Visual Culture #10

Since Malcolm wasn't in last week, we are missing out this weeks lecture as last weeks was more important (if that made any sense). 

This week we looked at 'The Age of Reason' and neo-classicism, also known as the 'true style'. Britain used this to show their growing power and Britishness. It revisited the ancient world and echoed the Roman empire. It looked at the classical world (like the Renaissance) but was also modern and used as a basis for a new style.

The Roman style to neo-classicism brought logic, proportion and restraint. Young men of the era were sent on a Grand Tour of the world to be inspired by the arts. 

http://www.terraclicks.com/watch?key=0cdb16b7667982280fbb05007a35eb39

The discovery of Pompeii also added to the style and challenged Rome's paintings: Pompeii had very colourful interiors. The style was not just Roman inspired, it was Pompeiian inspired.

http://rebloggy.com/post/mygifs-doctor-who-dw-donna-noble-tenth-doctor-mygifs-dw-dwedit-shrugs-brotp-p/72517585565

Neo-classicism uses space, not just decoration like the Rococo era. Robert Adam was one of the people who did this as well as adding symmetry to his work, which a fondness of blue, and a Wedgewood feel.

Portraiture also echoes the Roman empire with subjects like statues and posing. Women were also pictured leaning on columns to show patriarchy. However, there was not much allegorical meanings in their paintings as the age was more about knowledge and education. 

Napoleon was also portrayed often as Caesar to show that France was th new Roman empire. France portrayed more the spirit of neo-classicism, England portrayed the emotion of neo-classicism.

Neo-classicism was influenced by social change. Hence the name 'Age of Reason' and 'Enlightenment', reason and individualism was supported more than tradition with scientific thought opposing superstition (often being the Catholic Church). Breakthroughs in science and medicine made people question the world, including the church, slavery and the power of kings.

https://annoyingrambles.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/game-of-thrones-drinking-game/

'The savage' was also explored to show how life would be without materialism. Not quite sure how- Malcolm didn't go into much detail.

When Hitler adopted the neo-classicism style to show his power, the art became negative. The era was often called the 'language of oppression', or was it more about democracy and values?

In Diane's session, we looked at Ethical and Moral issues in storytelling. I decided to look at the documentary The Bridge (Eric Steel, 2006). This is a film about the number of suicide jumps each year on the Golden Gate Bridge. Mary Currie described this as an 'invasion of privacy' and was controversial to the viewer, seeing someone's death documented on camera and seeing friends and relatives talk about them later in the film. It's very upsetting and challenges the viewer.

Furthermore, the director lied about his intentions of the film, saying it was "to capture the powerful, spectacular intersection of monument and nature that takes place every day at the Golden Gate Bridge.", but failing to mention what exactly what happened everyday. 

The film not only challenged the morals of a viewer, but also the filmmakers, with Steel saying the rail of the bridge is so low 'a 7 year old can climb over it'.