Arts Practice B3.1.: Create and utilize categories to analyze similarities and differences in artistic works (activity)
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In this activity, you will study the ways in which gods/goddesses have been depicted by artists throughout history in a variety of cultures. You will then find similarities between artist depictions (modern and ancient) to abstract qualities that you will include in a temple you design for this god/goddess.
In this step, you will study the way in which historical figures with religious ties to various cultures have been depicted over the years.
Observe the different statues from ancient cultures and modern adaptations. Then abstract the similarities you see from one depiction to another. What features are the same in every depiction? Which are different? Did the artist give this religious figure their own twist? How did they do this while also allowing the observer to know that it is not depicting another god/goddess/person?
- Collection of Shiva (Hindu) Statues and Depictions
- Collection of Zeus (Greek) Statues and Depictions
- Collection of Coyolxauhqui (Aztec) Ancient and Modern Depictions
- Collection of Anubis (Egypt) Ancient and Modern Depictions
Reflection
Make a bulleted list of the similarities and differences you observed of these ancient religious figures from the ancient and modern images you studied on this step. Which characteristics are common across every depiction of this same god/godess?
Now that you have abstracted specific qualities from religious figures in various cultures, let's observe how a god from Ancient Greece has been depicted and how the qualities of that god are reflected in the architecture of their temple.
Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea is often depicted in the presence of sea creatures and holding a trident. The temple dedicated to Poseidon is located on the southernmost tip of the Attica Peninsula. It was the last thing seafarers and warriors would see when leaving the peninsula and was the first spot sea travelers would see when they arrived.
Defining characteristics of this temple aside from its location include the pool of water that originally surrounded the temple and the 5-meter statue of Poseidon situated in the center of the temple that could be seen from the sea.
Consider how the ways in which Poseidon was depicted in Ancient Greece and how the architecture of the temple in his name reflects these characteristics. Use this example as a model for how you will design a temple for the ancient religious figure of your choice.
Follow the bulleted list below to make a first draft of the god/goddess temple you will depict
- Select which figure you would like to design a temple for. You may use one of the examples on step 2 or another god/goddess of your choice
- Consider the characteristics of the god/goddess you abstracted in the last step and decide how you will portray a temple for the figure in your depiction. The following resources may be helpful for your design planning based on the common architecture of the culture you are abstracting:
- Using pencil and paper, draw a sketch of the temple you designed as a representation of this ancient figure.
Reflection
☞ Who is your sketch a monument to?
☞ How did you represent certain characteristics of this god/goddess for your sketch of their temple?
So far, you have made a sketch of a temple to an ancient religious figure of your choice! Are you familiar with or have you been interested in learning how to create 3D models? If so, you can take this project a step further by using any 3D Modelling tool to make your creation come to life. Consider using a common tool such as Tinkercad or Minecraft for your 3D model
Reflection
☞ Submit images of your sketch and 3D model (if you have one!) to your design journal