DISCUSSION QUESTIONS GLOBAL PREHISTORY-
1. What is the story of The Venus of Willendorf? How does the work show us the problems with naming prehistoric works of art? How would you explain the way the artist created the human figure?
2. The paintings of bulls and bison in the caves of Lascaux and Altamira are recognizable, and in some cases very detailed. But what aspects of the paintings on the cave walls have nothing to do with realism? Read in Altamira section
3.What do you think were the concerns of these prehistoric cultures and how were these concerns expressed in their artwork?
4. How did these artists/craftsmen adapt materials found in nature?
5. How were human and animal forms adapted to depict supernatural beings?
6. How did works of art function in these societies?
7. What are differences between an observation of the natural world versus conceiving of the natural world?
8. Why is so much of this Prehistoric work located in caves or on utilitarian objects?
9. What are some speculations about why caves like Lascaux and Altamira were painted? See “Art in the Old Stone Age”
10. There are obvious contrasts between Neolithic JADE and Stonehenge but what are some similarities between these NEOLITHIC works?
ESSAY - NOT YET ASSIGNED!
How does each of the following work’s presence on a wall reflect the work’s goals and or function?
Cave Paintings of Lascaux, (In the AP Set)
Diego Rivera http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1168,
Pepon Osorio En la Barberia no Se Llora (No Crying in the Barber Shop) (In the AP Set)
http://www.pbs.org/art21/images/pep%C3%B3n-osorio/en-la-barbaria-no-se-llora-no-crying-allowed-in-the-babershop-1994 Also watch the Art 21 clip on Osorio