I really like Raphael's "School of Athens", how it's a shows all of those great philosophers. I enjoy the mystery of trying to figure out who most of the figures represent or if most of those people are nobody. It does make me think who would be in this painting if it was made yesterday. Who are our great thinkers or artist, and would the paintings mostly contain politicians?
I too love this painting. Especially significant to me is the section of Plato and Aristotle, where Plato is gesturing up towards the sky, or the transcendental, and Aristotle gestures toward the ground, or the practical.
ReplyDeletewho do YOU think would be in this painting today? That is such an interesting question because it would allow us to see the difference in values between then and now.
ReplyDeleteWow I would have never thought about this painting the way you did! The great philosophers of the past were so numbered. Especially when it came to women. Times have certainly changed and I too wonder who we as a society would choose for a piece like this. Obama is probably the most obvious since he is the most recent person to make history in this country. It would be great to see a much more diverse group of individuals representing todays great thinkers.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting way of looking at this piece! A friend of mine once asked me if I was President, who I would choose for my cabinet? This is in some way the same type of question, although it encompasses much more than politics. I wonder how well we would do if we had to assemble a mural of the well-known philosophers, political leaders, scientists and other figures of our time? Do we even know them, or are we instead as a culture more focused on popular or famous people rather than the great thinkers? Is popular culture and the Enquirer or People magazine the replacement for a picture such as this? Would the mural be filled with Obama, Hillary, Dr. Phil, Judge Judy, Oprah, Brangelina, Brittney, the Octo Mom, Rihanna ... or other popular figures constantly in and out of the public eye? I wonder what our choices would say to people in the 25th century about our life and values?
ReplyDeletei like cynthia, question...who Wouldd you portray in a painting or photograph like this, displaying influential figures?
ReplyDeletehmm...i wander
i'll admit, i don't know too much about politics & am not totally aware of who's who out there & the power & influence they hold on today's society...but I def think there would be a mixture of famous ppl
obama, katie couric, barbara walters, maybe even tyra...kate winslet, reese witherspoon, Steven speilberg, bill gates?
haha...there are a lot of magazines that include photo shoots of the NOw actresses or actors, since these are the ppl who are seen important & memoriable in our minds now days
but there deff should be REAL ppl too! like everyday doctors, sucessful women who came from nothing & rose to the top, something realllyy inspiring
great job! it was very thought provoking :)
xox Diana Nguyen