How art embodies cultural identity (Aztec Vs.New nations of the US) - Essay Example

Both the religion of the Aztecs and the religion of the new nation of the US rely heavily on art as a way of expressing different aspects of worship and helping followers to visualize aspects of their respective religions. Aztec art, however, was primarily created for religious expression and aspects of the creation story, various gods and their interactions and depictions of the afterlife can be found in almost every piece of known Aztec art. Aztec art, religion and daily life all interact seamlessly in sculpture, pottery and wall art.

Religion in the United States, which is predominantly Christianity, at times forbids artistic expression of the religion (Hollingsworth, 2004, p341) and at others is often limited to Renaissance-style depictions of Bible stories with a heavy focus on the central character, Jesus Christ. Most art in the United States is of no obvious religious character. One of the most famous examples of Aztec sculpture is known as the calendar stone, which depicts the sun god surrounded by bands that depict various days and eras.

This stone shows the seamless integration between art, religion and daily life, because it is at once a piece of art, a depiction of a deity and a useful object. The carving of the central sun god is created in typical Aztec style, having a close relationship with that found in the Phonecian culture and representing the intricate relationship between man and nature (Miller, 1986, p205). There are many more examples of Aztec sculpture which feature depictions of a sun god, and countless stone carvings depicting aspects of the religion.

Conversely, it is fairly difficult to find one such shining example of religious sculpture which has originated in the new nation of the US. Religious sculpture in the United States is often commisioned for use outside religious buildings. One such example is known as the King of Kings, a 62 foot tall statue of Jesus that adorns the entrance of a megachurch in Ohio. The artistic value of this sculpture has been debated (Williamson, 2004, p89) although the Aztec calendar stone was also probably of questionable artistic value to those who used it as a ceremonial basin (Morán & History, 2007, p157).

However, whether the King of Kings is considered art or not, the main value this had (until it was hit by lightening in 2010) was to adorn the baptismal pool and depict the central character of Christianity. It had no additional usage, highlighting the distance between religion, art and everyday life in the new nation of the United States. Another example we can use is the Aztec paintings. These are fairly rare, but like the stone carvings all share a similar style. Again, these all depict various scenes that are heavily linked to religion, whether they be scenes from the Aztec story of creation or images of women presiding over religious ceremonies (Miller, 1986, p197).

Whilst these are fairly common, it is easier to find art in the form of masks, statues, jewellery and pottery which again suggests that Aztec art was created for a purpose. Similarly, it is fairly difficult to find one outstanding piece of modern American Christian art, although the work of John August Swanson continously features religious themes. These paintings contain images of Biblical scenes, such as the piece Psalm 85, after the passage of the same name. These are in a style bordering on realism, and it is very obvious to the viewer what scene most works by Swanson are depicting, heavily contrasting the stylized work of the Aztecs.

Perhaps the main similarity between the two is that they are both fairly rare, with the Aztecs foregoing this style in favor of the practical, and the people of the United States foregoing this style in the search for a less-religious style. To conclude, it is evident that perhaps the main function of art in the Aztec world was to depict parts of the Aztec faith, to illustrate the various gods and the interactions they had with the daily life of the people. Conversely, art in the United States is often not linked to religion in any direct way (although there may be subtle references).

This is perhaps one of the most marked differences between Aztec and North American art, and can be used as a reflection of the differences between the two cultures.Works CitedHollingsworth, Mary. Art in World History. Giunti Editore, 2004. Print.Miller, Mary Ellen. The art of Mesoamerica: from Olmec to Aztec. Thames & Hudson, 2006. Print.Morán, Elizabeth, and City University of New York. Art History. The sacred as everyday: Food and ritual in Aztec art. ProQuest, 2007. Print.Williamson, Beth.

Christian art: a very short introduction. Oxford University Press, 2004. Print.