Purposes of Art: Commemoration, Documentation, and Narration

Culture: A shared set of beliefs, values, and history of a group of people in a specific place and time.
- Example: Ancient Egyptian culture vs. modern Egyptian culture.

Ancient Egyptian Culture:
- Tomb paintings in the Valley of the Queens (e.g., Queen Nefertari's tomb).
- Sarcophagus from King Tut's tomb: Covered in gold, ornately detailed.
- Purpose: To commemorate the person being buried; to show their exploits, greatness, and status in life.
- The only intended viewers were the gods and the person in the afterlife.
Ancient Rome:
- Statues used to commemorate specific people (e.g., Augustus of Primaporta).
- Subtle details and symbols (staff, gesture, cherub) communicate leadership, power, and status.
- The statue conveys the subject's importance and achievements.

Definition: Art that documents a specific event by presenting the facts of what happened at a specific time.
Example: Photograph taken by a war correspondent during World War II, showing the American landing on the beach at Normandy, France.
- Details in the image reveal the conditions (weather) and the emotional state of the subjects involved.

Definition: Art that tells a story by presenting a sequence of events in a narrative.
Example: The Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts events from the Battle of Hastings (the Norman conquest of England).
- 230 feet long, with figures and text embroidered by hand.
- Tapestries were portable and helped insulate homes during the winter.
- Details of the battle and its sequence of events are shown.

Art can often fulfill multiple functions simultaneously.
Example 1: Photograph of the ruins of the Gallego Flower Mill in Richmond, Virginia, after the Civil War.
- Documents the destruction after the Civil War.
- Commemorates the end of the Civil War and serves as a reminder of the destruction caused by internal conflict.
Example 2: Trajan's Column in Rome.
- 100-foot-tall column with a bronze statue of Emperor Trajan on top.
- Commemoration: Honors Trajan's greatness and victory over the Dacians
- Documentation: Provides insight into the clothing, weapons, and tactics used during the war
- Narration: The spiral pattern of detailed engravings depicts wars that Trajan fought with the Dacians.

The purposes of art can evolve over time, and a single piece can fulfill multiple functions from the outset.
Example: Soldiers Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.
- Initially created to document the event.
- Subsequently came to commemorate the sacrifices made by soldiers in American wars.

Tapestry: A heavy hand-woven textile used for depicting a story. Example: The Bayeux Tapestry.
Monument: A memorial, a lasting remembrance, or evidence. Example: The Trajan Column.
Commemorate: To call to remembrance or serve as a memorial. Example: A plaque commemorating soldiers in battle.
Symbolism: Using an image to convey a deeper meaning in a piece of art. Example: Symbolism in ancient wall paintings.
Documentation: Providing evidence that an event occurred. Example: Art used as documentation for events in history.
Narrate: To tell a story. Example: Egyptian wall paintings used to narrate events.
Statue: A three-dimensional piece of artwork. Example: The statue of Apollodorus on Trajan's Column.
Sarcophagus: An above-ground tomb used by the Egyptians. Example: King Tut's sarcophagus.