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Are You Entertained? Imperial Architecture of Mass Diversion

Are You Entertained? Imperial Architecture of Mass Diversion. I. Imperial mass entertainment structures. The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater), Rome, Italy, AD 72-80 (Imperial). I. Rome – theaters in the Campus Martius entertainment district. Flavian dynasty ( AD 69-96)

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Are You Entertained? Imperial Architecture of Mass Diversion

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  1. Are You Entertained? Imperial Architecture of Mass Diversion

  2. I. Imperial mass entertainment structures The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater), Rome, Italy, AD 72-80 (Imperial)

  3. I. Rome – theaters in the Campus Martius entertainment district Flavian dynasty (AD 69-96) Vespasian 69-79 Titus 79-81 Domitian 81-96 Emperor Vespasian builds the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum) over Nero’s Golden House in A.D. 70

  4. I. A. Amphitheater basics 1. What was an amphitheater compared to a theater? amphitheater (“theater on both sides”) Colosseum (amphitheater) Theater of Marcellus, 13-11 BC

  5. I. A. 1. gladiatorial combat Amphitheater at Pompeii

  6. I. A. 1. animal hunts Colosseum

  7. I. A. 3. What were the essential features of an amphitheater? Colosseum seating (cavea) arena underground area for players, animals, stage sets

  8. I. A. 3. awning (velarium)

  9. I. A. 3. Why were amphitheaters elliptical rather than circular in plan? Colosseum

  10. I. B. Social/political context 1. Why were entertainment structures so much larger / more numerous in imperial Rome than they were in republican Rome? Republican Amphitheater at Pompeii, 70 bc Imperial Rome the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions, everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses (Juvenal, Satire 10.77-81)

  11. I. B. 2. How was the design innovative in its approximation of a great imperial interior? a. canvas awning (velarium) Colosseum

  12. I. B. 2. b. slope of seating Republican vs. Imperial 37o Colosseum Amphitheater in Pompeii

  13. I. B. 3. How did the Colosseum mirror Roman social hierarchy and mobility? Colosseum common poor, slaves citizens (plebs) equestrian class senators slaves, prisoners

  14. I. C. Architectural design of the Colosseum 1. How was the design conservative in structure, materials, and articulation? Colosseum concrete masonry Roman numeral I.C. is not on the exam in 2011. tufa masonry

  15. I. C. 1. a. framed-arch motif travertine stone veneer framed-arch motif Roman numeral I.C. is not on the exam in 2011. non-structural use of Greek orders

  16. I. C. 1. b. hierarchy of orders Hierarchy of orders Roman numeral I.C. is not on the exam in 2011. Corinthian pilasters Corinthian order Ionic order Doric order

  17. II. Roman Baths from the late Republican to the Imperial era Baths of Diocletian, Rome, Italy, ad 298-306

  18. II. A. Socio-political context: Why did Roman emperors beginning with Nero build luxury baths for the use of the populace? Imperial Rome Baths of Nero Baths of Titus

  19. II. A. 2. What was the array of services that Roman baths offered in addition to bathing? Baths of Diocletian

  20. II. B. Ritual: Attending to physical and psychological well-being 1. What was the typical ritual of physical revitalization at a Roman bath? Baths of Diocletian Remains of NE recess of the caldarium Remains of NE recess of the caldarium

  21. II. B. Ritual: Attending to physical and psychological well-being 1. What was the typical ritual of physical revitalization at a Roman bath? Baths of Diocletian tepidarium Remains of NE wall of the caldarium frigidarium reconstruction frigidarium

  22. II. B. 2. Technology: how were Roman bath facilities heated (hypocausts) and how did concrete structure facilitate this? Roman numeral II.B.2. is not on the exam in 2011.

  23. II. C. Imperial design (the concrete vaulted style): The imperial bath buildings as imperial architecture Republic Imperial Forum Baths at Pompeii, 80 bc Baths of Diocletian, ad 298-306

  24. II. C. 1. How did the design of baths that “educate” (enthrall, delight) the senses, according to MacDonald’s observations? Baths of Diocletian Groin vaults make possible thermal windows in the lunettes under the vaults. frigidarium reconstruction

  25. II. C. 2. Where do continuous surfaces of vaults obscure create ambiguity of load and support? Baths of Diocletian tepidarium frigidarium Greek orders enslaved to the concrete body (secondary system of decoration)

  26. II. C. 3. How are the spaces combined in plan and how is that emblematic of Roman imperial spatial control? Baths of Diocletian open-air pool frigidarium tepidarium caldarium

  27. II. C. 4. In these immense imperial spaces, according to MacDonald, what choices did the individual Roman citizens have? Baths of Diocletian Pennsylvania Station, New York, NY McKim, Mead, and White, 1910, demolished 1963

  28. II. C. 4. Baths of Diocletian Pennsylvania Station, New York, NY McKim, Mead, and White, 1910, demolished 1963 "Any city gets what it admires, will pay for, and, ultimately, deserves. Even when we had Penn Station, we couldn’t afford to keep it clean. We want and deserve tin-can architecture in a tinhorn culture. And we will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed."- "Farewell to Penn Station," New York Times editorial, October 30, 1963

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