In the Birth of Tragedy Nietzsche came up with the two opposing art concepts of the Apollonian and the Dionysian.
Death from Laughter: Rembrandt and Zeuxis
The ancient Greek painter Zeuxis lived an unconventional life and sufffered an equally unconventional death; he died from laughter. The story is simple. Zeuxis excelled in the art of imitating … Continue reading Death from Laughter: Rembrandt and Zeuxis
A Roman lesson on the Corona-virus
An unlikely argument in favour of social distancing comes from one of Rome’s greatest scholars, Marcus Terrentius Varo (116 BCE- 27 CE) in the second volume of his book ‘On … Continue reading A Roman lesson on the Corona-virus
Four Paintings of Perseus turning Phineus and his Followers into Stone
On the way back from his quest for Medusa’s head, Perseus passed from an Ethiopian Kingdom where he saved princess Andromeda from the terrible sea-monster called Keto. The monster was … Continue reading Four Paintings of Perseus turning Phineus and his Followers into Stone
Leo Tolstoy and Upper-Class Art (part 3)
Tolstoy finds that the upper-classes, the art critics and most professional artists lack the ability of being “infected” by emotions through art. This happens because they have accustomed themselves to … Continue reading Leo Tolstoy and Upper-Class Art (part 3)
Leo Tolstoy and Upper-Class Art (part 2)
According to Tolstoy, art in the West used to be attached to religion and was universally understood since it expressed the relationship between human and god which is supposedly the … Continue reading Leo Tolstoy and Upper-Class Art (part 2)
Leo Tolstoy and Upper-Class Art (part 1)
Tolstoy believes that there are no possible objective definitions of art or good taste. In reality philosopher’s and artists define as beauty what pleases a certain portion of society. Tolstoy … Continue reading Leo Tolstoy and Upper-Class Art (part 1)
Leo Tolstoy and Art for Art’s Shake
Art for art’s sake? This is one of the questions that have been puzzling the modern world for a few centuries now. The answer cannot be untangled from the commercialisation … Continue reading Leo Tolstoy and Art for Art’s Shake
Panta Rhei (1952)
In 1952 Bert Haanstra, a dutch cinematographer, created the short documentary Panta Rhei. The name of the title translates as everything flows which is a phrase used to encapsulate the … Continue reading Panta Rhei (1952)
Freud looking at Medusa
Lately I have been reading a lot about Medusa’s symbolism and place in ancient art and religion. That’s how I came across this essay by Sigmund Freud written in 1922 … Continue reading Freud looking at Medusa
Nietzsche’s poem on Heraclitus
Nietzsche wrote a poem that has been interpreted as a dialogue with Heraclitus and his everlasting flame
Plotinus, Neoplatonism and Beauty
Plotinus (ca 205-270 CE) was the founder of Neoplatonism, a school of philosophy inspired by Plato’s ideas some 600 years after the philosopher’s death. Plotinus was born in the Lycopolis … Continue reading Plotinus, Neoplatonism and Beauty
When Heraclitus became Borjes (part 2)
In a previous blog I presented a poem called “Heraclitus” by Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentinian poet and author. In that blog I also briefly introduced the pre-socratic Greek philosopher … Continue reading When Heraclitus became Borjes (part 2)
Imagining Scotland’s Past: Epic and Satirical Illustrations from the 18th and 19th Centuries
Originally posted on University of Glasgow Library Blog:
As UofGASC begin to welcome a new cohort of placement students, it seems a fitting opportunity to publish the work of one…
The National Monument of Scotland: the Politics of the Scottish Parthenon
The full article was published at the Historic-UK magazine and can be found at: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/National-Monument-of-Scotland/ Most famously called by its resident architect the ‘pride and poverty of us Scots’, the … Continue reading The National Monument of Scotland: the Politics of the Scottish Parthenon
When Heraclitus became Borjes (part 1)
Heraclitus was a Greek philosopher from Ephesus of Asia Minor. He is said to have written only one book, On Nature, which was divided into three parts: concerning the All, … Continue reading When Heraclitus became Borjes (part 1)
From Hermaphroditus to Aphrodite: The Transformation of a Statue in 18th century Britain
Hermaphroditos, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, rejected nymph Salmacis as his lover. Salmacis persuaded Zeus to merge their bodies and that union produced a bisexed being with male sexual organs … Continue reading From Hermaphroditus to Aphrodite: The Transformation of a Statue in 18th century Britain
Analysis of the poem ‘A Prince From Western Libya’
A Prince From Western Libya by Constantine P. Cavafy Aristomenis, son of Menelaos,the Prince from Western Libya,was generally liked in Alexandriaduring the ten days he spent there.In keeping with his … Continue reading Analysis of the poem ‘A Prince From Western Libya’
The lure of the Incomplete, the Imperfect and the Fragmented in Art
Until mid-19th century, an unfinished artwork was unacceptable for both aesthetic and philosophical reasons. A result of this tendency was that collectors of ancient art (mainly Greek and Roman) would … Continue reading The lure of the Incomplete, the Imperfect and the Fragmented in Art
Romans sweating is cheating: Roland Barthes against Hollywood
According to Roland Barthes, prominent French literary theorist and semiotician, the film Julius Caesar (1953) is full of errors. In Mankiewicz’s film all Romans have fringes not because its historically accurate, … Continue reading Romans sweating is cheating: Roland Barthes against Hollywood
