinful and mortal human beings,and answerable to God. There are many other messages in the painting - the floor mosaic on which the skull lies, is based on a design in Westminster Abbey, the Cosmati pavement, which is situated before the High Altar, and the carpet on the upper shelf is notably oriental. Such carpets were often integrated into Christian imagery as symbols of luxury and status. The painting has caused much controversy over the years. One Science Historian, Professor John North, analysed the scientific and mathematical elements shown in the painting. He calculated the time given in the portrait as 4 pm on Good Friday, 11th April 1533, 1500 years exactly after the Crucifixion, with the key to the painting to be found in the small crucifix. Sunday, 24 February 13
10. Listen to the following ✤ Make a list of each sound you hear and can identify ✤ In broad terms list what Genre or type of film you think this soundtrack was created for Sunday, 24 February 13
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13. Challenge 2 week 2 ✤ Using your blog to: ✤ Select 3 films that fall into the same main Genre ✤ Select 3 Photographs that fall into the same genre ✤ Select 3 Paintings that fall into the same Genre ✤ List the elements that contribute/define the Genre in these media and discuss. ✤ List all research sources using Harvard reference . Sunday, 24 February 13