Chapter 7 The Arts

1. Chapter 7 The Arts Raphael, Transfiguration, 1517. Vatican museums, Rome.

2. Lesson 1 There is an Immensity of Knowledge in Art.

3. Art often problematic in TOK • How can knowledge be found in such a subjective experience like art? • Art is often viewed as being such a subjective experience that objective knowledge cannot be gained from it • It is argued that art is only a personal experience which has no bearing or importance away from the person doing the actual perceiving

4. However • It is important to remember when considering art is that one must not rigidly define the term “knowledge” • What is knowledge anyway?

5. If there is anything to learn from TOK, it is that knowledge does not have only one definition • Knowledge is subjective and objective • Knowledge is personal and cultural • Knowledge is physical and metaphysical and existential • So, is someone claims that there is no knowledge to be had in art because the experience of art is subjective, what this person is actually saying is that he or she has discovered the true definition of knowledge

6. Art as an Entry Point into Cultural Understanding • Art is like a hole in the ice. A portal into another world • Upon diving into the hole though, an entire world is revealed • Actual knowledge is gained about this world by entering the hole

7. The Oba head is an entry point into an entirely different world • Why was it created? • What does it mean? • What does it represent? • What is it? • Who is it? • Why the necklaces? • Why the marks on the forehead? Head of an Oba. 18th Century. Kingdom of Benin

8. Artwork is the expression of a culture • Every culture produces some type of artwork • What does artwork say about the people that created it?It does say something. • Artwork is like a fingerprint of the psyche and mentality of a culture • Each culture’s artwork is distinct and unique, like the cultures themselves • The artwork is the outwards expression of the things that are significant and central to the culture • By examining artwork then and focusing on these elements there is knowledge to be gained

9. Knowledge to be found in Raphael’s Disputa Raphael, Disputa (Debate on the Holy Sacrament), 1509-1511. Fresco, Stanza della Segnatura, Vatican, Rome

10. Activity Questions • What can Disputa tell you about the cosmological views [view of the universal order] of the culture from which the painting emerged? • What historical knowledge can Disputa give us about the culture from which it emerged? • For what reasons do you think this piece of artwork was created? What motivated the creation? What can this process tell you about the value system of the culture from which this artwork emerged?

11. Question 1: What can Disputa tell you about the cosmological views of the culture from which the painting emerged? • Taken from the Christian belief system • In this world view, God, is the beginning and creator of all. He is the all powerful • This position is reflected in the artwork by the physical position that God has in the painting. He is at top in the centre, above everything and everyone else • He is also in a position where he can see everything that is taking place. In the Christian belief system God is all-knowing and all-seeing

12. Question 1: What can Disputa tell you about the cosmological views of the culture from which the painting emerged? (Contd.) • Another interesting aspect of the painting is the clear representation of the three spheres of existence which, at the time, were commonly believed to exist. • The highest realm is the realm of God. In his sphere, are the angels and other spiritual beings which reside with him • The sphere below God is the sphere of Saints and others who have been elevated to the divine or at least semi-divine level • The third sphere is the sphere of man; the material world consisting of mortal beings and houses and landscapes

13. Question 1: What can Disputa tell you about the cosmological views of the culture from which the painting emerged? (Contd.) • the imagery in the painting reinforces the understanding that the Church is established as being in a direct line from God and is therefore ordained as being the mediator between people and God • The Church was the power and authority in all aspects of life. It represented knowledge itself, because generally only the members of the Church had the ability to read and write and understand the spiritual order of things

14. Question 1: What can Disputa tell you about the cosmological views of the culture from which the painting emerged? (Contd.) • A fourth way that the cosmological order is revealed in the painting is that Jesus has such a prominent central position in the painting • He is the central figure in the painting, as he is in the Christian belief system • Jesus is even physically larger than God

15. Question 2: What historical knowledge can Disputa give us about the culture from which it emerged? • Firstly, the painting can tell the viewer about the prominence of the Church in society • Painters such as Raphael and others were hired for years to paint masterpieces like these • No other institution in society had the means or ability to do such spectacular work

16. Question 2: What historical knowledge can Disputa give us about the culture from which it emerged? (Contd.) • A second interesting bit of historical knowledge that can be gained from the painting is the importance of and respect to Greek thought and philosophy • After the “dark ages” in Europe, the knowledge of the Greeks was rediscovered and the effects the discoveries had on the culture of Europe at the time was revolutionary • Focusing on Disputa again then, the painting gets the viewer in tune with the psyche of the time

17. Question 2: What historical knowledge can Disputa give us about the culture from which it emerged? (Contd.) • The clothing on most of the people is clearly Greek and not Italian or medieval European • Books inundate the entire painting representing and showing respect for the knowledge to be gained from them • God himself is seen as a scholarly figure (notice the hat) • Greek philosophy and thought were “in”

18. Question 3: For what reasons do you think this piece of artwork was created? What motivated the creation? What can this tell you about the value system of the culture from which this artwork emerged? • Beauty: It was important for the people to adorn the “house of God” with beauty. • They wanted to honour and respect God with the most beautiful creations thinkable. • No cost was too high, no effort too grandiose • This emphasis tells the viewer something about the value system at the time of the creation and the prominent role art played in society

19. Question 3: For what reasons do you think this piece of artwork was created? What motivated the creation? What can this tell you about the value system of the culture from which this artwork emerged? (Contd.) • As a sermon and reminder: The message of the painting is clear. Jesus leads to salvation • The painting is not only a work of art, but it also serves as a sermon • The viewer is reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made and the reason there is sin in the world in the first place • Through the painting, the viewer is also reminded of the entire structure of the cosmos and their individual place in it • They are reminded that they need to be humble and subservient not only to God but also the Church

20. Final thoughts about Raphael’s Disputa • Not only was this painting knowledge of all these things for people at the time, but still today, for those who are Christians • It represents knowledge and structure • It represents security and faith • It represents tradition, family value, and stability • It represents love and equality • Art is about knowledge; and in a clear sense, art is knowledge.

21. Lesson 2 Themes from which Artwork can be examined to gain Knowledge Adoration of the Magi. 1423. Uffizi

22. Cosmological Order (How the Universe is Ordered) • Artwork from around the world contains a wealth of knowledge about the order of the universe • Art represents knowledge about the structure of the universe: good, bad, beginnings, ends, and so on • Art represents knowledge about how people view the universe and how they believe it functions • As the saying goes, “every picture says a thousand words”

23. Hindu Art and Cosmological Order • The universe is made up of an eternal substance called Maya • Maya is likened to an ocean • Only Maya is eternal Vishnu emerging from the Ocean of Maya

24. The universe is cyclical • The existence of the universe and everything in it goes in cycles • Everything, even the universe, is born, it lives, it dies, and it is reborn again • What this belief systems means for humankind is that everything, even the greatest deeds, has been done again and again Shiva dancing on Aspmara

25. Dharma, the essence of good • Even the richest and most successful of human beings is but a short-lived, temporary creature that has only succeeded in doing what has been done an infinite number of times in the past and will be done an infinite number of times in the future • Unenlightened people will strive for riches and wealth and fame as if these things were the true key to personal happiness, but the attempts wil not bring true happiness • Instead focus can be put on living a good life in accordance with dharma, or the essence of good, which all people inherently know

26. Examining the knowledge in the artwork Omkarananda Kamakshi-Devi Mandir Temple. Muni-ki-reti , India.

27. Vishnu’s four arms • The four arms represent the four stages of existence found in the universe, namely birth-life-death-and formlessness found in Maya • The four directions of space (thus absolute power) • The four stages of human development and the four aims of life (pleasure, success, righteousness, and liberation) Vishnu emerging from the Ocean of Maya

28. Vishnu’s Dark Color • Darkness is representative of the formless Maya before light or anything has come into existence • There is a balance between light and dark. They are inseparable from one another because that is the nature of existence Vishnu emerging from the Ocean of Maya

29. Vishnu’s Conch • The shell Vishnu holds in his hand is a symbol to do with the creation of everything • A symbol of water; the eternal ocean—Maya • The conch is the symbol of the origin of existence Vishnu emerging from the Ocean of Maya

30. Shiva’s flame in hand • Shiva is associated with the bringing to a close the cycle of the universe • The cycle ends with Shiva. In this sense he is the destroyer of all things • The fire is a symbol of the destructive tendencies and reminder to the viewer of the way things are Shiva dancing on Aspmara Flame represents the end of the cycle

31. Shiva dancing on Aspmara • The funny little figure Shiva dances upon is Aspmara, the dwarf of ignorance • Only by defeating ignorance about the way of the universe can one attain happiness Aspmara the dwarf of ignorance

32. Shiva’s Drum • The drum, like Vishnu’s conch, and is a symbol of the origin of existence • Even though Shiva is associated with the disintegrating tendencies of the universe, he is still part of everything • The concept of existence is only one thing and cannot actually be separated into distinct aspects of creation, existence, and destruction Shiva

33. Art and Knowledge about Social Structure: Kingdom of Benin

34. The Oba was the main man • Oba was the name given to the king of the Edo people in the Kingdom of Benin • Direct descendent from Osanobua, the creator of the universe • Divine right to rule the Edo people • Political and magical spiritual leader

35. When an Oba died • The new Oba’s most important task was to make a Bronze casting of the previous Oba’s head • If not honoured properly the old Oba would wreak havoc from beyond the grave

36. The Oba owned everything • All of the people • All of the land • All of the resources, and especially all of the metal • If something was made of metal (bronze) it was immediately seen as being royal

37. Knowledge about Social Structure through artwork • Artwork was a sign of power • If it was made in metal, it was made by decree of the Oba • Anyone that was pictured in the artwork must have been very important in society

38. Size matters: The Oba is • The biggest • Most fully clothed • Adorned with important political and spiritual symbols

39. Symbol of ultimate power: The Ada • The royal ceremonial sword is known as the Ada • Only the Oba or someone on royal business decreed by the Oba was allowed to carry or even touch the Ada • The Ada was the symbol of royal order and military might • The Ada meant status A plaque showing a member of the Benin military

40. To the Edo (the people of Benin) • The artwork was knowledge about society and social structure • The artwork told people how things were • The artwork told the Edo which buildings were important and which people needed to be respected

41. To people today • An examination of the artwork can give a great amount of knowledge about Benin society • The artwork is a testament to a long-standing dynasty of rulers and people which existed for centuries before any European contact • It is a testament to a way of life and world view • It is also a testament to how another culture chose to express itself creatively • There is indeed a wealth of knowledge to be found in the artwork

42. Relationship to the body • The representation of the human body in artwork is an indicator as to many of the values a given society holds • A direct reflection of ethical values and moral codes • Linked to the underlying ideals of beauty that a culture holds dear • In this sense artwork is a window into the “soul” of a culture. It is a way to get into contact with the realities of other cultures.

43. What can the image reveal? • The reproductive capabilities significant to the culture • Reproduction must have been important, perhaps even mystical • The plump female body was not something to be ashamed of • The body was not shameful or dirty. Nudity was not culturally unacceptable The Willendorf Woman 30,000-25,000 BC Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna

44. What differences about the cultural values can the images reveal? (image set 1) Dome and minaret of the Madrasa-I Shah. Ifahan, Iran Masjid-I-Jami (tile work); Islamic, Safavid Dynasty, Isfahan, Iran

45. What differences about the cultural values can the images reveal? (image set 2) Reims Cathedral. Reims, France Christ with four evangelists . 1517 Fra Bartolommeo

46. What differences about the cultural values can the images reveal? • No bodies pictured at all in the Islamic artwork • Representing the body in Islam was/is a form of iconography or image worship • This act is considered ethically wrong because it diverts worship from Allah

47. What differences about the cultural values can the images reveal? (Contd.) • In the Catholic tradition, it would be unthinkable to have a 12th 16th century church or cathedral unadorned with imagery • The cathedral would not be considered a thing of beauty • God would not be respected to the degree he deserved • God was to be honoured with beauty. Imagery was considered beautiful

48. Final thoughts concerning relationship to the body • important knowledge resides in how a culture represents the human body in its artwork • The representation gets at the very heart of a culture’s belief systems and its ethical way of life • This is a form of knowledge

49. Lesson 3 Poetry and Knowledge

50. An in class lesson • This lesson is an in-class discussion lesson which focuses on three poems.