- What were the cave artists trying to say?
Answer:
It's difficult to definitively know what the Lascaux cave artists intended to convey, but several interpretations are possible. The paintings could depict scenes of animals crucial to their survival, such as bison, horses, and deer, perhaps even illustrating a successful hunt or a story related to their migration patterns. Given the importance of hunting in Paleolithic life, the paintings may also have been part of rituals aimed at ensuring future success in hunts. The cave could have been a sacred place for shamans and rituals, and the art could represent visions or connections with the spirit world. It's impossible to know what types of substances, if any, they might have used in the name of spirituality. Perhaps the Ice Age influenced the art, and the people simply wanted to reminisce about warmer times.
- Why do you think that there were so many animals and not as many people in the paintings?
Answer:
Animals were central to the lives of Paleolithic people, providing food, clothing, and other essential resources. The fact that they painted these creatures on the cave walls demonstrates their importance. Perhaps the reason they didn't depict humans as frequently was due to a lack of the same perceived connection, or possibly because in some cultures, creating images of people was, and sometimes still is, considered taboo, potentially believed to be harmful to the spirit.
- What can the paintings tell us about other aspects of the life of cave dwellers or Paleolithic people?
Answer:
The paintings suggest that the lives of the cave dwellers were deeply intertwined with nature, and that they possessed a high degree of creativity and artistic skill. This community of hunter-gatherers clearly infatuated with these animals that provided them with sustenance and were essential to their survival. Could the paintings be part of a symbolic system, or perhaps tell a story? Might the animals represent people, spirits, or even ancestors?
- What difficulties did these early humans navigate in order to paint these pictures?
Answer:
These early humans faced several challenges when creating these images. The caves themselves presented difficulties, with their complex network of maze-like tunnels, jagged rock edges, and confined spaces. Light would have been a significant problem, requiring them to develop effective methods of illumination. Did they use torches? What fuel did they burn—animal fats, perhaps? If so, was smoke ventilation a concern? The possibility of natural disasters also existed. Heavy rains could have caused flooding or erosion, and earthquakes might have trapped them within the caves. Lastly, a painting itself probably presented hurdles. What materials did they need? How did they achieve specific colors to accurately represent their vision? And how could they ensure the artwork would last a lifetime? These are the things they had to figure out!
- Speculate as to three (3) possible functions of this art to early human
Answer:
1. Ritualistic Purposes: The paintings may have been used in ceremonies or rituals aimed at ensuring successful hunts, invoking spirits, seeking protection, or communicating with ancestors.
2. Educational Tools: The art could have served as a way to teach younger generations about animals, hunting techniques, or important stories and beliefs.
3. Social Bonding: Creating and sharing art may have been an integral part of their community, a community that included artists, visionaries, and historians.
What are some commonalities in function you can find in how the art of early humans and modern humans?
Answer:
Despite the vast time difference, early human art, like the Lascaux cave paintings, and modern art share some core purposes. Both can tell stories and express emotions, whether it's a bison hunt or a modern self-portrait. Art can also have spiritual meaning, from ancient rituals to contemporary expressions of faith. The desire to create something beautiful or visually striking is a common trait, as is the use of art to reflect and shape social identities. Both ancient and modern art serve as records of their respective cultures and times, preserving stories and ideas for future generations.
Hieroglyphics were the ancient Egyptian writing system, like their alphabet, but much more artistic. They used pictures to represent words and sounds.
What was their purpose?
They wrote down everything like history, prayers, stories, even foods! It was like their way of saving information and telling stories. They also decorated temples and tombs with them, believing they had magical power.
Is there a complete culture surrounding this art form, i.e., a language, a set of behaviors, form of dress, etc.? Describe and identify the features of this culture
Hieroglyphics were crucial to ancient Egyptian culture, impacting their language, social structure, and beliefs. They represented the Egyptian language, were used mostly by trained scribes who held high social status, and were essential to religious practices and art. Hieroglyphs helped ancient Egyptian society function and allowed us today to understand their civilization. The features of this society include complex trading, artistry, biblical and very wealthy.
How does this art form (and its culture) benefit society? Are there any detrimental affects?
Hieroglyphics were both a blessing and a burden to ancient Egyptian society. They allowed for the preservation of knowledge, efficient administration, and the expression of cultural identity, benefiting the civilization as a whole and providing invaluable insights for modern society. However, the complexity of the writing and limited access to literacy created a social hierarchy, concentrating power and knowledge within the scribal class and likely contributing to inequality and limited access to information for the majority of the population.
Hello, I really agree with the statement that you had for the meaning of the paintings. Animals were extremely important to early humans in many ways like food, rituals, and perhaps even companionship. To add on to what you said maybe they didn't paint humans as much as the animals because the animals were supposed to represent the humans.
ReplyDeleteSection 1:
ReplyDeleteRe: Message...
Let me start with that last comment first:
"Perhaps the Ice Age influenced the art, and the people simply wanted to reminisce about warmer times."
Keep in mind that ice ages last thousands of years. These individuals wouldn't have lived long enough to know "warmer times". :-)
Okay on the possible message, but perhaps we need to figure out *who* was the target of their message? Themselves? Future generations of this population? Other human groups? It is easier to figure out what they are saying when you figure out who they are talking to.
Consider the fact that hunter gather populations were highly mobile. It is possible that these paintings were intended to provide information or when the population returned to the site later. Would it be important to understand themselves (i.e., the people)? Or understand the animals that are available in the area?
Re: Animals...
I agree in general, but consider the fact that hunter gather populations were highly mobile. It is possible that these paintings were intended to provide information or when the population returned to the site later. Would it be important to understand themselves (i.e., the people)? Or understand the animals that are available in the area?
Re: Aspects of culture...
Good discussion on what these paintings tell us, but sometimes (like with the absence of people), what is missing tells us as much as what is actually there. Seems like the information in the paintings is solely about hunting. Considering hunting is traditionally a male practice, with women doing the gathering, does this tell you anything about who was doing these paintings? Would the paintings have been different if women were doing the painting?
Re: Difficulties...
Very good! You did a great job exploring the different problems this population would have encountered.
Re: Functions...
I fully agree with your second and third function. I will acknowledge your first but with a cautionary tale applied:
Are you familiar with the concept of Occam's Razor? It suggests that if simpler explanations work in understanding the function of a behavior or an event, then there is no need to opt for more complex driving forces. This applies here. Do we need to resort to religion and faith and a supreme being to explain the function of these paintings? Or can they be explained by "simpler" concepts, such as gaining resources, survival, and teaching future generations about these herds? This doesn't rule out a religious explanation, but recognizes this just raises more questions... such as where is the evidence that it IS religious in nature. We can't just assume that.
Possible functions:
a. Story-telling
b. Teaching young hunters
c. Record-keeping
d. Recording events
Section 2:
Overall, good. Consider some other options... Art can be used to motivate people to behave a certain way or to sway opinion. Think about how photography is used during war or upheaval to influence people's views. This can be positively or negatively, as when art is used as propaganda to manipulate people. Art can also be used to shock or horrify, to drive people to act.
Section 3:
Very good on all three sections, particularly the third. I appreciate how you noted that the ability to read this art was segregated into a particular class, so in a sense, this art was used to limit and control the population.
Good images.
This is a well-researched and thought-provoking discussion on early human and Egyptian art, effectively analyzing their cultural significance, challenges, and societal impact. The connections drawn between ancient and modern art highlight the universal nature of artistic expression, while the discussion on hieroglyphics offers valuable insight into their role in Egyptian society. The exploration of both benefits and drawbacks demonstrates a balanced perspective, making this a compelling and insightful reflection on the intersection of art, history, and culture.
ReplyDeleteI wrote something similar and really agree with how important animals were to the lives of these cave painters. The abundant depictions definitely help highlight this importance and we can assume they used animals products in their everyday lives. I especially like how in depth you went with the struggles that they may have faced during the creation of these cave paintings. The environment would have presented a lot of struggles and things could go wrong in such spaces very quickly. I think your connection between these ancient cave paintings and hieroglyphics is pretty appropriate. I like the connections we can make to two forms of ancient art, and your explanation of hieroglyphics alone is very good. I especially like how you highlighted that this form of art and communication was separated by class and only upper class people could really understand and communicate with them.
ReplyDelete