Art as a Culture

Functions or Early Art          

                The one explanation of what the cave artist were trying to say that I believe is the most legitimate, is illustrated in this paragraph from the Lascaux Caves website. It says, “Research carried out at Lascaux by Norbert Aujoulat between 1988 and 1999 revealed the fact that the construction of the panels followed a fixed and unchanging protocol, according to which horses were always drawn first, followed by aurochs and then stags. Under such conditions, time itself becomes a crucial factor. This sequence, systematically used for every composition in the sanctuary, responds to biological requirements, revealed by the seasonal attributes seen on the animals. This analysis shows that the horses' features correspond to the early spring, the aurochs to the summer and the stags to the autumn. The various phases of these biological cycles indicate, for each species, the beginnings of mating rituals, which bring life. Over and beyond this literal reading, it is the rhythm, and even the regeneration, of time that is symbolised. The phases of Spring, Summer and Autumn are thus reproduced, a metaphoric evocation that, in this setting, links biological and cosmic time. These vast painted and engraved compositions seem like witnesses to a spiritual way of thinking, whose symbolic significance is based on a cosmogonic approach. From the entrance of the cave to its very depths, the great book of the first – the founding – mythologies unfurls before our eyes, with its central theme, the creation of the world.” So it would seem like these people believed in a great book that set forth the creation of the world and they were in a sense, “illustrating” the book. They were giving “life” to their beliefs by creating these paintings on the walls of the cave. I think the painters were trying to express their beliefs and possibly their thankfulness to the deity they believed in by painting the animals on the walls.

I think the reason there are so many animals and not as many people in the paintings is because this people viewed animals and the creation of them, as more important than themselves. They viewed the animals as special beings and maybe even worshiped them. They obviously did not have enough interest in having future generations know about what they looked like physically or about their accomplishments or they would have painted themselves into the paintings. This can be contrasted with the artwork of the Ancient Egyptians whose paintings are completely full of themselves. They were a culture focused on having power and on being remembered. This is seen in the elaborate pyramids they built for themselves as tombs. They wanted the world to know who they were. The culture of people who created these cave paintings must not have thought very highly of themselves or want themselves to be remembered enough that they would paint themselves into the paintings.

These cave paintings can tell us how highly this group of people viewed animals. And specifically horses which are the most painted animal in the caves. It also tells us what type of animals used to live in the area they inhabited. Which could be helpful since some of the animals might not be in existence today. It also tells us about their religion and their emphasis on the creation of the world which I discussed in the first section of this post. It can tell us that they had access to and a knowledge of how to make a substance they could paint with. We can see how developed their minds were by looking at the creativity of the paintings and the dimensions given to the paintings. This is also seen in the way they developed different methods of painting on sections of the cave walls that were different textures. Lastly, I believe it gives us a clue to the lifestyle of the painters. They obviously had leisure time and were not devoted solely to the hunting and gathering of food. They had time to do things they enjoyed and wanted to do. But at the same time, that is putting my own cultural ideas into the matter. Maybe the paintings were done by a certain group of people who were forced to paint what they were told. I don’t know if this is something we will ever know.

Two difficulties that this people encountered when they were painting was how to access the walls and lighting. Accessing the walls in the caves could not have been easy based on their shape. Research has shown that scaffolding was built to be able to reach high places. Because the cave is not man-made, there is no geometrical structure to the walls therefore they are all different and that would have to have been worked through also. The second difficulty the painters had to work through was being able to see what they were painting. Research has shown that they used torches and even a form of lamp to be able to see what they were painting. Archaeologist have even discovered hearths that were used solely to give off light.

There are three possible functions of this art according to the Lascaux website. One of them is that because of some of the paintings of bison with arrow marks in them, these paintings were linked to the magic of the hunt and therefore had magical properties. A second function of this art could have had something to do with shamanism and maybe was instrumental in the “religion” of the people. Lastly, as stated in the first paragraph, these paintings might be an illustration of the creation of the world and therefore served as a teaching tool to the younger generation.  

Commonalities in Function

                There are a few commonalities that these cave paintings have with the functions of art of modern humans. One is that they both are used as ways of expressing oneself. Art is a main way throughout history that people have used to tell others what they feel and what they believe. Another common function could be that these cave paintings could have been used to beautify the walls of the caves, and modern art is used for the same purpose. Modern humans use art to add color or life to a dull or boring space. Another commonality is that art is used to record history. In the caves it was used to record the creation of the world and modern art  is used to record certain events in history to remind us of them. Lastly, they both can be used for religious purposes. It is clear that the cave paintings had something to do with the religion of the people and modern humans use art in all sorts of ways in the world of religion. Whether that be in a cathedral or in a painting of the face of Jesus.

My Favorite Art

                My favorite form of art is music and my favorite form of music is country! 

               

                The main purpose of country music is to tell a story. They tell about the real life situations that people go through every day in relationships with people, their country and with God. 

                

                There is a complete culture surrounding this art form. From cowboy hats, to cowboy boots, to good old southern hospitality, country music is a big part of southern culture. There are many country songs that have specifically to do with the little “southern town” that the signer calls home. Sweet tea, water towers and John Deer tractors are iconic symbols of country living that have found their way into many country songs.

                Country music benefits society because it reminds us of the things that really matter in life. Many songs talk of the importance of family, of the father daughter relationship and of being proud of the country so many men/women fought and died for. It reminds people that even though hard times come, there is always light at the end of the tunnel and we can move on. Some detrimental effects that I think of country music having are the emphasis it has on alcohol, love gone wrong, and wasting time sitting on a beach. There are many songs that are about getting drunk, leaving a husband or a wife, or about spending all of your time with a “drink in your hand” on a white sandy beach.
               Here is my favorite country band, The Band Perry, singing "You Lie" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCwLsXZnFl4