Monthly Archives: June 2015

Music Is the Window To Our Souls… Or Our Angst

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Music was a pure form of motivation and morale boosting. Martin Stoneman set out to become a country musician just after hearing an old friend’s music in a record store and quickly became a star in the small, yet growing industry. As it grew, so did competition within the field, and thus the sound developed and gained more and more popularity. Moreover, because of this newfound popularity, Appalachian musicians took some artistic liberty on speaking (singing) about social issues that “locals” faced and dealt with, such as Ernest Stoneman’s song that brought attention to a law exempting big businesses from the costs of dangerous working conditions and what further resulted from them. Otherwise, the morale boost came from the kind of music that the average, working Appalachian could connect with, like “How Can a Poor Man Stand These Times and Live?” People heard their struggles being sung, so they bought the music.

 

Almost every new wave or style of music is used in some way to either work people up or tide them over until more proficient help can be provided. Take Woodstock for example. The festival was a venue for a mass of angry, yet “peaceful,” group on young “adults” to convene, complain about America, get high and escape reality.  Music appeases people. Even if it doesn’t provide solutions, it makes them feel like they are heard, understood, and acknowledged. It’s an amiable medium with such a broad range of stylistic possibilities that it can be used in almost any way it’s needed and still be classified as the same thing.

Masks and Capes, Versatile Art

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maskThis first image is a Zoomorphic Mask from Angola dating back to about 750 CE. It is made very expertly of wood, carved into the shape then polished over with a sandpaper-like surfaced substance. Because the mask needed to be so precise, very specific tools were used by expert craftsmen. Notice the elongated snout, most likely implemented to serve the purpose of covering the wearer’s face. The pointed ears were possibly meant to draw attention to the upper part of the piece as well as emphasize awareness of the wearer’s surroundings. The mask employs the recurring geometric, symmetry motif as well. There are over 750 similar mask pieces found in the Kongo River Valley, and most that exist today are replicas due to wood’s tendency to rot over time.

textileThe second image shown is of  Decorated Textile from the Kongo, early in the 17th century. During the time period and in the area, textiles were extremely valuable. Along with baskets and nobility regalia, it was collected and even used as currency. Later on, it was also displayed in funerary rituals. Part of the reason these textiles were of such great worth was the pure cotton material as well as–often– the gold threads woven into textiles like this one. The pattern is definitely and purposefully geometric adding to the aesthetic value in contrast with previous stylized artwork.

Although the mask was very useful and often difficult to make, it was not as valuable as the textiles were to the area and time period. The former was used for practical purposes, the latter was used as anything from decoration to a collectible.

The Virgin, the Child, and the Iconoclasts

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virginandchildThis encaustic on wood is found in the monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt, and it was created in the second half of the sixth century, called the Virgin and Child  with Saints and angels. The image depicts Mary, the mother of Christ, holding her child in her lap, implying that she has become her son’s imperial throne. This is called the “seat of wisdom.” The warrior saints Theodore and George stand on either side of them and represent the victory of the church over the evil spirits of paganism. Above the four figured are two angels with their gazes directed heavenward from where light falls upon the virgin and child. The warrior saints stare directly ahead without much expression depicting stoicism and permanence. Most of the figures are pretty natural and life-like, however the warriors are slightly more stylized to emphasize, again, their other worldliness.

iconoclastsThis image depicts the crucifixion and two iconoclasts. Iconoclasm was the destruction and prohibition of images and other pieces of artwork depicting Christ as a deity. The general fear was that these images promoted idolatry, and worshippers began to pray to the artwork rather than through it. In fact, people went as far as eating paint chips that had fallen off of these paintings because they believed they had miraculous powers. In the image you see a soldier “tormenting” Christ on the cross to his right and below, two iconoclasts destroying an image of him.

The first image would have been a candidate for destruction by iconoclasm because it was in danger of becoming an idol; not only did it have Christ in it, but it also had Mary in it. Mary’s cult following and worship would begin not long after this time period. As for the artwork, the styles are not exactly the same but they are not far off. The bodies are not completely natural, but they are not stylized to a great extent.

Although the first image is more widely known and appreciate, there was a time when the second had the potential to determine the fate of the first. It is almost divine how the image survived the events of that period.

Deliverance and Ignorance

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I found an article called “The Body: Revisiting Deliverance” from the website Critics at Large. The writer gives a vague overview of the movie and discusses the physicality of it, mostly commenting on each individuals awareness of their own body, whether that is confidence or not. The writer compares Lewis’s manly confidence and Bobby’s fleshy, fake stoicism. He writes about each character, the rape, the effect the film has on the audience, and the overall outlook… but he doesn’t touch the general Appalachian stereotyping in the movie. He writes a critique of a movie that could have been set just about anywhere in the world with a river. The only reference he makes to the area is a description of the locals. “The locals they encounter are also deeply reserved folks isolated from the world these suburban males inhabit and some – like the young boy who duets with Drew on the famous “Duelling Banjos” – are part of inbred families.” Anything this writer took away from the movie had nothing to do with Appalachia, and he doesn’t concern himself with it. Perhaps it’s ignorance, but the “mountain men” don’t seem to have enough significance to be remarked on for more than a sentence. The most enticing scene of the movie in regards to this article was Bobby’s rape scene; and even so, the writer focus’ on Bobby and his comfort in his own skin rather than anything have to do with Appalachia.

Augustus was so relieved…

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augustus of primaportaCommissioned in 1580 by either his son Tiberius or his wife Livia, this Augustus of Prima Porta is a copy of the bronze original which dated back to about 20 BCE. The figure is posed in a speech-giving stature, and is based off the Doryphorus, or the ideal, athletic male. His right arm is stretched out in a noble gesture which is counterbalances by his bent, left leg. He has a broad cranium and deep set eyes, his face being depicted in the manner of Apollo to portray himself as a perfect leader with flawless features. His stature indicates that he had a firm ability to a society and empire.

imperial processionUnlike Augustus, the Imperial Procession is a relief sculpture that surrounds the Ara Pacis. It is meant to represent the annual sacrificial procession at the order of the senate. The figures most likely represent priests and members of Augustus’ family, but there are no firm identities. The Ara Pacis was designed to celebrate Augustus’ return from the war in Spain and Gaul. There are higher and lower relief figures as well, which adds depth and portrays a sense of space. The relief was originally painted.

Both pieces of work were meant to honor Augustus, in one way or another. The first, depicting Augustus himself in a light that is bold and practically perfect, however false the depiction may be. The second is dedicated to him as almost a shrine. However, ironically, and according to Mary Ann Sullivan of Bluffton University, the actual inauguration, or ceremonial dedication, did not occur until about three and a half years later.

 

 

Works Cited

Sullivan, Mary Ann. “Images of the Ara Pacis.” Images of the Ara Pacis. Bluffton University, n.d. Web. <https://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/italy/rome/arapacis/arapacis.html>.