...HUMN303 - DeVry University- April 21, 2013 Venus de Willendorf vs. Barbie With Time, Brings Change HUMN303 - DeVry University- April 21, 2013 Venus de Willendorf vs. Barbie With Time, Brings Change Introduction Venus de Willendorf is a statuette that first appeared during the Upper Paleolithic period. The exaggerated carvings of the body parts were how the artists of that time viewed women, fat and fertile. History often takes from the past to reinvent the future. Today’s society has the Barbie doll. Ruth Handler created it in 1959. Its long legs and slim figure has been worship by so many, that real women have undergone intense cosmetic surgeries to resemble the doll. Both figurines have gained notoriety based on the representation of women of their era, displayed their own meaning of beauty and cultures’ perception of it. Venus de Willendorf Venus de Willendorf, also known as the Woman of Willendorf, is a type of art statuette that was discovered sum 25,000 years ago. It was discovered in 1908 by the banks of the Danube River near the town of Willendorf in Austria during diggings led by Josef Szombathy. The statuette was carved from a rare oolitic (stone eggs) limestone using a flint tool. This particular type of stone was not available in the area it was located in, thus concluding the statuette was not created locally. Standing 4 3/8 inches (11.1 centimeters) tall, the figurine is noticeably rounded. It displays obese and voluptuous women’s body parts. It...
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...Image: Cultures Idolizing the Female Form A Comparison and Contrast of the Barbie Doll and Venus de Willendorf Image: Cultures Idolizing the Female Form A Comparison and Contrast of the Barbie Doll and Venus de Willendorf The fact that cultures have idolized the female form in our modern era is not a new concept. Beauty in modern times has been held to the highest standard, but where and why did we get our ideal of beauty? Culture plays a large in role in how beauty is defined, and this is very clear when it pertains to the culture behind both the Venus de Willendorf and the more modern Barbie doll. Clearly, idolizing the female form is an ideal that has existed since the very first centuries that humans walked the earth. Taking a look at the two different cultures that idolize the female form may give us a little bit of insight into the similarities and differences there were between two different society’s composed of very similar beings. The statuette Venus de Willendorf was first discovered in Austria in 1908 by the archaeologist Josef Szombathy. This is the earliest image of a human being known to exist, thought to have been created during the Paleolithic era some 25,000 years ago (Witcombe)! The climate in the region that the statuette was discovered was probably an ice covered land, and therefore, her voluptuous image probably portrays a desire for food and to survive. Humans will always have one thing in common: survival. Whether it is a work of art portraying...
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...eras It is surprising how different female body sculptures from different ancient civilizations are. The diverse forms of human body also embody many different functions and meanings. In art, naked figures reflect a very complex set of formal ideals, philosophical concerns, and cultural traditions. In this essay I would like to compare two sculptures of nude women. The first one is the Venus of Willendorf which was built in Paleolithic Period. Another is called the Venus of Milo carved in ancient Greece. The female body of the Venus of Willendorf depicts enlarged breasts, buttocks and genital, which represents fertility, while the body of Venus of Milo, on the other hand, demonstrates beauty and perfect proportions. Despite the difference characteristics and styles between them, they both represent the different view of the perfect female form. The most widely known female figurine, the Venus of Willendorf, with only 11cm in height, is possibly the smallest female nude sculpture we know. It is one of the most obese representations of the Paleolithic statuary. The Venus of Willendorf can be dated back to approximately the Paleolithic period, around 28,000 to 25,000 BCE. According to some analysis, it was obvious that it had once been “painted with red ochre”, a symbolic substance commonly found in connection with burials and grave goods from the same time period. It was made of Oolitic limestone. Her thighs are also large and pressed together down on the knees. The thin arms...
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...Week 7Final Paper KIKi DeVry University Professor Mccabe Humanities October, 2013 The Paleolithic era was considered an era where women were strong and not judged on physical appearance. Back then the central thought dominating the society was the thought of survival and reproduction and the Paleolithic women played a very important part in that. If one has to look at a Venus de Willendorf Doll, the first thing that would be noticed is the size of the woman. The woman is robust and is without clothing or a face; this doll was made like this to show how little the importance of physical appearance was back then, when everyone was striving for survival. These dolls are not just pieces of art but they represent the history of women before our time, and they reveal to the modern society that the things which are important to us like appearance, fame, and fortune actually do not matter; but that the important thing is to protect one’s family and survive against all odds. Now- a-days it is the complete opposite. Instead of dolls that look like the Venus de Willendorf Doll, we have Barbie Dolls. The problem with this is the fact that Barbie Dolls have created a lot of problems for children. Barbie Dolls infused in young girls unrealistic expectations for life; it made girls think they had to look, live, and act in a certain way which is acceptable to the society. Barbie Dolls were made to be teen fashion dolls but little did the manufacturers know that they would change...
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...female human figure are the Venus of Willendorf, and the Aphrodite of Knidos. Each figure shows us very different views and characteristics from each of the different time periods, and yet they both have one major thing in common, and that is their nudity. The Venus of Willendorf, a Paleolithic female figure that was discovered by archaeologist Joseph Szombathy in an Austrian town named Willendorf. It is unknown who created the work of art; the artwork can be traced back to 28,000 and 25,000 BC. Even though this very small figure is only four and a half inches tall, the statue has a very exaggerated view of a woman. The sculpture shows a...
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...a certain level of importance to those of that time. A common statuette, said to be created around 25,000-20,000 B.C.E., is the Venus of Willendorf. One key feature of The Venus of Willendorf is it bulky size. Presenting the idea of an overweight woman she is thought to represent to natives of that time, who were believe to be overweight due to the harsh cold weather of that environment. Another key characteristic of The Venus of Willendorf was her exaggerated sexual private parts. The statue exemplifies her breasts, buttocks and stomach which insinuates thoughts of a pregnant women. Archaeologists and other specialist in this field can only speculate what the cause of this statue and many other artifacts of the ancient world were created to signify. But through research of this particular time in history, many believe the ancient cultures new way of life through farming and the production of food caused them to have a deep respect for life-giving powers. The Venus of Willendorf and other statuettes are thought to have been created to celebrate fertility. Fertility was essential to their culture. Fertility was not only important in the production of food needed to survive but also, and in a larger measure, to the production of children needed to keep their culture and enlarge communities. Citations: undefined. "Venus of Willendorf: Exaggerated Beauty." How art made the World. 22 June 2006. PBS. 9 July...
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...HUM303 Sample Outline Format for the Course Project Venus de Willendorf VS. Barbie I. This section of the research paper will aim to establish an understanding of the differences in culture from the Paleolithic era to the contemporary society. This will also serve to identify the reasons for conducting research on the given subject area. Moreover, this section will also inculcate the idea of contrasting the cultural differences by way of analyzing art and 'idols' from both the times, the Paleolithic culture's Venus de Willendorf with today's ideal woman which is Barbie. Additionally, also briefly highlight the fact that even though today's contemporary society and its values do not in any way resemble the values and hierarchy of the pre historic period of our history; there remain some similarities, which commonly manifest as 'instincts.' A. Throughout the ages, what is considered beautiful in woman has varied. B. I think as the world evolves more, the choices of many begin to change. I think that most people now days prefer Barbie over Venus de Willendorf because Barbie is the ideal dream girl. II. The Paleolithic culture existed at a time commonly known as the pre historic period of our history which is marked by the development of the first ever traces of “technology,” that is the age when the rough and primitive tools made of stone were invented. A. We will talk about how people back then viewed women and what their views were. i. Women, back then, were known...
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...The Palette of Narmer The Palette of Narmer, also known as the Great Hierakonpolis Palette is an ancient Egyptian artifact dating from the 31st century BC. The palette depicts the unification of upper and lower Egypt by Narmer, the first pharaoh of Egypt. On one side Narmer can be seen wearing the white crown of upper Egypt, wielding a mace in one hand and striking a captured prisoner with the other. Beneath Narmer, are what seem to be a pair of dead bodies and a hieroglyphic sign that most likely indicates the name of a defeated town. The other side of the palette depicts Namer wearing the Red crown of lower Egypt with the decapitated bodies of enemy troops sprawled out to the side.This portrays Namers victory over his enemies and his unification of the two crowns under a single man. Beneath the king are two large serpopard’s, a mythical hybrid between a lioness and a serpent. Both upper and lower Egypt worshiped these creatures and the intertwining of their necks is an additional representation of Egyptian unity under Narmer. At the very bottom of the palette a bovine image is seen knocking down the walls of a city, further commemorating Namers military victory. This ancient artifact displays the critical role of a ruthless warrior in the forming of one of the greatest civilizations in all of human history. Although human beings should always strive to avoid violence, the use of force is essential to to building complex civilization. Violence is crucial to the development...
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...seen so far in class. Although I was unhappy with not being able to visit a museum in person, this assignment was still very educational and personal. I was on a mini vacation right in my own house. The Venus of Willendorf. My first stop was a look at the Venus of Willendorf. She is a statue of a woman about 4.3 inches tall. She was found in 1908. She is a Paleolithic figurine made from carved ivory, wood, and stone. She is the most famous of the Venus figurine during her time. At first glance you see a woman with features that are not pleasing to the eye. She has large breasts, large thighs, and a large stomach. She obviously is pregnant. She has no feet and her face is distorted. I think the face was distorted because they were symbols of fertility or mother goddess not necessary a human. Pregnant women today could defiantly relate to how she looks because most pregnant women may see themselves this way. The Venus of Willendorf was founded in lower Australia. One theory is these statues were meant to be carried. This could explain why archeologist believed where she was found was not the same place she was carved. The women during this period were just not cavewomen. They were inventors, religious leaders, and very good hunters. http://witcombe.sbc.edu/willendorf/willendorfname.html The Statuses of Mut My next stop was Egypt. It was here that I view a bronze statue of a mut. The statuses of Mut or sometimes spell Maut means mother goddess. She is a bronze statue located...
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...perspective, composite view • incise • henge, post-and-lintel, megalith, tumulus, corbel vaulting • Anatolia, Mesopotamia Lecture Notes: Introductory Notes: Paleolithic Period: Artworks in the Paleolithic period: • Human with feline head, from Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany o Date: o Medium, materials, and size/scale: o Stylistic characteristics: o Function & significance: • Nude woman (Venus of Willendorf), from Willendorf, Austria o Date: o Medium, materials, and size/scale: o Stylistic characteristics: o Function & significance: • Head of a woman, Brassempouy o Date: o Medium, materials, and size/scale: o Stylistic characteristics: o Function & significance: • Reclining woman, La Magdeleine o Date: o Medium, materials, and size/scale: o Stylistic characteristics: o Function & significance: • Woman holding a...
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...in the 15th and 16th centuries in Italy. During the Renaissance, the word Art emerges as a collective term encompassing Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, a grouping given currency by the Italian artist and biographer Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century. Subsequently, this grouping was expanded to include Music and Poetry which became known in the 18th century as the 'Fine Arts'. These five Arts have formed an irreducible nucleus from which have been generally excluded the 'decorative arts' and 'crafts', such as pottery, weaving, metalworking, and furniture making, all of which have utility as an end. (1) The first art work I compared was sculptures: “Venus of Willendorf” page 409 fig.555 and “Queen Nefertiti” page 415 fig. 564 both are made of limestone. The “Venus of Willendorf “is one color while “Queen Nefertiti” is many different...
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...In today’s society we look at women and think that we are supposed to look like Barbie, but in reality most of us are like Venus de Willendorf. By looking at the different cultures throughout the ages, beauty of a woman is much more than what she looks like. It is also what a woman’s body can produce and withstand and what is within her. Past cultures show us something that our modern culture tends to forget; that beauty of a woman is more than what she may look like, a woman’s beauty is something that should be adorned. Venus de Willendorf is a statue is made of limestone, it is four to five inches long, and it was found in modern Austria, dating from about 22,000 to 21,000 BCE. The female figure has exaggerated breasts which would mean she could provide plenty of food for her child as well as a very large belly meaning she could provide heat and warmth for herself, her child and her significant other which back then could have made the difference between survival and death. She has very wide hips which support a connection to childbearing and delineated genitals which suggests that she is very fertile. Barbie was first inspired by a pin-up doll named Lilli, intended for German men in World War II as an object of amusement. According to M.G. Lord, author of Forever Barbie, “Barbie and Lilli symbolize the link between the Old World and the New” (Lord 9). However, Ruth Handler’s main influence for success was through the observation of her daughter Barbara playing with paper...
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...Venus of Willendorf There have been many theories of the significance of one of the oldest and most famous prehistoric figures, Venus of Willendorf. Archeologists have suggested many different ways of understanding its significance for the society which made it. The first suggestion is that it was a "Venus figure" or "Goddess," used as a symbol of fertility. Apart from being female with an enlarged stomach and breasts, the red ochre pigment covering its pubic area has been thought to symbolize or serve as menstrual blood seen as a life giving agent. The second suggestion is that the figurine may have served as a good luck charm. Its extremely small size led archaeologists to assume that it may have been carried by the men during their hunting missions in which it served not only as a reminder of their mate back at home but also as a charm to bring them success in their hunting. Archaeologists suggest that the facelessness of the figure gives it a mysterious feel and believe that it may have been of more important as an object rather than as a person. Also suggested, the fact that the figure’s hair is braided in seven symbolic circles, seven in later times being regarded as a magic number used to bring about good luck. A third possible significance put forth by archaeologists is that of the figure serving as a mother goddess (earth mother or female deity). They believe that this comes from a suggestion that the statue was a woman whose specialness was indicated in...
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...IB Dipolma Extended Essay “30,000 Years of Big Women, What caused the Modern Mortification of the Female Form?” Sarah Martino Candidate Number: 000193-0076 South Side High School 2013 Word Count: 3,002 Number of Pages: 14 Abstract: The goal of this essay is to address the changes in the female form in art throughout time. This topic is obviously pertains to the subject of visual arts as the main focus of this essay is evaluating the aesthetics of the female form through examples of artwork. Many research questions were considered but the one chosen was: “30,000 Years of Big Women, What Caused the Modern Mortification of the Female Form?” To answer this question, I chose a piece of artwork for numerous time periods that included the female form. First researching background information about the artist and the time period and then relating it to why the piece was constructed in that way. Through much research and meetings with individuals who are familiar in this subject matter, I was able to develop an argument, which demonstrated the changes in female form for various reasons. Table of Contents Page 1- Title Page Page 2- Abstract Page 3- Table of Contents Page 4- Essay Page 14- Bibliography Page 15- Table of Images The Cyclades, are a group of Greek islands, of the Aegean Sea, were home to the Cycladic Civilization, which lasted from about 3200 BC- 1100BC. This time period is broken up by historians into the early Cycladic...
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...Critical Analysis II: Pierre-Auguste Renoir and The Statutte of a Woman found at Willlendorf By: Art Appreciation ART 1113V1 June 9, 2012 Renoir was born on February 25, 1841 in Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France. His parents were working class, and his dad was a tailor. He was the sixth child. As a boy, Pierre worked at a porcelain factory. He was a skilled artist by that age, because he showed his drawings around at work, and he was chosen to paint designs on the fine china at the Lévy Frères factory. His artistic talent was passed on to other places, and he ended up painting fans and religious wall hangings as well. He would visit the Louvre to go see and study the French master painters in hopes of becoming one of them one day. Two years later, he painted his most famous work, Bal du moulin de la Galette. It depicted a joyful event, with people dancing and socializing; a passing moment in time. The light bounces off the Parisian jubilee, giving the impression that this is a grand affair. Since some of the people are sliced in half on the edge of the canvas, it gives the illusion that this scene extends beyond canvas. A scene as joyous as this is usually categorized as a “joie de vie,” meaning joy of life. Before Pierre died, he went to Paris in 1919. He went to the Louvre Museum, and saw his paintings hanging with the masters. This is what he waited his entire life for, and it had finally happened. He returned home happy, and died on December 3, 1919 at the age of 78...
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