Instructions

1. Choose ONE of the following 3 projects:

Architectural Photo Expos Project

The Egyptian and Greek cultures not only influenced the Romans, but their architectural legacy was passed from Rome to the West and has come all the way down to us. Although we do not generally build the same kind of structures that they did in Antiquity, modern architecture still utilizes many of the components, designs, and architectural elements.

Compile a 'photo journal' (in PowerPoint or in Word) of architectural elements in your city or town. (If you live in a rural area, this option may not be right for you). You may record any building or component of a building that you like, with the only stipulation being that what you select must be somehow derived from (that is, they must trace its origins from) Greece or Egypt, and you should avoid too much repetition, unless the elements show some significant differences from each other.

As well as the photographs, which must be your own, you should include a short caption (no more than a very short paragraph) which details what element the photo is capturing, and how the element in it has evolved or been altered from its original design, (both in itself and, perhaps, from its original use and context), or has been recombined and used in new ways, etc.

You will be marked on variety, presentation, your creative eye, and the depth of the Greek and Egyptian architectural knowledge displayed by your choices and descriptions. Aim for 7 - 10 different images in your Power Point, with either 7-10 different buildings OR fewer buildings with more highlighted elements of their architecture.

Plato's Cave Project

In Lesson 6, we heard a very brief description of the nature of Greek Idealism, as exemplified by the work and writings of Pythagoras and Plato. Plato, in his Dialogue, the 'Republic', tells a story that is basically one long metaphor, designed to teach a lesson, (these kind of stories are called 'Allegories'), and in it, he recounts the tale of a group of people who have lived in a dark cave all their life, and forced to look at nothing but shadows. This story, the Allegory of the Cave, as it is commonly called, is very much connected in its meaning with the philosophy of Greek Idealism, which we have been studying.

For this project, you are asked to read and thoroughly understand Plato's allegory, and then complete both part A and B:

1. Create a visual image - a picture: drawing, photoshop creation, painting, computer graphic, etc., that is an original work and which best tells the story of the Cave. You will be marked on your creativeness and the degree to which your illustration remains true to the description that Plato gives. Your knowledge of the philosophical message will be measured by how your picture recognizes the overall metaphor and keeps its details in agreement with that.
2. Write a 200 word paragraph outlining the artistic choices that you made in your art work. Describe the medium that you chose, the colour/lack of colour, the style that you created your work in (realism, abstract etc.), the specific visual elements from the Cave Allegory that you included, any symbolic additions and any information that you feel would help the viewer understand your artistic choices and interpretation of Plato's Allegory.

In-Depth Analysis Project

Pick ONE of the following works, none of which we have covered in lecture, and write a detailed expose on it. Your analysis should be descriptive and not only address all the 'facts' (the culture, location found, present location, purpose, if known, etc.), but should also strive to put it in 'context' - that is, also try to connect with the concepts and ideas we have been discussing thus far, as well as be held for comparison against similar work that we have studied. Your assignment should be illustrated with picture(s). The pictures should be chosen for their effectiveness and complement to the information, and should be used to make the points more clear. Don't let pictures just sit there - use them to enhance your reader's clarity and understanding.

• The Votive Statue of Gudea
• The Friezes of Assyria
• The Friezes of Persepolis
• The Minoan 'Harvester Vase'
• The Minoan 'ship procession' fresco
• Minoan Seals, Jewelry, etc
• The Artwork of the Parthenon
• The Statues of Lysippos
• Altar of Zeus - Pergamon (structure and frieze)
• Ara Pacis Austae (Altar of Augustan Peace)
• Matthew of Paris (The Elephant and its Keeper)