Power, Politics, Glory

Instructions: Please respond to the following four prompts after reading Chapter 9 in the textbook. You should base your responses on information found in the chapter and your own observations (you are also welcome to look at museum websites and khanacademy.org). There are also links embedded in the second and fourth prompts that you should open to view. You must work independently and phrase your responses in your own words. If you cite from or closely paraphrase the textbook, or another source, keep it to a minimum, and include proper citations where necessary; for the textbook include (Lazzari and Schlesier page # or section title) at the end of the sentence/paragraph. Each response should be roughly a paragraph or two. You can single or double-space your responses.

1. Artworks are often created to glorify a ruler’s image. Select two of the following images of rulers to describe and interpret: Menkaure and His Wife (Figure 9.3); Emperor Justinian and His Attendants (Figure 9.4); Crowned Head of an Oni (Figure 9.5); Jayavarman VII (Figure 9.6). Address how each rulers elevated status is revealed through the forms and symbols featured in the artwork.

2. The

(Figure 9.16) is a grand complex in London designed in the Gothic Revival style. The Maori Meeting House (Figure 9.17) is described as an elaborate version of a chiefs house that is imbued with symbolism. Compare and contrast the two structures, which have an obviously different appearance, but hold a similar purpose. Your response should explain what is meant by the Gothic Revival style (and what accounts for its emergence in the 19th century) as well as explain the symbolism seen in the Maori Meeting House. 

3. Warriors are often depicted in artworks as their power is directly associated with that of the state. Select one of the following artworks to describe and analyze with an emphasis on how the warriors strength and authority is portrayed: Equestrian Monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni (Figure 9.19); Tula Warrior Columns (Figure 9.20); or Plaque with Warrior and Attendants (Figure 9.21).

4. Burning of the Sanjo Palace (Figure 9.24) is a detail from an illustrated scroll that depicts the primary battle fought during the Heiji Rebellion, a short civil war fought in Kyoto in 1160 between two feuding clans. (). Pablo Picasso painted Guernica (Figure 9.28) after Nazi aircraft bombed the Basque town of Guernica and over 1,000 people were killed.  Both artworks depict civil unrest, but have different appearances. Briefly describe the two paintings and then contrast the two scenes. Which do you think is the more effective way to depict the effects of war?