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Ancient Greek Art Research Paper

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The idealized naked male form that has become the standard for the majority of western art, was developed from Ancient Greeks and their cultural importance surrounding the human form. Based off of the assumption that the development of naturalism occurred with the emphasis on the body and bodily experience, the evolution of the figurative representations of human forms and the meaning behind each component can be traced with the cultural progression. Starting with their adoption from the Egyptians to the canon of Polykleitos, the Greeks centered their art work around the praising of life and the contemporary. Each stage of transition would be influenced by their religious beliefs, societal structure, and the maintaining of roles in society. …show more content…
The naked muscular bodies were originally used for portraying the heroic and divine characters of mythology but eventually shifted for the display of fame for those who won athletic competitions. Those competing in said competitions were the wealthy members of society that could afford having others do their work for them so they could train daily. The correlation between the wealth and athleticism carried over to the standards of beauty that were unobtainable by the average members of society. With the influence of religion on the athletic competitions the only people who were able to truly please the gods through the ceremonies centered around physical activities were the wealthy. Thus creating a divide between those who would be unable to achieve fitness due to their socio-economic standings and those who were able to compete and develop a perfect physique. The form of the male nude up held this separation by the patronage of the wealthy for these forms- creating an unobtainable standard of beauty and …show more content…
During this time, nudity for the male form would be a costume of “men of action”. For example, the Riace Warriors are from the Classical Period, and are shown with forms that slightly stretch what could be anatomically correct or possible for the average person. Their bodies are shown strong, continuing the highlighted musculature that started with the Kouros boys. The strength represented through the anatomy represents the characteristic that citizens should be strong, and ready to defend their community. As “men of action” they’re always ready to take part in battle or participate in politics. Additionally, the inclusions of of a small penis is a metaphor for the the ability to be in control of their sexual desires. By being a good citizen, the viewers would be closer to perfection displayed by the nude

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