For a bit of extra-credit, either post a comment that compares and contrasts the argument regarding the Greek ideal body presented here and that in the "How Art Made the World" video. Which do you find more convincing, and why??
Or, alternatively, you can post a comment after your visit to the MFA which takes into consideration the art objects there in your evaluation of Nigel Spivey's "More Human than Human" argument that some non-realistic depictions of the human body are essentially the products of hardwired neurobiology, while others are not but are rather the products of cultural values which overrule the biological tendency. You already know that I personally think he lays his argument on a bit stronger than it warrants, but that's just me, and you certainly don't have to buy what I say! :-) What do you think, and why??
Monday, October 30, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
FYI: Ancient Greece through Fun & Games!
"Presented with a physical relief map of Greece and its many islands,visitors to the homepage of this site will then be treated to a range of material objects, ranging from masks, urns, and stone tablets. All of these items are part of the British Museum’s vast holdings of materials from ancient Greece, and brought together, they constitute the online website titled 'Ancient Greece'. Previous online collections have presented material from other civilizations, and this assemblage is divided into traditionalsections that include geography, time, war, and Athens. While many of the sections follow traditional online collection conventions, there are a number of splendid Flash-enabled features that present a day in the life of the city of Athens, and of course, Plato’s immortal cave."
(from The Internet Scout Report, Oct. 13 2006)
Some highlights:
FYI: "Archaeological treasures found on Google Earth"
"Archaeological treasures found on Google Earth.: 'In 25 years on the ground, I've found a handful of archaeological sites. I found more in the first five, six, seven hours [on Google Earth] than I've found in years of traditional field surveys and aerial archaeology...'" (from Metafilter)
For Fun: Gladiator Game! :-)
"Swords and Sandals is a mini-epic gladiator game. Create your hero and battle your way to fame and fortune upon the sands of the arena. The basic pattern of the game is to build up your character, buy weapons and armour, and defeat gladiators to win experience and gold... and then do it all again.Your ultimate aim is to defeat all seven arena champions and reign as champion yourself. If you find yourself struggling, try a different strategy."
(from The Presurfer)
Monday, October 23, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Regarding "Troy"
In addition to the things you guys have already noted, my favorite anachronism - beyond all the people killed who are actually supposed to survive the Trojan War according to the Iliad - are the LLAMAS that the Trojans rush to bring into the city as the Greeks are invading! LOL!!!
Monday, October 16, 2006
REQUIRED: For Thursday, Oct. 19
Reading Assignment: Adams, pp. 132-141.
“Alex the Great & the first ‘Globalization’?”
(No multiple choice reading quiz... This material will just be included on midterm!)
“Alex the Great & the first ‘Globalization’?”
(No multiple choice reading quiz... This material will just be included on midterm!)
Ideal & Real Paper
Hey, ya'll! Heard that some of you are having some trouble with tomorrow's essay. Firstly, don't worry about art from the Adams book (at least for now!) Secondly, the issue is pretty much this: "What are Athenians' ideals for the individual, the household and the government, and are they truly reflected in the reality of Athenian life? Why or why not??"
Hope that helps!
Dr. Laughran
Hope that helps!
Dr. Laughran
Friday, October 13, 2006
Upcoming Extra-Credit TV Viewing Possibilities...
The History Channel will be showing the following documentaries that are related to what we're studying this semester... Post an analytical comment here regarding the program to receive extra-credit just for watching attentively TV! :-)
Monday, October 16
9-10pm -- "Engineering an Empire - Greece"
"Western Civilization has been influenced by many cultures, but it was born in Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3000 years of European history. Philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates, Olympian gods, the beginnings of democracy and great conquering armies can be attributed to the Ancient Greeks. This strong and charismatic people strategically harnessed the materials and people around them to create the mostadvanced technological feats the world had ever seen. From The Tunnel of Samos: a mile-long aqueduct dug through a large mountain of solid limestone, to Agamemnon's Tomb, to the Parthenon, we will examine the architecture and infrastructure engineered by the Greek Empire. Peter Weller hosts."
Monday, October 23
9-10pm -- "Engineering an Empire - Greece: Age ofAlexander."
"438 BC. The Parthenon is complete. This masterpiece is the crowning achievement for the Greek people. Without Alexander the Great, it is possible Greece's Golden Era would have been just a footnote in history. Tens of thousands would die during Alexander's relentless attacks on Persia and Egypt, yet, his armies carried Greek life, culture and values far abroad and this empire became known as the "Hellenistic" world. Greece's amazing engineering achievements and ideas are still with us today."
10-11pm -- "Lost Worlds - The Real Dracula."
"In a country torn by bloody civil war, a young man seizes power. In his native tongue, he is called Dracula. This is not the vampire, Count Dracula, but a real historical figure: a Romanian prince. Dracula was a warlord who became known all across Europe for both his breathtaking courage and his terrifying cruelty. But he also left an enduring legacy. Not just in blood, but also in brick, mortar, and stone. He constructed palaces. He founded the city that was to become his country's capital. He also built one of Eastern Europe's most breathtaking mountaintop castles. Now, with state-of-the-art computer animation, we'll bring Dracula's lost world back to life: his birthplace in the fortified town of Sighisoara; the gothic splendor of Transylvania's Bran Castle; the sumptuous palace of Targoviste; and the real castle Dracula, Poenari."
Monday, October 30
7-8pm -- "Modern Marvels - Mummy Tech."
"After thousands of years, Egyptian mummies are speaking from the grave. With the use of state-of-the-art computer tomography scanning, known as CT-scanning, we explore inside a 2,000-year-old mummified body of an Egyptian child. With today's technology, mummies are studied without being unwrapped. Researchers travel around inside the mummy's head and body with 3-D imagery. We meet Dr.Robert Brier, a renowned Egyptologist. Dr. Brier reveals secrets of Mummification--it took up to 70 days to preserve the dead. Aided by new technology, we investigate the death of one of the most famousmummies, King Tut. Was he murdered or did he die from an illness? We also uncover the case of the Mummy who lay in obscurity for over a hundred years, until modern science unlocked the secrets of his identity as an Egyptian pharaoh. And we join a team of conservationists as they build a nitrogen-filled glass display case to provide a safe sanctuary to prevent mummies from decay."
9-10pm -- "Engineering an Empire - The Aztecs."
"In less than 200 years the Aztec's transformed themselves from a band of wandering nomads to the greatest civilization the New World had ever known. What records remain of this amazing feat indicate they did it through brilliant military campaigns and by ingeniously applying technology to master the harsh environment they faced. They built their capital city where no city should have been possible: in the middle of a lake. The Aztec also practiced human sacrifice on an unprecedented scale and made many enemies. By the time the Spaniards landed they had no trouble recruiting tribal allies to destroy the Aztecs. Watch with host Peter Weller as we examine the architecture and infrastructure behind the New World's greatest, and last, indigenous society."
10-11pm -- "Lost Worlds - Ramses' Egyptian Empire"
"1300 BC. The mighty Egyptian civilization is in its golden age. Its ruler is Ramses II, a man who intends to be the greatest of the Pharaohs. He will make his mark by building: vast statues; towering obelisks; temples carved from the living rock. Ramses is a giant of a man, dominating his kingdom for 67 years, pushing it on to ever greater glory. The ruins of what he built still stand, and with the aid of new research and cutting edge graphics technology, the true scale of his ambition can now be fully revealed. We reconstruct the grand hypostyle hall at Karnak; explore the technical innovation and engineering skill that produced the temple at Abu Simbel; we rebuild the Ramesseum as he would have seen it, and uncover how the extraordinary tomb that Ramses built for himself would have looked when his body was finally laid there."
Tuesday, October 31
7-8pm -- "The Haunted History of Halloween"
"On October 31, when pint-sized ghouls and goblins trick or treat, they're upholding an ancient northern European ritual dating back thousands of years. From the Celtic festival of Samhain to the mummingtradition and the Christian feast day All Hallows' Eve, we find out why this night is the scariest of the year!"
10-11pm -- "Man Moment Machine - Alexander the Great and the Devastating Catapult"
"Only Alexander the Great would have the audacity to attempt such a daring siege--the fortified island city of Tyre seems invincible, but his Macedonian troops are inspired and determined, and the young Alexander has a secret weapon--a machine created for the destruction of cities: the catapult. If Tyre falls, it will be a pivotal victory in Alexander's quest for a new empire--a key stop on a march that will cover more than 10,000 miles and span three continents."
Monday, October 16
9-10pm -- "Engineering an Empire - Greece"
"Western Civilization has been influenced by many cultures, but it was born in Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3000 years of European history. Philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates, Olympian gods, the beginnings of democracy and great conquering armies can be attributed to the Ancient Greeks. This strong and charismatic people strategically harnessed the materials and people around them to create the mostadvanced technological feats the world had ever seen. From The Tunnel of Samos: a mile-long aqueduct dug through a large mountain of solid limestone, to Agamemnon's Tomb, to the Parthenon, we will examine the architecture and infrastructure engineered by the Greek Empire. Peter Weller hosts."
Monday, October 23
9-10pm -- "Engineering an Empire - Greece: Age ofAlexander."
"438 BC. The Parthenon is complete. This masterpiece is the crowning achievement for the Greek people. Without Alexander the Great, it is possible Greece's Golden Era would have been just a footnote in history. Tens of thousands would die during Alexander's relentless attacks on Persia and Egypt, yet, his armies carried Greek life, culture and values far abroad and this empire became known as the "Hellenistic" world. Greece's amazing engineering achievements and ideas are still with us today."
10-11pm -- "Lost Worlds - The Real Dracula."
"In a country torn by bloody civil war, a young man seizes power. In his native tongue, he is called Dracula. This is not the vampire, Count Dracula, but a real historical figure: a Romanian prince. Dracula was a warlord who became known all across Europe for both his breathtaking courage and his terrifying cruelty. But he also left an enduring legacy. Not just in blood, but also in brick, mortar, and stone. He constructed palaces. He founded the city that was to become his country's capital. He also built one of Eastern Europe's most breathtaking mountaintop castles. Now, with state-of-the-art computer animation, we'll bring Dracula's lost world back to life: his birthplace in the fortified town of Sighisoara; the gothic splendor of Transylvania's Bran Castle; the sumptuous palace of Targoviste; and the real castle Dracula, Poenari."
Monday, October 30
7-8pm -- "Modern Marvels - Mummy Tech."
"After thousands of years, Egyptian mummies are speaking from the grave. With the use of state-of-the-art computer tomography scanning, known as CT-scanning, we explore inside a 2,000-year-old mummified body of an Egyptian child. With today's technology, mummies are studied without being unwrapped. Researchers travel around inside the mummy's head and body with 3-D imagery. We meet Dr.Robert Brier, a renowned Egyptologist. Dr. Brier reveals secrets of Mummification--it took up to 70 days to preserve the dead. Aided by new technology, we investigate the death of one of the most famousmummies, King Tut. Was he murdered or did he die from an illness? We also uncover the case of the Mummy who lay in obscurity for over a hundred years, until modern science unlocked the secrets of his identity as an Egyptian pharaoh. And we join a team of conservationists as they build a nitrogen-filled glass display case to provide a safe sanctuary to prevent mummies from decay."
9-10pm -- "Engineering an Empire - The Aztecs."
"In less than 200 years the Aztec's transformed themselves from a band of wandering nomads to the greatest civilization the New World had ever known. What records remain of this amazing feat indicate they did it through brilliant military campaigns and by ingeniously applying technology to master the harsh environment they faced. They built their capital city where no city should have been possible: in the middle of a lake. The Aztec also practiced human sacrifice on an unprecedented scale and made many enemies. By the time the Spaniards landed they had no trouble recruiting tribal allies to destroy the Aztecs. Watch with host Peter Weller as we examine the architecture and infrastructure behind the New World's greatest, and last, indigenous society."
10-11pm -- "Lost Worlds - Ramses' Egyptian Empire"
"1300 BC. The mighty Egyptian civilization is in its golden age. Its ruler is Ramses II, a man who intends to be the greatest of the Pharaohs. He will make his mark by building: vast statues; towering obelisks; temples carved from the living rock. Ramses is a giant of a man, dominating his kingdom for 67 years, pushing it on to ever greater glory. The ruins of what he built still stand, and with the aid of new research and cutting edge graphics technology, the true scale of his ambition can now be fully revealed. We reconstruct the grand hypostyle hall at Karnak; explore the technical innovation and engineering skill that produced the temple at Abu Simbel; we rebuild the Ramesseum as he would have seen it, and uncover how the extraordinary tomb that Ramses built for himself would have looked when his body was finally laid there."
Tuesday, October 31
7-8pm -- "The Haunted History of Halloween"
"On October 31, when pint-sized ghouls and goblins trick or treat, they're upholding an ancient northern European ritual dating back thousands of years. From the Celtic festival of Samhain to the mummingtradition and the Christian feast day All Hallows' Eve, we find out why this night is the scariest of the year!"
10-11pm -- "Man Moment Machine - Alexander the Great and the Devastating Catapult"
"Only Alexander the Great would have the audacity to attempt such a daring siege--the fortified island city of Tyre seems invincible, but his Macedonian troops are inspired and determined, and the young Alexander has a secret weapon--a machine created for the destruction of cities: the catapult. If Tyre falls, it will be a pivotal victory in Alexander's quest for a new empire--a key stop on a march that will cover more than 10,000 miles and span three continents."
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
FYI: Papyrus
From this week's "Internet Scout Report'...
Advanced Papyrological Information System: "Writing from the ancient world frequently appears on papyrological materials such as papyri and wood tablets, and many of these important artifacts are in far-flung locations that may be difficult for researchers to access. The Advanced Papyrological System (APIS) has stepped in to provide a virtual location to house digitized images of many of these materials, along with English translations. The funding for the project has come from a variety of sources, including the National Endowment for the Humanities andparticipating institutions, such as the University of Chicago, Duke University, and the University of Toronto. Visitors can perform any number of elaborate searches using keywords, collection, date, and so on. For the more casual user, there is also the option of just browsing by subject word,writing material, or language."
Bookstore to send textbooks back!
If you haven't gotten all of your textbooks like you should have, there's no time like the present!
"Beginning October 16th, 2006 the bookstore will begin the process of returning textbooks to the vendors and publishers..."
"Beginning October 16th, 2006 the bookstore will begin the process of returning textbooks to the vendors and publishers..."
This week's Extra-Credit TV viewing possibilities!
The History Channel will be showing the following documentaries that are related to what we're studying this semester... Post an analytical comment here regarding the program to receive extra-credit just for watching attentively TV! :-)
10/14/2006
08:00 PM
"The Exodus Decoded": The story of the Exodus invokes an epic tale--Pharaohs and Israelites, plaguesand miracles, splitting of the sea and drowning of anarmy, and Moses. It's at the heart of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. After much research--workingwith archaeologists, Egyptologists, geologists, and theologians--filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici concluded that the Exodus took place hundreds of years earlier than thought. With a new timetable, Jacobovicire examined artifacts and discovered that the traditional consensus on the date was reached without reference to Judaic texts that record the oral traditions. When Jacobovici consulted these texts,they revealed names of people and places unknown to researchers until recently when extensive excavations in the Nile Delta took place. Teaming up with special effects designers, he created a unique digital experience of the Exodus. Blending archaeological findings with eye-catching effects, Jacobovici creates a virtual museum to showcase his discoveries.
10:00 PM
"Caligula: Reign of Madness": Caligula ruled the Roman Empire fewer than four years, and was only 28 when assassinated by officers of his guard in 41AD. His reign was a legendary frenzy of lunacy, murder, and lust. Between executions, he staged spectacular orgies, made love to his sister, and declared himself a living god. Join us for a look at this devoted son, murderer, pervert, and loving father whose anguished life was far more bizarre than the myth that surrounds him.
10/15/2006
08:00 PM
"Egypt: Engineering an Empire": Twenty-five hundred years before the reign of Julius Caesar, the ancient Egyptians were deftly harnessing the power of engineering on an unprecedented scale. Egyptian temples, fortresses, pyramids and palaces forever redefined the limits of architectural possibility. They also served as a warning to all of Egypt's enemies-that the world's most advanced civilization could accomplish anything. This two-hour special uses cinematic recreations and cutting-edge CGI to profile the greatest engineering achievements of ancient Egypt, and the pharaohs and architects who were behind them. Includes Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, Senusret's Nubian Superfortresses, Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple at Dier el-Bahari, Akhenaten's city at Amarna, and the temples of Ramesses the Great at Abu Simbel.
10:00 PM Strange Egypt. We all know the Egypt of the pyramids and King Tut's tomb. But there's much, much more. The daily life of ancient Egyptians was filledwith magic, mystery, and sex. We'll take a closer lookat the beliefs and habits of one of the world's oldest cultures. There was incest in the royal palace, divine cats, and an entire industry devoted to ushering the dead into the next world. Spells, potions, and incantations ruled every aspect of life. Yet even in these unusual customs, we'll find the human face ofthe ancient people of Egypt.
11:00 PM
"Modern Marvels. Mummy Tech": After thousands of years, Egyptian mummies are speaking from the grave. With the use of state-of-the-art computer tomography scanning, known as CT-scanning, we explore inside a 2,000-year-old mummified body of an Egyptian child. With today's technology, mummies are studied without being unwrapped. Researchers travel around inside the mummy's head and body with 3-D imagery. We meet Dr. Robert Brier, a renowned Egyptologist. Dr. Brier reveals secrets of Mummification--it took up to 70 days to preserve the dead. Aided by new technology, we investigate the death of one of the most famous mummies, King Tut. Was he murdered or did he die froman illness? We also uncover the case of the Mummy who lay in obscurity for over a hundred years, until modern science unlocked the secrets of his identity as an Egyptian pharaoh. And we join a team of conservationists as they build a nitrogen-filled glass display case to provide a safe sanctuary to prevent mummies from decay.
Update: Blog for Extra-Credit (plus "Troy")
Well, considering how persnickety this new blogger beta has been, let's go ahead and make blog participation not absolutely required (unless I explicitly say otherwise), and instead give extra-credit points for it. What do you say??
Remember also that I offered extra-credit for viewing the movie "Troy," and posting in a comment here one thing particularly historically-accurate about it, and one thing that's not... (Remember to mix it up, so if somebody also posts what you were going to say, be sure to come up with another one!)
Remember also that I offered extra-credit for viewing the movie "Troy," and posting in a comment here one thing particularly historically-accurate about it, and one thing that's not... (Remember to mix it up, so if somebody also posts what you were going to say, be sure to come up with another one!)
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