Eight Vidss

More Human Than Human, and Art and Life in the Middle Ages: The Luttrell Psalter

1. Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

Of the videos available, this appealed to me because I typically don't care for the middle ages. It seems like a time that's very regressive, and dim, so I was hoping this video would help expand my understanding of that time. I know there were some great advancements in art during this time, in great part to the church. So, perhaps this video will help fill in some of the blank spots in my memory.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

The vid Life in the Middle Ages: The Luttrell Psalter talks about the "great" artist behind the Luttrell Psalter, and the importance that this book played in depicting life, like a "medieval encyclopedia". Life such as farming, milling, aristocratic leisure, possibly the crusades, things like that. It was so detailed, and vast in the lifestyles it depicted, that it's a vital first account of life of the time.
The other vid, "More Human Than Human" covers humanity and it's evolution with and by art. What's driven us to make art, how are helped shaped worlds, dynasties, cultures, and the overall importance of art on the human mind.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

More human than Human related primarily to chapter 14, touching on the ancient history of art in our world. The book continues to be more informational, and analytical, whereas the film touches more on the why. Also a fun thing to note, the neuroscientist from a few weeks ago makes an appearance.
Chapter 15 relates more to the second video that I choose, as it goes into christianity and the effect it had on the art world. The book covered many of the pinnacle moments throughout the middle ages, whereas the video broke it down further by getting into details of the everyday life of people through art.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

The films were alright, More human than Human was more interesting than the Middle Ages video I picked out, but I could very well be biased. I answered the second part of this in the previous question, but basically the book laid out a very unbiased groundwork for my understqanding of this time period of art, and the videos applied more of the human element. The "why did people do this? what compelled them to create? How can we understand their minds?" kind of elements.