Art Humanities class - Assignment Example

Apparently, one location shows the connection of the statue with the government and the power that it wishes to convey. In addition, the author performs visual analysis through taking photographs of the statue and commenting on its physical structure and movement, as well as its facial expressions. The language focuses on the action and energy of the sculpture, and this is effective in relation to the author’s thesis, regarding the political implications of David’s location. Moreover, this reading is enjoyable because it treats a usual art placement meeting as a decision that affects the meaning of the statue through the goals of the decision makers.

Response to Thucydides’ “Funeral Oration of Pericles” Thucydides records the Funeral Oration that Pericles delivered after the beginning of the first campaign of the war. During this speech, Pericles gives tribute to the fallen heroes of Athens. He praises the virtues of Athens first through extolling the virtues of the people. For him, the Athenians have built a great city because of their virtues and love for learning and simple beauty in life. He argues that these soldiers did not die in vain because they died for the greatest people and city in history.

He bases his arguments on the social, political, and economic values and attributes of Athens as a city and as a civilization. Pericles can be quite flowery with his words, but it must be because of the nature of the oration. He wants to emphasize that the people of Athens have to be proud of their courage because their courage protects their freedoms. Some of the confusing parts of the speech are when Pericles mentions certain people, places, and events that are unfamiliar. Nevertheless, further research will prove their relevance to the oration.

Moreover, Pericles does not conduct any visual analysis on a specific artwork. Nonetheless, he alludes to the architecture of Athens that manifests the people’s power and glory. The descriptive language combines simile, metaphors, allusions, and symbolisms. They are effective because they reinforce the idea that Athens is worth fighting and dying for. The families of the dead should find moral solace in the sacrifices of their loved ones because they died for something meaningful and worthwhile.

Aside from these effective uses of description, the reading is enjoyable because of its discussion of the merits of Athens. It reminds readers of patriotism that turns courage into a trait related to one’s national origins. Response to Alberti’s “On Painting” This writing has a clear identifiable thesis, where Alberti argues that paintings are important because they record important personalities and events, while also remarking on the skills of the painter. He believes that painting is a sacred duty and process, as it serves to replicate reality as it its, and if God made reality, then painting is an act of recreation, and to some extent, creation.

Alberti supports his claims with sayings from great artists and personalities and by mentioning painting’s evolution throughout human history. He establishes that painting is part of the essence of humanity. In addition, Alberti explains the composition of painting: circumscription, composition, and reception of light, which offers a form of visual analysis of