Transcript Functions of Art - El Camino College

Art 2 – Section 4806, 4807
of Western Art – Prehistoric to Gothic
 Mrs. Atherton, Office: Art 13, basement, by apt.
 310-660-3542
 Email: [email protected]
 History
Main Objective: View Art According to the Values
and Functions of the era--according to the
technology of the era.
Student Information

Please write the following information about yourself, to
help me get to know you.
 Name
 Semester at El Camino and Major
 Reason taking the class
 Telephone and/or email address
 Whether you would use an optional chat time on
Monday, 4 pm or Tues. 8pm
 Any other Art Hist. or Appreciation classes? List them.
 Anticipated strengths and Weaknesses in the class
Functions of Art
Art 2 – Prehistoric
To Gothic
Functions of Art
Expression
Ritual / Spiritual transmission of beliefs, knowledge and symbolism
Utilitarian – architecture, jewelry, etc.
Preservation
feels the need to preserve his traditions, folklore, a part of himself
Commemoration
Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art
Religious/spiritual - often relies on symbolism,
often interwoven with the next factor of
communication
 Communication - power of the visual image to sway one’s
thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication
with another life force
 Communication occurs on several levels: man with
himself, with the animals and nature, and with a
supreme power or god.

Functions of Art (continued)
 Communication
Uses Art to aid in communicating-
one self – Expressionism
 With another person
 With one’s ancestors
 With God, or the gods
 With Nature - Animism
 As an aid to ritual or devotion
 With
Ritual
Bakota tribe,
(Gabon)
Guardian
Figure (left)
Bambara
Tribe (Mali)
Antelope
Headdress,
(right)
Ritual Functions of Art:
This wood-carved antelope
with the baby on its back was
made by the Bambara tribe in
Mali.
 It is used as part of a ritual to
promote good crops.
 The dancer wears this as a
headdress since it is attached to
a wicker basket at the bottom.

The Bambara Antelope Ritual
 At
the left are two
dancers participating in
the agricultural
ceremony of the
Bambara.
 The far left is a
representation of the
male antelope and on
the right is the female
with the baby.
Bakota Guardian Figure Ritual
Carvings such as the one
on the left were used in a
ritual for burial.
The Bakota tribe of the
Gabon in Africa create
these as guardian figures
for the graves of their
ancestors. Below the torso,
a wicker basket would be
attached to hold the bones
of the ancestor.
Spiritual and Expression - St. Lazare Church, Autun


In this Romanesque sculpture carved by Gislebertus, he
uses his own individualized manner of representing Eve
picking the apple and the first sin.
The elongated, reclining Eve are his unique expression.
Spiritual
The Gothic
Cathedrals.
A Stain
glass
window
from
Chartres
Cathedral
Spiritual
Utilitarian - man feels need to combine art with everyday
objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for
commercial interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes
to fully absorb his life
 Commemoration -to commemorate an individual, a
country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses
 Transmission -feels the need to transmit the knowledge of
his latest skills, technology, philosophy, or religious
beliefs, etc.--a vast range of information and data,
uses art to preserve and celebrate his age.
 Preservation -feels the need to preserve: his tradition , his
folklore, legends, his unique heritage -feels the need to
preserve his immortality--to leave a part of himself
and his culture on this earth

Spiritual /Transmission of Knowledge and Symbolism
An Early Christian Sarcophagus (left) and a catacomb painting
Ritual /Communication
Cave near Pueblo Bonito, New Mex.
Chaco Canyon, New Mex.
The Supernova Pictograph
This pictograph (painting on
stone) was made by the Anasazi
culture to record an important
event which occurred in the
year1054, when a supernova star
exploded near a crescent moon.
Preservation – Egyptian Book of the Dead
Many cultures have seen
the need to preserve their
heritage, rituals, or
folklore through their art.
 They differ from our time
in not wishing to record in
writing these sacred
concepts but pass them on
through the art.

Preservation – Temple of Zeus, Olympia
 The
myths of
Herakles were
preserved through
Greek art.
 Here we see him
ready to receive the
world from Atlas
and Athena.
Commemoration - Altar of Peace of Augustus, Rome


Augustus, the
first Emperor,
ruled from 27
BC to 14 AD.
It was the
longest period
of peace in
Roman history,
so he
commissioned
this Altar to
commemorate
his reign.
Utilitarian/Decorative
Egyptian King
Tutankamun’s bracelet.
 It is decorative, but also
holds ritual meaning as we
see the “Scarab” on top
done in lapis lazuli, which
insures the King re-birth
in the after life.

Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art
Religious/spiritual - often relies on symbolism,
often interwoven with the next factor of
communication
 Communication - power of the visual image to sway one’s
thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication
with another life force
 Communication occurs on several levels: man with
himself, with the animals and nature, and with a
supreme power or god.

Utilitarian - man feels need to combine art with everyday
objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for
commercial interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes
to fully absorb his life
 Commemoration -to commemorate an individual, a
country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses
 Transmission -feels the need to transmit the knowledge of
his latest skills, technology, philosophy, etc.--a vast
range of information and data, uses art to celebrate
his age.
 Preservation -feels the need to preserve: his tradition , his
folklore, legends, his unique heritage -feels the need to
preserve his immortality--to leave a part of himself
and his culture on this earth

What do you think is the most important
function for art?
Answer on the Discussion Board
under Prehistoric and Tribal