Chp 14 and 15 Video Reviews

1. Explain why you selected each of the three videos you choose from the selection listed above.
The videos that I chose are The Birth of the Middle Ages, Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany, and Cairo Museum. I chose the 1^st film because I enjoy the period of history known as the middle ages and wanted to learn more about it. I chose the 2^nd film because I was interested in the black death aka bubonic plague, and wanted to know how this plague was related to art during this time. I picked the final video because I was curious about the Cairo Museum and wanted to see what artifacts were held In the collection.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
The key concepts that I learned in More Human Than Human are that people prefer images that do not look like us. We prefer images that are abstracted and unrealistic. The program continues to list the different cultures and the way they have proven this belief, and also states that this preference for abstraction of the human form comes from the brain being hardwired for exaggeration.

The key concepts that I learned in The Birth of the Middle Ages is the history of the middle ages as it is traced through certain cultures. The film traced the middle ages through Europe, Japan, and Rome. The film also focused on the Renaissance and the fall of the Roman Empire.

The key concepts that I leaned in Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany are what happened to Sienna and Florence during the Black Death, and also after the Bubonic Plague took its toll. The video goes into detail on the event that took place during this time, and what happened to spring a curiosity in spirituality that would lead to the high renaissance.

The key concepts that I learned in Cairo Museum are that the museum in Cairo houses an impressive array of artifacts from ancient Egypt. These very important artifacts include the burial mask if King Tut and the Luxor Mummies. The Museum has such a large amount of artifacts that it can only display about half of the collection at one time.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the text because they are all about the time periods that are discussed in the readings for chapters 14 and 15. The Middle Ages, Egypt, the Roman Empire, and the Greeks are all presented in video form. The videos provide detailed images and documentary on these time periods and the art and architecture of these time periods.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
I think the films were all entertaining and very informative. These films are good at adding depth to understanding of the readings and art because it shows many examples of what is discussed in the book. It is important to see these things because they give you a better understanding as to what the book describes. The commentary from experts in the field also helps to add understanding and a different perspective to the reading.