Renaissance Time Capsule - Essay Example

?Renaissance Time Capsule As a cultural anthropologist researching the Renaissance and Age of Baroque I am very excited to announce the discovery of a time capsule with items of the era. It is rumored that there are two items each from the disciplines of art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. It is our great pleasure to be among the first to open this capsule and examine how the contents reflect world events and cultural patterns of the time. Art Upon opening the time capsule I was immediately struck by the vibrant colors and powerful thematic structure of a painting. Upon further inspecting the painting it was discovered that it was a work by famed artist Leonardo Da Vinci. We took the painting back to the art history department at the university and learned that it was an early example of the use of perspective in painting. While by contemporary standards this is an accepted practice, during the period it was newly formed. In terms of content the painting has a religious theme with the Virgin Mary seated by a lake and a number of children surrounding her. While the exact meaning of the painting is uncertain, it’s clear that it reflects both a Renaissance and a Da Vinci concern with religious content. It also appears that the work was constructed as an altarpiece, as it is not constructed in the typical square or rectangular pattern. Behind this Leonardo Da Vinci painting was another painting. It was also taken back to the university art history department and analyzed. The professors identified the painting as a long-lost work by artist Jan van Eyck. The work implemented oil pant and canvas, both characteristic materials of the era. In terms of thematic content, the work balances both a natural landscape and a religious concern. The work reimagines the Biblical story of Jesus march towards crucifixion. The work is highly powerful in its depiction, as the vibrant afternoon sun and skyline seem to articulate the internal tension and strife of Jesus march towards the cross. Music As we further searched throughout the time capsule a sheath of written material was discovered. We began to unearth this and discovered two musical compositions. Similar to the other items, the music was taken back to the university and examined. The first composition demonstrated a reliance on the interval of the third as a consonance. The composition also highly implemented polyphony in a highly elaborate way. The composition contained a highly independent musical voice. In terms of genre, it was noted that the composition was used as a liturgical form. It was further understood that this specific composition was used for religious mass ceremonies. While it was understood that the composition emerged from the Renaissance era, the compilation of these elements indicates that it is a construction from the early Renaissance period, 14th century. Still, the exact composer was not known. This is not true of the second composition. The second composition was clearly marked Giovanni de Macque. This composer was a famed later Renaissance composer of the mid-late 16th century. The specific work contained appears to be from his middle period as it has a progressive Neapolitan style. The work is a madrigal for a church service, reflecting the primary musical stylistic concern of the era. Ultimately, the work is highly reflective of non-secular Renaissance musical compositions from the late 16th century. Descriptions of drawings or architecture As we further examined the contents of the sheath of paper a number of architectural drawings were discovered. The first drawing we discovered had no designer listed, but there were a number of notable characteristics. The specific architectural plans implement many of the principles of Classical Roman architecture in the construction of a church structure. The proportions of the structure contain a square and symmetrical appearance. The proportions also appear to be based on a module. Among specific elements, one notes that the design’s facades are symmetrical around their vertical axis. The church structure is surmounted by a pediment and organized by a modular system of entablatures, pilasters, and arches, with the windows gradually progressing toward the center of the structure. Ultimately, this first composition is highly reflective of non-secular Renaissance architecture. The second architectural drawing was for a secular community structure. In large part, many of the elements that were implemented in the non-secular church structure, including trends from Classical Roman architecture, were implemented in this secular design. Still, the structure is devoid of any of the spiritual elements contained in Renaissance religious structures, opting instead for an emphasis on heroic facades. Finally, the ceiling structure is coffered. This differentiates the structure from medieval ceilings. Philosophy The first aspect of philosophy that was discovered was a text on humanism. The Renaissance is perhaps most primarily distinguished from earlier cultural and historical eras from n movement away from the religious concerns of the Middle Ages and an increased emphasis on the primacy of the human secular experience. Renaissance versions of humanism exemplified this philosophical understanding. The specific text that was discovered exemplifies this concern. The text indicates that it was written in Florence. It is a broad ranging text that examines education, religion, and science. In terms of education, it emphasizes the need of individuals to educate people to become doctors, lawyers, or other professional careers. It further encourages the importance of education as a means of not instructing an individual heavily in a specific topic, but instead in a wide-ranging course of disciplines. The main contention the text makes is that such an education will allow the individual to appeal to others on a more large scale. The second text discovered is a scientific and philosophical work by Galileo Galilei, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. This text has since become one of the cornerstones of the Western scientific tradition. The text itself argues that the Earth revolves around the Sun, rather than the earlier Ptolemaic model that contends the Earth is the center of the Universe. While this is a readily accepted concept today, during Galileo’s time it was considered heresy and the Catholic Church tried the author. Literature In terms of literature, the time capsule contained an early copy of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. While this text is still widely read, it contains a number of elements that make it notable as a work of Renaissance literature. One of the primary concerns the text contains is the exploration of humanist concerns. While literature had long been focused with an individual’s relationship with God, this text explores many existential questions of existence, including suicide, the meaning of life, and death. One of the main characters in these regards is Hamlet’s friend Horatio who espouses a philosophy of stoicism. The articulation of this philosophy has much in common with contemporary notions of secular humanism. Similarly, Hamlet’s brooding and actions throughout the play demonstrate an individual concerned more with discovering purpose behind existence, rather than a driving allegiance to God or Christian tenants of existence. The second work of literature is a copy of Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince. In addition to being a seminal work of literature, this text reflects Renaissance political concerns and a changing social climate. The text itself is argued by some to be the first work of modern philosophy because the truth itself is believed to be more important than an abstract notion of an idealistic landscape. In addition to being a seminal work of political philosophy, the text provides great insight into the Renaissance political scene in Florence, with the Medici family. Read More