HCCS Ancient Art and Architecture Amphitheater and Mosaic Discussion

We have studied a number of characteristics of ancient art and architecture that are still used today. This assignment is intended to help you see those elements around you in your daily life. You may recognize that the houses or apartments in your neighborhood have a “Greek” look to them. Maybe the shopping center where you buy your groceries has features of Islamic art and architecture. I want you to look around and document the elements of ancient art and architecture that we can see in our modern life.

Below there are 15 terms associated with the art and architecture of the time periods covered in this class. Your group should choose 10 of these terms, (about two terms per person) define them, and give examples of how they are used in a modern (after 1500 CE) context.. If you find something that you think is influenced by ancient art, but do not see the term below, email it to me and I will let you use it.

You should look around your neighborhood and go to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston website (www.mfah.org (Links to an external site.)), the Menil Collection (www.menil.org (Links to an external site.)), or the websites of other fine art institutions. Do not just google the term and include the first image that comes up. I want the images to come from Houston and the surrounding areas. When you locate a piece of architecture, art, furniture, or material culture that utilizes one of the characteristics below, identify it, explain where or what it is, explain how the art or architectural element was used in the past and how it is used in the modern object you have chosen, and discuss why you think the artist or architect chose to use it.

TERMS:

Iwan

Hieratic Scale

Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian Columns (writing about more than one of these will still only count as one)

Axial Plan

Contrapposto

Amphitheater

Triumphal Arch

Mosaic

Pagoda

Abstraction

Pointed Arch

Expressionism

Idealism

Campanile

Rotunda

The goals of this project are:

1. recognize that ancient art influences are all around you – in graffiti, murals, city art collections, your neighbor’s funny yard sculpture, courthouses, domestic architecture, etc.

2. connect with other students and get to know their cultures

3. connect with areas of the city that may be less known to you